PodParks

We open Season 4 of PodParks with a powerful conversation with Fergus Garrett (https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/about/people/) renowned horticulturist and the long-time driving force behind Great Dixter. In this episode, Fergus reflects on his multicultural upbringing, his journey into horticulture, and what it has meant to continue and evolve the legacy of Christopher Lloyd at one of the world’s most iconic gardens.

The conversation moves beyond gardens to explore the deeper challenges and opportunities facing parks today: the impact of funding cuts, the loss of training pathways, the need to reconnect design with care, and the importance of building spaces that are ecologically grounded, socially meaningful, and full of joy. Fergus also shares why beauty in parks cannot be one-size-fits-all, and why diversity—in landscapes, in people, and in thinking—is essential for the future of green spaces.

Recorded in the context of the World Urban Parks Symposium in Istanbul, this episode sets the tone for a new season focused on bold ideas, practical wisdom, and the people shaping greener, more inclusive cities.

• A life shaped by culture and plants: Fergus reflects on growing up between Turkey, the UK, and other international influences, and how this visually rich, multicultural upbringing shaped his way of seeing gardens and landscapes.
• The living legacy of Great Dixter: Rather than imposing his own signature, Fergus describes his role as caring for Great Dixter with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to ecological understanding.
• The real weakness in the park sector: For Fergus, the biggest loss has been the steady cutting of funding, training, and community-based care in parks. He argues for putting resources back into education, employment, and long-term stewardship.
• Beauty is plural: Parks should not all look the same. Different spaces should offer different experiences—wild, calm, colorful, shaded, open—so more people can find meaning and joy in them.
• Community is part of the landscape: Great Dixter is not only a garden; it is also a place of training, inclusion, employment, and belonging for a very wide range of people.
• Care, not just capital: Fergus makes a strong case for investing not only in major park infrastructure, but in the people who maintain, interpret, and animate green spaces over time.
• Why this matters now: Listening to conversations at the World Urban Parks Symposium left Fergus optimistic about the future of parks as spaces that respond to biodiversity, climate, flooding, wellbeing, inclusion, and community needs all at once.

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martin | Cynthia Hernández | Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez

🌐 worldurbanparks.com

Season 3 of PodParks has been a year-long exploration of how parks shape cities, communities, and everyday life.

Across this season, we’ve spoken with leaders, practitioners, and emerging voices working in very different contexts, but grappling with shared questions about equity, access, health, and the role of urban nature. From the challenges of building a global organisation, to the practical tools helping cities do better, these conversations have traced how ideas move from vision into action.

In this season finale, host Maria Burnett brings those threads together in a short, reflective audio essay. Drawing on voices from across Season 3, including Jayne Miller, Tim Geyer, Mark Bowater, Michael Boland, Cecil Konijnendijk, Humera Sultan, Cecilia Vaca Jones, and Hannah Chapman-Carr, the episode revisits the moments and ideas that have shaped the year.

Rather than revisiting each conversation in depth, this episode moves quickly through the themes that kept resurfacing: why equity now sits at the centre of urban parks work, how simple frameworks can reveal deep inequalities, and why recognising good ideas matters if we want them to travel.

As the season closes, the focus shifts forward, toward what the next decade of World Urban Parks might require, and the people who will help shape it.

• Reflections on the key ideas that shaped Season 3
• Why equity and access have become central to urban parks work
• How simple tools like the 3-30-300 rule and justice mapping are changing practice
• Why children’s freedom to explore matters for healthier cities
• What the next decade of World Urban Parks could look like

Feedback

🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.

Or if you’d like to share your perspectives or stories about this episode, or contact us for any reason, you can email Maria Burnett (host) and the team at [email protected]. 

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

What happens inside the brain when we step into a park, hear birdsong, or simply look at a tree? And what does this mean not just for the public, but for the people who work in parks every day?

In this episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett speaks with Lance Burdett, former national crisis negotiator for the New Zealand Police and now a leading specialist in resilience, stress, and brain health. Drawing on neuroscience, brain-imaging research, and decades of experience in high-pressure environments, Lance explains why nature calms the amygdala, how diversity in landscapes supports neuroplasticity, and why even 15 minutes outdoors can reset our stress systems.

But this conversation goes further than the benefits of parks for communities. Together, Maria and Lance explore the wellbeing of the parks workforce itself: a passionate, often under-resourced group at high risk of burnout. Lance breaks down practical, evidence-based habits that park professionals can use to protect their mental health, boost cognitive clarity, and stay grounded in a demanding sector.

Highlights include:

• How natural environments calm the fight-or-flight system
• Why sensory stimulation from nature boosts cognitive function
• The difference between burnout and physical fatigue, and why thinking is the real danger zone
• Tangible, science-backed practices for lowering cortisol and improving sleep
• Why planners must prioritise green access in urban development
• How leaders can support mentally healthy workplaces in the parks sector

Whether you’re a ranger, planner, designer, manager, volunteer, or someone passionate about how parks shape wellbeing, this episode offers both brain science and grounded, practical tools to help you thrive in your work and life.

