Second Nature

Benedict Macdonald is the founder and director of Restore, the UK’s specialised nature restoration organisation. A lifelong naturalist and nature writer, he is the author of the Wainwright Prize-winning Rebirding, co-author of Orchard: A Year in England’s Eden (winner of the Richard Jefferies Prize), and Cornerstones, an acclaimed book on keystone species such as beavers and boar.

Benedict is an influential figure in nature restoration in the UK, well-known for his vision for restoring British wildlife to its full extent, and pushing landowners, farmers and NGOs further in their quest for ambitious nature recovery. Benedict is also the chair of the Pelican Panel, which has been set up to assess the feasibility of reintroducing dalmatian pelicans to the UK.

A former television director, Benedict's work includes Sir David Attenborough’s Our Planet and Apple’s Earth at Night in Colour, earning several shared Emmy awards. Storytelling remains central to his role in nature restoration.

Benedict’s new business fuses vision, finance, ecological management and species reintroduction expertise into one organisation - RESTORE, managing over 70,000 acres of UK land. Aiming to transform 500,000 acres by 2034, Restore seeks to revolutionise conservation by making nature restoration a primary financial driver. In this episode Benedict and Rich talk through these very chapters of life that led him to Restore. 

Richard Kelly is a Managing Director at Foresight Group, where he co-leads the natural capital and forestry investment team. He is a co-founder and co-lead fund manager of Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company Plc (FSF), the London Stock Exchange's first listed investment company focused on UK natural capital and forestry. Richard has successfully overseen the origination and deployment of £0.3 billion into a significant portfolio of natural capital investments, including a pioneering 10 million tree planting programme, which accounts for a third of the total tree planting in the UK last year. Renowned as an expert and leading voice on voluntary carbon credits, Richard has been with Foresight Group for over 9 years. Before joining Foresight, he spent 8 years at Accenture PLC as a strategy and M&A advisor, providing strategic guidance to FTSE clients across various sectors.

In this episode, Andrew shares his journey from school holiday's on his uncle's farm igniting his passion for the food and farming industry to recently founding his own editorial consultancy. 

After discovering his deep love of writing, he the Business and Property Editor at Farmers Weekly and led the Rural Research team at Knight Frank, where he developed significant thought leadership pieces like The Wealth Report, The Rural Report, and the Luxury Investment Index. His work included interviews with leading conservationists, supporting his belief in the harmony between food production and nature restoration.

In this episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Natalie Bennett, from her roots in journalism and activism to becoming a prominent figure in British politics. Born in Sydney, Australia, Natalie's passion for environmental sustainability and social justice led her to the forefront of the Green Party in the UK. Now a Green Party member of the House of Lords, Natalie continues to advocate passionately for policies that promote a greener, fairer society. Join us as we explore her career, her impact on British politics, and her vision for a sustainable future.

Please note: This episode was recorded 12th April 2024 when Selaine Saxby was MP for North Devon.

Selaine Saxby the Conservative Candidate for North Devon for the 2024 General Election was elected as the Member of Parliament for North Devon back in 2019 with a 14,813 majority. Previously, she was an entrepreneurial business owner and a secondary school maths teacher at Bideford College. Selaine has particular interests in levelling up North Devon and championing the environment, having founded and chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Celtic Sea in Westminster. she enjoys surfing and long walks with her fox red Labrador, Henry.

In this episode Selaine shares her journey into politics from candidate to MP, the challenges and successes that she has experienced and what she hopes to see in the future for Devon and beyond.

Natalia Dorfman is the CEO and co-founder of Kita, the carbon insurance specialist. Kita’s purpose is accelerating investment in high quality carbon sequestration projects with insurance products that reduce transaction risk and safeguard the performance of carbon credit investments. Prior to founding Kita, Natalia spent 15 years as a business development and strategy specialist within the legal sector. She was named among the “Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch” by NatWest and the Telegraph in November 2022, and is one of the leaders recognised in the 2023 “Meaningful Business 100.

