It is sometimes hard to believe that the UK, a country of self-professed nature lovers and animal lovers, home of the RSPB, the National Trust and many other renowned conservancy organisations, is among the most nature-deprived countries in the world. Over the past few decades there has been a shocking 41% decline of species, a trend that goes as far back to the post war years when agriculture became heavily industrialised, ranking the UK a lowly 189th out of 218 countries surveyed when it comes to biodiversity. This is aside from our equally terrible record in amount of land covered by woodland, a shocking 12% (of which of only 50% is actually broadleaf forest) vs a European average of 30%. We clearly do not practice what we preach.
But amid the gloom there is hope, hope in the form of people and organisations doing their very best to reverse this trend. Heal Rewilding is just such organisation who have embarked on a mission to save our wildlife and natural spaces by buying land across England in order to return these to nature. We have been proudly supporting this charity since the beginning when Heal Rewilding launched in 2018 with a match funding programme to assist their efforts in raising funds to restore nature and wildlife. It’s a charity that strongly aligns with our values as a business to protect and enhance habitats for nature and animals to thrive in.
Over the past few years the concept and broader awareness of Rewilding has started to gather momentum and capture people’s imagination, especially through the work of Isabella Tree’s seminal ‘Wilding’ book.
But what is Rewilding and how can we support it?
Rewilding means giving nature the breathing space it needs to heal. It means the natural regeneration of trees, plants and wildflowers. It means creating space where animals can live freely and vulnerable species can recover. Rewilding is a way of making a real impact on nature recovery. It also helps fight climate change, increases biodiversity that is critical for our food production, and creates spaces where people can find peace to support their mental health.
Heal Rewilding for their part have ambitious plans to set up rewilding sites in every English county by 2050, and have succeeded in acquiring their first nature recovery site in Somerset.
We had the pleasure of touring their 460-acre site near Bruton, a former dairy farm, consisting mainly of rye-grass monoculture pasture land on heavy clay, with three small tributaries of the River Frome crossing it, and several ponds. The site, which can only be defined as highly degraded agricultural land that we otherwise pay no heed to, includes miles of hedgerows, with mature oaks and numerous other trees scattered across the undulating landscape. There are a number of traditional stone farm buildings, which the charity plans to restore and renovate. It is in a poor state, but that is the point.
There will be public access across much of the land so people can see rewilding in action. Heal expects the early benefits of rewilding to include the regeneration of trees, and a greater abundance and diversity of animal and plant species.
Plans are still being developed with input from the local community, however the project is likely to use rare breed cattle, pigs and ponies in small numbers to help re-establish natural processes on the land. These animals will be ‘ecosystem engineers’ and not farmed produce.
Heal was started by ‘normal’, caring meaning individuals who wanted to help and took action, and it is a lesson to us all, namely that we can all make a difference. From simply rewilding our back gardens to buying up 3m by 3m plots to return to nature, everyone can help turn the tide back in nature’s favour. Heal Rewilding are doing just that, and we’re excited to see how the charity continues to flourish and develop the land over time. You can visit Heal Somerset following the public access routes, book a private tour or camping as well as donate online via their website.
“Nature will only recover if it has more space to thrive and we join a growing number of landowners across the UK who are making that happen.” – Jan Stannard, Founder of Heal Rewilding.
Visit: www.healrewilding.org.uk to find out more