Featured Guests 

Lance Burdett, General Export Manager, WARN International

🔗LinkedIn

🔗Facebook

Feedback

🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.

Or if you’d like to share your perspectives or stories about this episode, or contact us for any reason, you can email Maria Burnett (host) and the team at [email protected]. 

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

How might our cities change if we planned parks with public health at the centre of every decision?

In this episode, host Maria Burnett speaks with Humera Sultan, a Consultant in Public Health at Birmingham City Council and a National Institute of Health Research Doctoral Research Fellow. Humera brings a health focused perspective to nature planning, shaped through her work leading the Naturally Birmingham project and contributing to the city’s 25 year City of Nature Plan.

Humera shares how public health tools, community insights and long term thinking can help cities design greener and healthier environments. She also discusses her PhD research, which explores how funding for Birmingham’s more than 400 parks has changed from 2013 to 2024, and what this means for equity, access and community wellbeing.

This conversation highlights the value of cross agency collaboration, the importance of evidence in nature planning and the role of green spaces in supporting mental health, physical activity and social connection.

Highlights include:

• How public health perspectives can strengthen citywide nature planning
• What Birmingham learned while creating its 25 year City of Nature Plan
• Insights from Humera’s research into funding, equity and park quality
• The relationship between green space and community wellbeing
• Why partnerships across sectors lead to stronger long term outcomes

Whether you work in health, planning, or park management, this conversation offers a new perspective on why nature belongs at the centre of every wellbeing strategy.\

Resources

🔗Connecting health and green spaces through Movement Data | ActiveXchange

🔗 Environmental Justice Webinar 20211123 130439 Meeting Recording

🔗Sultan H, Grayson N, Jones S, Pike D, Greenham S, Needle D, Sadler J, Frew E. Green space and environmental justice—a new metric to guide resource allocation in improving the amount and quality of green space. TCP Journal 2023. 92 (6). Available at Nov-Dec23.pdf

Featured Guests 

Humera Sultan, Consultant in Public Health at Birmingham City Council and NIHR Doctoral Local Authority Fellow

Feedback

🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.

Or if you’d like to share your perspectives or stories about this episode, or contact us for any reason, you can email Maria Burnett (host) and the team at [email protected]. 

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

46. What to Think About When Designing Park Lighting with Gary Jacquard

Behind every welcoming park at night is a thoughtful lighting design. In this episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett speaks with Gary Jacquard, General Export Manager at Eclatec, about how cities can use lighting to create atmosphere, comfort and safety without compromising biodiversity.

From the glow of Paris’ historic lamp posts to smart lighting systems that adapt to use and season, Gary shares how technology and design can work together to make parks more inviting and sustainable. They also discuss why lighting should be considered early in park planning and how small choices in tone, brightness and placement can transform the way people experience public space.

Highlights include:

• Why brighter doesn’t always mean safer
• How early design decisions shape the feel of a park
• The growing role of smart lighting and sensors in public spaces
• Balancing light for people and biodiversity
• How regional culture and climate influence lighting design

Whether you’re a planner, designer or someone who enjoys an evening walk, this episode sheds light on how design decisions after dark can make parks more welcoming for everyone.

Featured Guests 

Gary Jacquard, General Export Manager, Eclatec

🔗LinkedIn

Eclatec is part of the Agora Makers group, which brings together Metalco and other European companies that blend heritage design, innovation and sustainability in lighting and street furniture. World Urban Parks is proudly sponsored by Agora Makers!

Feedback

🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.

Or if you’d like to share your perspectives or stories about this episode, or contact us for any reason, you can email Maria Burnett (host) and the team at [email protected]. 

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

What do the world’s most inspiring parks have in common? Behind every great green space are passionate people, designers, advocates, and communities who believe parks can change the way we live.

In this special episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett explores the real stories behind the World Urban Parks Awards, celebrating the people and projects transforming public spaces across the globe. Together with Michael Boland, Chair of the WUP Awards Committee, Maria dives into what makes these parks and leaders stand out and why their work matters for the future of cities.

You’ll hear directly from the 2025 award winners, whose projects span continents but share a common purpose: to make urban life greener, healthier, and more connected. From inclusive play spaces to large-scale restorations and creative community programs, their stories show how imagination and collaboration can turn public space into something extraordinary.

Along the way, you’ll also learn how the WUP Awards recognise innovation and leadership across regions, creating a truly global platform for parks and professionals of all kinds.

Highlights include:

• Stories from the 2025 award-winning projects and the people behind them
• 
  
• How the World Urban Parks Awards celebrate leadership, creativity, and impact
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• The global and regional structure that makes the program accessible to everyone
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• Reflections from Chair Michael Boland on how recognition can inspire a movement
• 
  
• What cities and park professionals can gain by taking part
• 
  

Whether you work in parks or simply love them, this episode will remind you how powerful a single idea and a single park can be in changing the world.

