26. “The Incredible Power of Rewilding” with Helen Neave, Make It Wild
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Welcome to episode 26 of the Nurtured by Nature podcast, today I’m delighted to be joined in conversation by the wonderful Helen Neave, Founding Director of Make it Wild.
Large Landscape level rewilding projects are gaining momentum across the UK & Europe, but Make It Wild are taking a slightly different approach, determined to show rewilding is possible & scalable for those with less land.
In this truly inspiring episode Helen’s amazing journey provides those of us that care about nature with many reasons to be hopeful. We explore how Helen’s own concern about the biodiversity crisis, lead to her family deciding they were determined to do something to make a difference. From this humble beginning an incredible ecosystem has evolved encompassing trees, meadows, wetlands & equally importantly local communities, their army of volunteers & numerous other passionate people supporting them in a multitude of ways, that has already created an explosion in biodiversity.
In only a little over 10 years, they have forged a path to demonstrate how nature can bounce back, to the extent that one of their sites has already been designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
As a beautiful reminder that change doesn’t have to be complicated, Helen offers this simple wisdom to guide us all: “Love Nature & She’ll Love You Back”!
Learn more about Helen and Make It Wild:
Helen, a retired consultant surgeon, has always been passionate about nature. As she and her husband, Chris, learnt more about the challenges facing nature, they decided they must do their bit to help, and in 2011 they bought 26 acres as a family project to ‘give back to nature’.
They planted thousands of trees, sowed wild flower seeds, dug ponds, and installed habitat boxes. The resulting explosion in biodiversity was stunning and inspired the couple to set up their business ‘Make it Wild’ in 2017. With the mission statement “It’s not our aim to protect nature, it’s our purpose” the business exists to support biodiversity.
Make it Wild now looks after nine sites in North Yorkshire, UK, totalling over 400 acres, all managed entirely for nature. They’ve planted 60,000 trees, restored wildflower meadows and wetland, protected ancient woodland, and rewilded uplands, helped by their conservation grazing team of Belted Galloway cows and Exmoor ponies.
They offer a range of nature sponsorship and dedication opportunities to businesses and individuals; carbon offsetting through tree planting; woodland wellbeing activities, and an eco-friendly holiday cottage.
In February 2023 Make it Wild were awarded the Sustainability Award in the Hambleton Business Awards, and in September 2023 Helen and Chris were proud and excited to win a BBC Make a Difference Award for their work with Make it Wild.
Website: https://www.makeitwild.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitwilduk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeitwilder
TikTok: @make.it.wild
Stay at Make It Wild in their beautiful eco-friendly holiday cottage “Heather-Lea” – https://www.makeitwild.co.uk/heather-lea
Other Useful Links from this Episode:
Ian Banyard – Cotswold Natural Mindfulness: https://www.ianbanyard.com/
Forest Bathing – Nurtured By Nature Podcast Episode 14. “Forest Therapy” With Lindsey Death, Dorset Forest Bathing: https://fionamackayphotography.com/2023/01/14-forest-therapy-with-lindsey-death-dorset-forest-bathing/
Books:
English Pastoral: An Inheritance – James Rebanks
Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm – Isabella Tree
Rooted: How Regenerative Farming Can Change the World – Sarah Langford.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.
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