Green Academies Project at Morden Hall Park

Morden Urban Rangers working in Willow Wood

Morden Hall Park is one of six National Trust places in England and Wales chosen to take part in the Green Academies Project (GAP) funded by Our Bright Future. The project offers young people the chance to gain practical conservation skills and experience in habitat conservation, food growing and horticulture in local green spaces alongside experienced rangers.

GAP short courses

GAP at Morden Hall Park has joined up with various local partners to provide young people with an opportunity to gain AQA Unit Awards. We work with colleges and alternative education providers to run courses in environmental management and groundsmanship. If you want to gain practical skills working outdoors with experienced National Trust rangers, then this course could be the first step to starting a career you will enjoy.

We can tailor courses to individual or group needs but typical topics we will cover include:

  • Woodland Management
  • Hedgerow maintenance
  • Bushcraft
  • Gardening
  • Creating and maintaining healthy habitats
  • Using tools
  • Basic carpentry skills
  • Interacting with the public

Courses run during term time and are based in and around Morden Hall Park.

Interested in joining with a group or as an individual? Contact David Coughlin at david.coughlin@nationaltrust.org.uk to get involved.

Young people gaining skills and experience doing outdoor conservation work

GAP short courses  

GAP gives young people the skills and knowledge they need to access, enjoy or work in local green spaces, depending on what they want to do.

Urban Rangers

Aged 11-24? Be a vital part of creating a community hub where local people can build a connection with wildlife. Work as a team to carry out conservation projects in the park; making it a place where wildlife thrives and communities can share special moments together.

The Urban Rangers have ownership of projects from start to finish, meaning that you will gain project management skills as well as learning practical conservation techniques. You can choose a role within the project team, for example marketing lead or wildlife expert, and develop your skills in this area. We will provide you with all the support you need, including a small budget to finance the project and training and advice from National Trust staff and our partners.

Urban Rangers transforming the overflow car park into a wildlife haven
Young people in the Urban Rangers group working to transform Morden Hall Park's overflow car park
Urban Rangers transforming the overflow car park into a wildlife haven

Morden Urban Rangers

Willow Wood

This winter Morden Urban Rangers will be thinning the shrub layer in Willow Wood at Morden Hall Park and replenishing with native species to increase biodiversity. They'll also be organising a community planting event to encourage others to get out and enjoy their local green space.

News update: Morden Urban Rangers have won a National Trust Healthy, Beautiful Environment LaSEr Award for their work on the Community Wildlife Garden and their very successful Fun Palaces community event. They were shortlisted for the Participation Award at the National Trust's Move, Teach and Inspire conference. They also won bronze in the Young Volunteer Team of the Year category of the Merton Partnership Awards.

Pollards Hill Urban Rangers

The Pollards Hill estate is being regenerated. It's the perfect time to start an Urban Ranger team to engage local young people with looking after local green spaces and to build ownership of outdoor spaces on the estate by being actively involved in the regeneration.

If you are local to Pollards Hill and want to take ownership of your local green spaces and gain the skills and confidence to actively look after where you live, get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of the page. The first project we're working on is creating an environmental garden at William Morris School including a pond, bug habitats, planting areas and compost.

Putting the finishing touches to the fence
Two young people constructing a fence as part of a Green Academies Project short course
Putting the finishing touches to the fence

Get a taste for the outdoors with a GAP taster session

Does your youth group or college want to improve local green spaces, learn new skills and get advice on how to use these skills to get further training, education and employment? We offer taster sessions for groups to book and can tailor them to suit your needs. Past groups include Orchard Hill College, The Princes Trust and Cricket Green School.

We suggest a donation of £10 per participant, which goes back to the project enabling us to provide more opportunities for young people.

Green Academies Project Taster Day volunteers clearing ivy
Green Academies Project Taster Day volunteers clearing ivy from a tree
Green Academies Project Taster Day volunteers clearing ivy


Morden Hall Park has a variety of habitats that are managed according to a long-term plan for their conservation. You will help with conservation tasks in all of our habitats including removal of invasive species, vegetation cutting and clearing, creating wildlife habitats, gardening, weeding and hedge-cutting. There will also be opportunities to try something a bit different on taster sessions offered by our partners.

Apply now

Book a taster session or find out about Urban Rangers by contacting David on 020 8545 6850 or at david.coughlin@nationaltrust.org.uk.