Featured Guests

Michael Boland - Chair, World Urban Parks Awards

2025 WUP Award Winners

🔗 Learn more about the Awards

Feedback

🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.

Or if you’d like to share your perspectives or stories about this episode, or contact us for any reason, you can email Maria Burnett (host) and the team at [email protected]. 

Featured Guests

Michael Boland

🔗 LinkedIn

2025 WUP Award Winners

🔗 Learn more about the Awards and Award Winners

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

Dünyanın en dinamik şehirlerinden birinde oyun ve parkların geleceği nasıl şekilleniyor?

PodParks’in bu özel bölümünde, sunucu Maria Burnett, peyzaj mimarı, akademisyen ve Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025 ile World Urban Parks Sempozyumunun önde gelen isimlerinden Dr. Ahmet Cemil Tepe ile bir araya geliyor. Birlikte, İstanbul’daki parkları ve kamusal alanları şekillendiren fikirleri—oyuna yönelik yeni yaklaşımlardan, kentsel peyzajlarda inovasyonu ileriye taşıyan küresel iş birliklerine kadar—ele alıyorlar.

Bu sohbet, uluslararası uzmanları, tasarımcıları ve düşünce liderlerini dört gün boyunca içgörü, ilham ve bağlantı için bir araya getiren Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025’in (8–11 Ekim 2025) hemen ardından geliyor. Bu yılki etkinlik ayrıca World Urban Parks’ın 10. yılını kutlayarak, kentsel doğa ve yaşanabilir şehirler alanındaki on yıllık küresel liderliğini taçlandırıyor.

What does the future of play and parks look like in one of the world’s most dynamic cities?

In this special episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett sits down with Dr Ahmet Cemil Tepe, a landscape architect, academic, and key figure behind the Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025 and the World Urban Parks Symposium. Together, they explore the ideas shaping parks and public spaces in Istanbul - from new approaches to play to the global collaborations driving innovation in urban landscapes.

This conversation follows the Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025 (8–11 October 2025), which brought together international experts, designers, and thought leaders for four days of insight, inspiration, and connection. This year’s event also marks the 10-year anniversary of World Urban Parks, celebrating a decade of leadership in urban nature and liveable cities worldwide.

What happens when we design cities through the eyes of a child?

In this inspiring episode of Podparks, host Maria Burnett is joined by Cecilia Vaca Jones, Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and former Executive Director of the Van Leer Foundation, the organisation behind Urban95. A passionate advocate for children’s wellbeing, Cecilia shares how childhood memories, evidence-based policy, and citizen participation can transform urban life.

Together, they explore how investing in children creates cities that work better for everyone — from the elderly to families, women, and people with disabilities. Cecilia reflects on her experiences across Ecuador, Abu Dhabi, and beyond, offering practical and hopeful ideas for shaping inclusive, playful, and people-centred cities.

Highlights include:

• How childhood experiences inspire Cecilia’s global work on parks and public space
• Why designing for babies and children creates inclusive cities for all
• The four pillars of child-friendly urban design: proximity, mobility, design, and participation
• How public policy must go beyond numbers to focus on behaviours and use of space
• Why investing in vulnerable communities is key to equity and social cohesion
• A vision of thriving, playful, sustainable cities in 2040

🎧 Listeners are encouraged to add their perspectives: email [email protected] to share your own story or response to the conversation.

Featured Guests

Cecilia Vaca Jones

🔗 LinkedIn

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa | Cynthia Hernández Martínez | Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

What do parks look like across the globe, and how do local contexts shape global action?

In this special panel episode, host Maria Burnett is joined by four World Urban Parks Regional Committee Chairs: Juan Carlos Acevedo (Latin America), Julia Watson (Africa), Carl McClean (Europe), and Thomas Dixon (Asia Pacific).

Together, they explore what it means to represent their regions within a global movement. From cultural traditions to funding challenges, from community voices to ecological priorities, each Chair shares observations from their corner of the world and how those insights connect back to the bigger picture of parks and people everywhere.

Highlights include:

• Why regional committees are vital to World Urban Parks’ global mission
• How park priorities vary between regions, countries, and even individuals
• The importance of local context when balancing conservation, culture, and community needs
• What it means to be “eyes and ears” for a region rather than speaking for it
• How collaboration across regions fuels shared learning and innovation

🎧 Listeners are encouraged to add their perspectives: email [email protected] to share your own story or response to the conversation.

Featured Guests

Juan Carlos Acevedo – Co-Chair, Latin America Region

🔗 LinkedIn

Julia Watson – Co-Chair, Africa Region

🔗 LinkedIn

Carl McClean – Chair, Europe Region

🔗 LinkedIn

Thomas Dixon – Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Region

🔗 LinkedIn

About PodParks

PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team

Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa|  Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris Solis

🌐 worldurbanparks.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X