We see Pete Cairns as rewilding royalty. Thirty years in the conservation conversation, co-founder and former CEO of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, and now host of the new podcast At the Edge. In this episode Tom and Chloe sit down with Pete to dig into the one thing every species reintroduction in the UK has in common, and it is not the species.

Wildcats, sea eagles, red kites, beavers, lynx. The practical side of bringing animals back is largely solved. What is not solved is the human side. The consultation, the fear, the bureaucracy, the politics, and the deep emotional and economic stakes for the rural communities living on the front line.

We talk about the 11 million domestic cats in the UK and the 100 million wild animals they kill each year. The mysterious lynx release in the Cairngorms in January 2025. Whether "beaver bombers" should be celebrated or condemned. And what Pete would do if he had a magic wand to fix the system.

The post-interview chat between Tom and Chloe gets properly unpacked on the moral case for reintroductions, the sheep farmer's perspective, and whether logic or culture should lead.

Pete Cairns has spent thirty years working on rewilding communications and engagement, with a particular focus on the human-wildlife fault line. He co-founded SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and served as its CEO until 2025. He now works independently and hosts the podcast At the Edge, a deep dive into our relationship with wild nature and each other.

Find Pete on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/petercairnsphoto Listen to At the Edge: attheedge.org.uk

00:00 - Welcome and what is the Wilder Podcast

01:55 - Project update: the community day

04:22 - Thanks to Katya and Hannah in the market garden

05:09 - Pigs escaping again

06:38 - Why we're talking to Pete

07:10 - Pete's introduction and 30 years in the rewilding conversation

10:07 - What is a wildcat, and how did Scotland nearly lose them

12:22 - Why the wildcat decline went unnoticed for so long

15:00 - The elephant in the room: 11 million domestic cats and 100 million wild animals

18:05 - Cats are hardwired, not killing for fun 22:02 - The principles of species reintroduction, from sea eagles to today

24:16 - Beavers, wolves and the feeling that reintroductions are "done to" rural communities

26:00 - Lynx to Scotland vs The Missing Lynx Project: two regulatory bodies, two processes

28:35 - Selling the benefits, hearing the concerns, and the sheep predation reality

31:30 - "Just pay the farmer" is a dangerous narrative 32:20 - What does success even look like

35:14 - The shortage of skilled navigators in conservation

35:54 - The illegal lynx release in the Cairngorms, January 2025

38:15 - Beaver bombers and the guerrilla rewilding question

40:16 - If Pete could redesign the system, what would it look like

43:04 - What one listener can actually do: voice, vote, money

45:04 - Is wildcat reintroduction a success

48:07 - Pete's sign-off and where to find At the Edge

48:42 - Tom and Chloe debrief: cats, sheep farmers, and the moral argument

59:24 - The ripple effect of wild landscapes on culture

Species reintroduction is no longer a practical problem. The science and the techniques exist. The challenge now is social, cultural and political: how do we live alongside species we have not shared the landscape with for generations.

The UK is one of the only countries in Europe with no large carnivores, and one of the only countries anywhere. The question is not whether it is ecologically possible. It is whether we will.

The "just pay the farmer" line misses the point. Farmers are motivated by financial considerations, but also by tradition, family history, animal welfare and a sense of place. None of those things have a price tag.

Lynx to Scotland is the most comprehensive consultation a reintroduction has ever had in this country. Whether it ultimately leads to a release or not, the process itself has reset the standard.

The illegal lynx release in the Cairngorms in January 2025 was, in Pete's words, "plain stupid". But it advanced the conversation. There is a sweet spot somewhere between an illicit release and a process that takes 15 years.

Mediating these conversations is a specialist skill, and there is a real shortage of people who can do it well. Most conservation organisations cannot mediate their own debates because they wear a badge.

Domestic cats kill an estimated 100 million wild animals in the UK every year. Not a judgement on cat ownership, but a call for informed choice.

Organisations

• SCOTLAND: The Big Picture: scotlandbigpicture.com
• Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS): rzss.org.uk
• Saving Wildcats project: savingwildcats.co.uk
• Highland Wildlife Park: highlandwildlifepark.org.uk
• Lynx to Scotland: lynxtoscotland.org
• Trees for Life: treesforlife.org.uk
• The Lifescape Project: lifescapeproject.org
• NatureScot: nature.scot
• Natural England: gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
• RSPB: rspb.org.uk
• Buglife: buglife.org.uk
• Rewilding Britain: rewildingbritain.org.uk

Referenced in the episode

• Pete's new podcast, At the Edge: attheedge.org.uk
• The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations: nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/translocation
• Iberian Lynx programme (the model Saving Wildcats is based on)

Our off-grid cabins are open and our guests this weekend told us the same thing many listeners do when they arrive: the photos do not do it justice. If you have been following the podcast and want to experience the Grange Project in person, the cabins are bookable now.

