Wild Rangers

Wild Rangers is addressing a pressing urban issue: the loss and neglect of green spaces in densely populated areas. In parts of South East London, many communities lack meaningful access to nature – places that support biodiversity, nurture wellbeing, and inspire care for the environment. Through creative green space projects and educational sessions, Wild Rangers empowers people of all ages to reconnect with the land around them.

At the heart of their work is a bold, long-term vision: to reimagine how nature can exist within cities and to influence policy around the idea of ‘urban national parks’.

Their flagship initiative – the Railway Children Urban National Park – is an ambitious plan to transform fragmented parcels of relic countryside into a continuous, accessible green corridor from the South Circular to Elmstead Woods. The project will restore rare habitats including chalk grassland, willow carr, wetlands, and woodland, enhancing biodiversity and resilience.

The area is also culturally significant – this is the very landscape that inspired The Railway Children by E. Nesbit. The tradition lives on, as children still wave to passing trains and are greeted by cheerful hoots from drivers.

Yet the project goes far beyond nostalgia. It tackles real issues – reducing flood risk, improving health and wellbeing, and creating new opportunities for outdoor education in local schools.

With funds from the John Good Group, they will increase capacity to move this project forward, covering their organisational costs whilst they also start work on two key areas: the revival of a statutory allotment and the Reigate Road Neighbourhood Park, smaller projects that will bring them a significant step closer to their Urban National Park vision.