Vision & Mission
We envision a city where urban nature operates as a connected system rather than isolated sites.
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In this future, land, resources and participation align into a continuous ecological corridor that strengthens biodiversity, expands access to nature and supports public wellbeing. The model developed in London demonstrates a practical and scalable approach that can inform nature recovery in other cities over time.
Our mission is to build and steward a connected urban nature corridor across London by aligning councils, landowners, delivery partners, funders and communities around a shared ecological framework.
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Wild Cities acts as the enabling structure for the corridor, holding shared standards, timelines and accountability while supporting specialist partners to lead delivery on the ground. Through this role, collaboration becomes possible at a scale no single borough, organisation or community could achieve alone.
Background
Wild Cities is a flagship programme of Initiative Earth (Charity No. 1192512), a charity registered in England and Wales and the organisation behind Earthed and EcoResolution. Initiative Earth exists to connect people with the natural world through bold, evidence-led programmes that inspire action at scale. Wild Cities represents the charity's evolution into place-based ecological delivery — building a 14-mile urban nature corridor across four East London boroughs, coordinating communities, landowners, and institutions to restore biodiversity where people live, work, and move through the city every day.
Team
Wanessa Rudmer
Executive Director
wanessa@initiativeearth.org
Ciarán Biggins
Head of Development
ciaran@initiativeearth.org
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Manuela Rahal
Strategic Partnerships
manuela.rahal@initiativeearth.org
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John Hales
Programme Delivery
john.hales@initiativeearth.org
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Trustees
Anna Van Der Hurd
Chairperson of Initiative Earth Charity
Christabel Reed
Co-Founder & Trustee of Initiative Earth Charity
David Alfrey
Trustee of Initiative Earth Charity
James Beazley
Trustee of Initiative Earth Charity
Partners & Funders backing nature recovery
A new kind of urban nature corridor doesn't happen without people willing to back bold ideas early. We are grateful to our Founding Partners — Six Senses London and Sky Garden by H Properties — whose generosity and vision are helping to bring Wild Cities to life.
Wild Cities is also supported by a growing community of funders who share our belief that cities can be places of genuine nature recovery. We are grateful to the Bacon Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and The National Lottery Community Fund for their trust and investment in this work.