Cain Blythe is a pioneering leader in the field of nature restoration, with a mission to accelerate global rewilding and rewild half the planet by 2050. As a dynamic speaker, author, business owner, and fintech start-up founder, Cain has dedicated his career to making this ambitious goal a reality. In 2022, he founded CreditNature to bridge the gap between the natural asset value of land and investor interest in nature-positive opportunities. CreditNature provides cutting-edge technology and the world’s most advanced system for investing in nature restoration and rewilding, bringing together the forces of nature, science, technology and finance.

As the CEO of Ecosulis, Cain leads the UK’s longest-standing ecological consultancy and contractor, a B-Corp certified business with over 30 years of experience. Under his leadership, Ecosulis has become an award-winning company, contributing to hundreds of habitat creation, rewilding, and species reintroduction projects. Cain is a Chartered Environmentalist and co-author of “Rewilding: The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery” with Dr. Paul Jepson, which has now been published internationally, with French, Dutch and English editions.

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Georgia Dent, the dynamic CEO of Somerset Wildlife Trust, as she shares her incredible journey and the impactful work she leads in promoting education, landscape improvement, and nature connectivity for the people of Somerset.

Georgia's deep-rooted connection with nature began during her childhood in Somerset, fostering a lifelong passion for the environment. Her academic pursuits in human rights further shaped her commitment to making a difference.

Her career took a significant turn when she joined Oxfam, where she worked on their inaugural climate change campaign. This pivotal experience ignited her dedication to environmental causes, leading her to Birmingham, where she worked at Northfield Ecocentre, a hub for environmental initiatives.

Her passion for environmental improvement only continued as Georgia went on to become the Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, championing Nature Improvement Areas, working tirelessly to create living landscapes rich in biodiversity. All whilst empowering staff and volunteers, ensuring the benefits of a thriving natural environment extended to both wildlife and local communities.

Returning to her roots sooner than expected, Georgia embraced the opportunity to lead the Somerset Wildlife Trust. In her role as CEO, she has been unwavering in her dedication to enhancing the region’s natural landscapes and fostering a strong connection between nature and the community.

https://www.somersetwildlife.org/

Rob March is the founder and Managing Director of Beard, an independent creative agency with a focus on brands through core offerings of design, development and illustration. With a steadfast dedication to excellence, Rob has propelled Beard from humble beginnings to collaborating with a wide variety of clients, from local barbershops and law firms to large multinational brands such as Microsoft and Red Bull - all while not forgetting the incredible work they have done in supporting us! Originally from further north, Rob has now settled down in Worcester where and he and his team are based. Rob's journey reflects a remarkable blend of ambition, resilience, and unwavering passion. He’s also confident that he’s hit one of Rich’s cricket deliveries for six - something that Rich would vehemently deny!

In this episode Rob and Rich discuss the chapters of life that led Rob to setting up Beard, his boundless creativity and commitment pushing the boundaries, and his desire to keep moving forward!

https://wearebeard.com/

Bex is a dedicated trustee of the Wildlife Trust and a seasoned freelance social media manager. Born in Blackpool and primarily raised in Leicestershire, Bex developed a profound appreciation for the outdoors from a young age. Her childhood, characterised by adventures in nature, inspired her passion for environmental conservation. This led to her involvement with the Wildlife Trust, driven by a desire to preserve natural spaces for future generations. Bex's academic journey mirrored her environmental interests, focusing on biological sciences.

As a digital nomad, Bex has lived in various co-living spaces across Europe, advocating for sustainable living and community-focused lifestyles. Her commitment to conservation and community extends to her professional endeavours, where she balances multiple roles and projects with a disciplined approach. Bex emphasises the importance of intentionality in time management, particularly in avoiding burnout. Her role as a trustee for the Devonshire Wildlife Trust has also highlighted the value of diverse perspectives in organisational governance, contributing significantly to both her personal growth and the effectiveness of the boards she serves on.