Ready to Rewild: engaging people

People are the heart and soul of rewilding and are coming together worldwide to forge new livelihoods and new opportunities, to fight the climate emergency by helping nature to heal. Because everyone benefits from a richer, greener, cleaner world.

Join us for an event to hear how three rewilding projects in Britain are engaging local people and communities to make rewilding happen here.

Only by working together as part of nature can we hope to tackle climate change and address the species extinction crisis. Because if nature thrives, we all thrive. Together we can #RewildTheWorld

THE GUEST LIST

Sarah Smith – General Manager, Wicken Fen

With water comes life and, if you do the right thing, a bustling ecotourism business. Wicken Fen is one of most diverse sites in the UK, now supporting a record-breaking 9,600 species of plants, birds and invertebrates — many of them rare.

From its inspiring visitor centre to bird hides, cycling and warming frothy coffees Wicken Fen has incorporated people in the heart of its plans.

Sarah Smith shows us how Wicken Fen has boosted local employment and supported local farmers through grazing opportunities and the sheer enjoyment people get from visiting this nature-rich wetland.

Dominic Buscall – Project Manager, Wild Ken Hill

Combining rewilding and regenerative agriculture, Wild Ken Hill is mobilising nature recovery on land in Norfolk. The project’s mission is to demonstrate that land can be used to tackle climate change and improve air and water quality – while still producing high quality food.

Hear from Dominic about their recent public consultation of the possibility of re-establishing white-tailed eagles in Norfolk, and their ambitious plans to become an inspirational educational resource to many over the next few decades.

Russell Cheshire, COAST

When two local scuba divers, Howard Wood and Don MacNeish, witnessed the destruction of Arran’s marine habitats and dramatic decline of fish stocks due to decades of unsustainable fishing, they mobilised the local people to take action.

The community was responsible for the establishment, in 2008, of Scotland’s first No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay, home to one of the largest maerl beds in Scotland.

Russell joins us to explain the role of community in what they’ve been doing and how things are going now 13 years later.

Rebecca Wrigley – CEO, Rewilding Britain

Rewilding Britain is the first and only organisation focusing on rewilding across Britain and the amazing benefits it can bring for people, nature and climate. Rebecca gives an overview of the charity’s role and achievements.

Nature is our life support system, it’s the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the energy that sustains us. And it’s in trouble. Wildlife is in dramatic decline. Species extinction and catastrophic climate change threaten all life on Earth. We must take action. Nature has the power to heal itself and to heal us, if we let it.

Rebecca shows us what rewilding is all about and how it can help restore our relationship with the natural world.

Jan Stannard – Co-founder and Chair of Trustees, Heal Rewilding

Heal is committed to becoming the UK’s first national rewilding landowner. Jan shares the charity’s ambitions of creating new, species-rich havens to heal the land, heal nature and heal ourselves.

Sara King – Network Manager, Rewilding Britain

If you’re currently rewilding or thinking about rewilding, The Rewilding Network is the place for you. The network helps you connect with others who are rewilding, share knowledge and experiences and access help and advice. Sara explains who and how can join the network alongside its benefits.

Hosted by Emma Oldham, Digital Communications Manager

AGENDA

10:30: Opening and welcome to the event + housekeeping rules (Emma Oldham, Rewilding Britain)

+ Showcase of Global Rewilding Film

10:35: Introduction to Heal (Jan Stannard)

10.40: Introduction to Rewilding Britain (Rebecca, CEO Rewilding Britain)

+ What is rewilding? 5 Principles of rewilding, what are its benefits?

10:55: What is the Rewilding Network? Who is it for? How to join? (Sara King, Rewilding Britain)

11.00 Tea break

11:05: Sarah Smith: general manager, Wicken Fen

11:15: Dominic Buscall: project manager, Wild Ken Hill

11:25: Russell Cheshire: chair, Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST)

11:35: Summary of the projects (Jan Stannard, Heal)

11:40 Live Q&A with Jan

11:55: You can be part of rewilding! Learn about Heal’s 3 x 3 metre square appeal. (Jan Stannard, Heal)

11:58: Ending remarks (Emma Oldham, Rewilding Britain)

ENDS