Visit grangeproject.co.uk and click "Stay with us" in the top right corner.

The invisible forces shaping what you eat, why they stay hidden, and what it actually takes to change them.

Sue Pritchard is CEO of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) and a farmer just down the road from us in Monmouthshire. In this episode she lays out exactly how the modern food system works, who benefits, who pays the price, and why the polite assumption that "people just want cheap food" is one of the most damaging myths in British public life.

We go into the ABCD commodity giants most people have never heard of, the three forces reshaping our plates (commodified, consolidated, financialised), the citizens' assemblies that proved the political class has been misreading the public for decades, and why Sue thinks it might finally be time to bring back the word shame.

This was one of those conversations where a missing piece of the puzzle dropped into place. Not cheery in places, but clarifying and energising.

• What we actually mean by "the food system" and why the definition matters
• The ABCD companies: the four private firms (plus one Chinese state company) that control over 80% of global commodity trade
• Why Cargill's profits jumped 27% while the rest of us absorbed food price spikes
• Commodified, consolidated, financialised: the three words that explain how we got here
• Who's really losing: farmers on below real-living-wage incomes, citizens paying twice (at the till and through their taxes), and our public health
• The assumptions keeping the system stuck: "people only want cheap food", "nobody wants a nanny state", "this is a middle-class concern"
• What happened when FFCC actually asked people what they want from food (spoiler: the response rate was five times the norm)
• The role of anger, and why Rowan Williams called it the "appropriate emotional response"
• Rutger Bregman, shame, and whether it is time to make certain jobs socially unacceptable again
• Finding your lane: why we do not all have to do everything everywhere all at once
• The "What Works Here?" inquiries and the stories of hope already on the ground

00:00 - Welcome & Introduction

05:00 - Farm Start with Rachel Hammond (starts next month, places still available)

06:00 - Community Day, 16 May, plus the screening of the People's Emergency Briefing

08:20 - Introducing Sue Pritchard

09:30 - What the FFCC is and why it was set up after Brexit

12:30 - What we actually mean by "the food system"

18:30 - The winners: ABCD companies, Cargill, the Amazon, and chicken sheds in the Wye Valley

24:00 - The losers: farmers, citizens, public health

26:20 - The assumptions that keep the system stuck

28:45 - Sue "spits the dummy" and launches the citizens' assemblies

36:30 - Anger, Rowan Williams, and what to do with it

42:45 - Bregman, shame, and raising the social cost of harm

44:30 - Working inside the system: the conversations that actually move people

49:20 - Where hope already lives: the "What Works Here?" inquiries

54:30 - Tom and Chloe unpack it: invisible winners, shame, food security, and the search for brave leadership

"Perhaps anger is the appropriate emotional response to the degree of injustice that we are finally seeing."

"How do we tell the stories of the future that is already coming to life all around us? It's just not evenly distributed and it's not visible enough."

"Don't do bad things and don't be a dick. Those would be my missions for government."

Sue Pritchard and FFCC

• Food, Farming and Countryside Commission: https://ffcc.co.uk
• The Food Conversation: https://thefoodconversation.uk
• FFCC's overview of The Food Conversation and Citizen Mandate: https://ffcc.co.uk/so-what-do-we-really-want-from-food

People and works referenced

• Henry Dimbleby's National Food Strategy: https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org
• Rutger Bregman's 2025 BBC Reith Lectures, Moral Revolution: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00729d9
• Rutger Bregman, Moral Ambition: https://www.moralambition.org
• Nate Hagens, The Great Simplification: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com
• Hodmedod's (Josiah Meldrum): https://hodmedods.co.uk
• Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and former Bishop of Monmouth

Things growing at the Grange right now

• The Grange Project: https://grangeproject.co.uk
• Wilder Podcast (Episode 52 is the full Grange update): https://grangeproject.co.uk/podcast/three-years-in-the-honest-truth-about-rewilding-80-acres
• Events, including Community Day on 16 May with the People's Emergency Briefing screening: https://grangeproject.co.uk/events
• Farm Start with Rachel Hammond and other courses: https://grangeproject.co.uk/events/farmstart-a-six-day-hands-on-course-for-people-ready-to-earn-from-growing-food-with-rachel-hammond
• Wales Seed Hub (Hwb Hadau Cymru): https://www.seedhub.wales
• Real Seeds: https://realseeds.co.uk

The National Emergency Briefing / People's Emergency Briefing

• National Emergency Briefing: https://www.nebriefing.org
• Find a local screening: https://www.nebriefing.org/screening-map

The one thing that genuinely helps us is a rating and review wherever you listen. It nudges the podcast up the rankings and puts it in front of people who might benefit from it too.

