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Revolutionising Nature Restoration: A Chat with Benedict McDonald from RestoreWelcome to the latest episode of the Biodiversity Podcast by Teals, recorded at Groundswell 2025. In this episode, host Teasels is joined by Benedict McDonald from Restore. They discuss the exciting advancements in nature restoration, the financial viability of such activities, and the shift from governmental reliance to private market solutions. Benedict shares valuable insights into making nature restoration projects sustainable and government-proof, utilizing natural capital markets, biodiversity net gain, and carbon markets. Learn about the nuances of local land management, the importance of community knowledge, and how Restore's unique model can adapt to various landscapes. Tune in to discover how nature and agriculture can coexist sustainably, bolstered by long-term financial stability and impactful environmental change.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:29 Groundswell 2025: Nature Restoration Insights01:19 Making Business Government Proof01:38 Challenges with Government Policies03:12 Private Markets and Natural Capital07:11 Understanding Natural Capital Markets12:33 Restoration Units: A New Approach19:52 Success Stories and Future Plans29:25 Conclusion and Future Collaboration

in this podcast, we discuss the following ;Interconnectedness of Ecology and Health: The discussion highlights how our mental and physical health crises are interconnected with ecological and social justice issues. Recognising this interconnectedness is crucial for holistic well-being.Cultural and Indigenous Perspectives: Emphasizing the importance of learning from indigenous cultures, which view nature as an integral part of life rather than something separate. This perspective encourages a deeper connection and respect for the environment.Gardening as a Form of Eco-Activism: Gardening is portrayed as a powerful tool for eco-activism, allowing individuals to engage with nature directly and promote biodiversity through practices like using local seeds and fostering natural plant succession.The Role of Language in Ecology: The conversation touches on how language can both help and hinder our understanding of ecological relationships. There's a call to move beyond buzzwords and engage in meaningful discussions about native versus non-native species and their ecological roles.The Value of Wild Plants: There's a strong emphasis on the importance of preserving wild plants and their natural relationships with the soil, as they are foundational to biodiversity and ecological resilience.Reimagining Gardens and Landscapes: The idea of gardens as dynamic, evolving spaces rather than static, controlled environments is explored. This approach encourages a more sustainable and ecologically sound way of interacting with the land.

In this episode in chat with Blanche Cameron from The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. We discuss the integration of biodiversity in the build environment.

I interview the wonderful gardening team at Knepp.

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.Episode 26- Benny Hawksbee

In this podcast I sit down with the boys from Wild City Studio, Jon Davies and Steve Williams.

Footnotes:

Rewliding of Allestree Park- Mentioned at 11mins 30

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/11/derby-approves-uk-largest-urban-rewilding-project-aoe

Affric Highlands Rewilding - Mentioned at  40-mins

https://rewildingeurope.com/landscapes/affric-highlands/

Langholm Moor and Tarras Valley- Mentioned at  48-mins

https://www.langholminitiative.org.uk

Little Green Spec-  Mentioned at  53:58-mins

http://www.littlegreenspace.org.uk

https://twitter.com/LGSpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

The state of Nature report - Mentioned at 1 hour : 6 mins

https://nbn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf

Lynx to Scotland Project - Mentioned at  1 hour: 9 mins

https://treesforlife.org.uk/about-us/lynx-to-scotland/

Footnotes:

Rewliding of Allestree Park- Mentioned at 11mins 30

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/11/derby-approves-uk-largest-urban-rewilding-project-aoe

Affric Highlands Rewilding - Mentioned at  40-mins

https://rewildingeurope.com/landscapes/affric-highlands/

Langholm Moor and Tarras Valley- Mentioned at  48-mins

https://www.langholminitiative.org.uk

Little Green Spec-  Mentioned at  53:58-mins

http://www.littlegreenspace.org.uk

https://twitter.com/LGSpace?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

The state of Nature report - Mentioned at 1 hour : 6 mins

https://nbn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf

Lynx to Scotland Project - Mentioned at  1 hour: 9 mins

https://treesforlife.org.uk/about-us/lynx-to-scotland/