Environment and Green Spaces

Bankside Open Spaces Trust

Southwark· Borough-specific

Bankside Open Spaces Trust is an environmental and volunteering charity that aims to improve health and wellbeing by making urban areas greener and more beautiful. Established in 2000 by local residents, it protects, preserves, and enhances parks, gardens, and other amenities in London's SE1 and surrounding areas. The Trust manages sites such as Red Cross Garden, Marlborough Sports Garden, Waterloo Millennium Green, and Tate Community Garden. It provides green spaces and outdoor activities, runs regular gardening groups, supports park steering groups, organises events, and offers educational projects like Future Gardeners. They collaborate with local residents and businesses, welcoming volunteers from the community and corporate sector.

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association (HCGA) is an environmental charity established in 1984. It creates and maintains green spaces across the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster. HCGA runs volunteer gardening sessions, wildlife conservation, health and wellbeing projects, environmental playschemes, adult education, and environmental education in local schools. The charity aims to foster community involvement, care for local neighbourhoods, and maximise biodiversity in its managed sites. Volunteers, including those with physical or mental health problems, contribute to garden maintenance. HCGA also offers garden landscaping services and hosts corporate team days.

Thames21

London-wide· London-wide

Thames21 is a UK environmental organisation focused on rivers, canals, and open water. It aims to reconnect people with nature by helping them to enjoy, protect, and enhance their local rivers, including the River Thames and its tributaries. The organisation works with communities across London, providing opportunities for volunteers to rewild and protect waterways. Thames21 seeks to restore river health and boost wellbeing and community cohesion. It also responds to current environmental issues, such as water quality data and pollution incidents affecting London's waterways.

Greenpeace UK campaigns on climate change, ocean and forest protection and plastic pollution, using research, public campaigning and peaceful direct action to push for environmental policy change.

London Wildlife Trust

London-wide· London-wide

London Wildlife Trust is a charity that works for nature recovery across London. Established in 1981, it looks after wild places and aims to increase people’s understanding of and connection to the natural world. The Trust engages, inspires, and enables people to connect with nature, managing 36 free-to-enter urban nature reserves throughout London. It supports London’s communities and offers programmes for young people aged 16-30. The organisation seeks donations to help London's wildlife and has a community of over 12,000 members, supported by 1,800 volunteers who restore London's wildlife.

Registered charity improving green spaces and supporting communities across London.

CPRE London

London-wide· London-wide

CPRE London is a countryside charity that works across London to shape and promote solutions for the sustainable use of land. The organisation aims to protect and regenerate the countryside, striving for a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone. CPRE London focuses on making London greener and healthier. They offer opportunities to support their work through donations, becoming a member, or volunteering. One mentioned initiative is "The London Tree Ring".

Trees for Cities is a UK environmental organisation that has been planting and caring for trees in towns and cities across the UK for over 30 years. The organisation works with local communities, partners, and supporters to establish trees, focusing on areas with low tree equity. Their work aims to provide benefits such as cleaner air, cooler streets, and stronger communities. Programmes include Urban Trees, Trees for Schools, and Trees for Streets, which allows residents and businesses to sponsor street trees. They also participate in the Tree Cities of the World programme and have international projects. Trees for Cities encourages donations to support their work, particularly to help care for thirsty trees during drought alerts.