Michael Shilling is based in Croydon. He has been a Ranger since 2021. Michael’s focus is visual storytelling. By day he is the Director of Memory Gate Photography Studio, Marketing and Communications Officer at ecoACTIVE and freelance marketer, photographer and filmmaker.
Q1
what inspired you to become a ranger?
The concept of a National Park City first came onto my radar when I heard about Dan Raven-Ellison’s Big Walk around London in 2017. The 500km walk is still on my to-do-list but it very much inspired me to get involved firstly as a communications volunteer. Despite living in London most of my life I realised that most of the city was unknown to me. I began exploring borough by borough, meeting artists, campaigners, gardeners and communities all walking towards the common goal of creating a greener London. My Ranger application at that point was inevitable.Â
Q2
How are you making London greener, healthier, and wilder?
As a freelancer I work with a variety of different organisations in the environmental sector. With ecoACTIVE we’re working with Hackney council to help deliver their Nature Recovery Plan with a 4km pollinator corridor called The Hackney Buzzline. My work with Footways London focuses on getting Londoners to experience their city on foot, ditch their car or busy public transport in favour of a leisurely stroll. Volunteering with CPRE London opened my eyes to the multitude of organisations and groups creating and defending green and blue spaces in London.
In May 2024 I organised the inaugural London Walking Week. The goal was to unveil a greener, wilder, and healthier capital, inviting all to explore its hidden treasures on foot. We shared absorbing tales of writers and the adventures of wanderers. We showcased the visions of filmmakers and the knowledge of foragers and the events celebrating campaigners, chroniclers, and all who simply cherish a leisurely stroll through our vibrant city. What I’ve learnt is that no single individual or organisation can be truly successful on their own. Working collaboratively towards a shared goal is the way we can truly make London greener, wilder and healthier.
Q3
What do you think has the single most positive impact of the environmental initiatives you’ve been part of?
The Hackney Buzzline project is an ambitious and exciting project to be involved with but still very much in its early stages. Capturing footage of the Bromley Tree Massacre and having my footage reach the national press and TV really felt like I was able to make some impact in the debate of preservation of London’s green spaces.
Q4
What have you gained from being part of the LNPC Community?
The relationships and new friendships I’ve made within the community have been invaluable. It’s allowed me to learn more about initiatives and opportunities that I might not have considered before. It has also provided an important network of support.
Q5
Describe your proudest moment as a ranger
Photographing and seeing my images in the wild on billboards all over London as part of the Do London Differently has to be one of my proudest moments. Traversing across London, meeting lots of different groups and individuals in order to try and tell their story was exhilarating.Â
Q6
Describe your most challenging moment as a Ranger and how you overcame it
My inability to turn down an exciting opportunity to meet someone new or learn about a new project does put strains on my time but it’s totally worth it.Â
Q7
What’s next for you as a ranger?
My goal is to tell as many Ranger stories as possible and to showcase as many initiatives as possible that are contributing to a successful London National Park City.
Q8
What continues to motivate you on your Ranger journey?
It’s unlikely that I will tire of being involved in exciting projects and meeting new people. In my 20-year career I’ve photographed over half a million people. It’ll be nice to photograph a few more before I hang up my camera.Â
Q9
What has been your most memorable encounter with nature in London?
A couple of years ago I decided to explore as many London rivers as possible to help promote London Rivers Week events. There was an afternoon I spent walking along the River Roding from Loughton to Barking Creek Barrier. There were points along the walk where I felt at the heart of a rewilded London. Butterflies and dragonflies were flitting around me as I brushed through the overgrown trail. It was a magnificent experience.
Q10
How can we encourage more people to ‘Do London Differently’?
The best way to experience a different London is on foot. Explore the new Green Link walk, the London Loop or the Capital Ring. Switch a journey to walking with Footways and map out your own green routes with tools like Go Jauntly. Meet a new community, talk to different people and find out what’s going on in parts of London you’ve never been to before.Â
Q11
It’s 2029…as a community, what do you hope LNPC would have achieved by our 10th anniversary? And what might London look like as a result?
In the last five years you can already see noticeable changes. Parks have relaxed mowing and rougher edges. Green spaces are more accessible and inviting. Considerable work is being done to create more corridors for nature. I’d like to see more of that. More importantly I’d like to see larger organisations working together with smaller ones to help amplify the wonderful things that a handful of determined individuals can achieve.Â
Read more Ranger Stories here.
Learn more about the work that Michael is doing at @londonin360.
Find out more about London National Park City and how you can get involved by visiting our About Us page
Together, we can make London greener, healthier, and wilder..