If you want to come and experience any of this in person, the Community Day on 16 May is the easiest way in. Walk the land, get your hands in the soil, share food, watch the People's Emergency Briefing with people who are paying attention. All links above.

Until the next one.

Tom and Chloe

No guest this week. Just Tom and Chloe with a drink, a lot to catch up on, and roughly an hour to get through it all.

It's been 18 months since the last proper project update and quite a lot has happened. 4,000 trees planted. A tiny forest that nearly died twice and is now over six feet tall. A market garden. A distillery in the barn. A charity. Four schools through the gate in one week. And an otter, which felt significant.

This is the third update episode - episode 9 was the start, episode 29 was one year in. This one's the most honest of the three.

Restoring More Nature

• The trees, the dragon's nests, and what happens when you prepare the ground properly
• Why the tiny forest survived a drought, deer, and voles - and is now extraordinary
• The wood meadow: a rare habitat, hand-scythed by the community, and why it matters
• The pond that failed, then gave us house martins, a kestrel, and an otter
• The pig situation (it got complicated)
• The cow debate: October, says Chloe. Tom is less sure
• Breeding birds: double the species recorded between 2024 and 2025
• Naturfa Pathway: one of four sites selected across Wales by the Welsh Government

Producing More Food

• From silage grassland to 50-100+ varieties of fruit and veg - and why that matters for food security
• The cathedral polytunnel, the duck pond, the new orchard, and chickens planned for under the trees
• Courses launching this summer: market gardening, agroforestry, mushroom growing, seed saving and more
• What it actually means when the food you grew feeds the people who came to help grow it

Contributing to the Local Economy

• From two tractor drivers twenty days a year to six people working on site
• Wilder Spirits: pre-orders open 2 April. The first spirit distilled on a rewilding site in Wales, in a paper bottle
• Platform Nature: 20 founding partners from Wildlife Trusts to a koala sanctuary in Australia
• The Grange Hub, Wilder Away Days, and why Tom talks about money on a nature podcast
• Revenue transparency: what the first six months actually generated

Connecting More People to Wilder Nature

• Wilder Connections charity: Chloe's co-design phase with schools across Monmouthshire
• What happened when a group of teenagers asked if they could hug a tree
• Monthly open days: selling out a month in advance
• Hopes for the rest of 2026 - and why Tom wants everyone to slow down a little

00:00 - Tom's opening confession

01:31 - What we said on episode 29, and how much has changed

05:44 - The four pillars explained

07:04 - 28,000 listeners, 125 countries, and someone in Cape Town saving for their own rewilding site

07:53 - PILLAR 1: Restoring More Nature

08:12 - 4,000+ trees, dragon's nests, and the saplings finally breaking through

10:43 - Tiny Forest: 98% survival, over six feet tall, future outdoor classroom

13:59 - Hedgerows: planted, lost to drought, replanted

15:36 - Wood Meadow: what it is, why it's rare, and a lot of hand-scything

18:44 - Deer: why culling became unavoidable, and the experiment with over-planting

22:24 - The pond that collapsed - and then gave us house martins, a kestrel and an otter

26:39 - Voles everywhere, and what doubling bird species in one year actually means

27:13 - Pigs: what went wrong, what's coming next, and the ecological case for them

31:21 - The cow debate

33:54 - Welsh Rewilding Alliance: founding members

34:02 - Naturfa Pathway: recognised by the Welsh Government

35:05 - PILLAR 2: Producing More Food

35:37 - How a market garden ended up being run by the people who said they wouldn't run it

37:47 - Ducks, chickens, and the orchard

41:54 - 50-100+ varieties: why growing diversity is also food security

43:29 - From least to most efficient food production on the same land

44:33 - PILLAR 3: Contributing to the Local Economy

44:33 - Wilder Spirits: the distillery, the story, the paper bottle, 2 April

47:13 - Mark, Sandy, and why six people working on site matters

48:18 - Platform Nature: what it is, who's using it, and where it's going

52:31 - The Grange Hub: opened by the Future Generations Commissioner

53:13 - Wilder Away Days: NHS to corporate

55:23 - Why talking about money is part of the project

56:38 - Cabins: off Airbnb, direct only, and why that was the right call

57:34 - Revenue transparency: the real numbers from the first six months

58:39 - PILLAR 4: Connecting More People to Wilder Nature

58:58 - Wilder Connections: what the charity is, and why Chloe built it

01:01:11 - Four schools in one week

01:02:01 - Teenagers, sticks, and what co-design actually looks like

01:04:10 - The oak tree moment

01:05:38 - Open days: what they are, and why April sold out a month early

01:06:35 - Hopes for the rest of 2026

The Grange Project

grangeproject.co.uk

Wilder Spirits - pre-orders open 2 April 2026

wilderspirits.co.uk

Wilder Connections - Chloe's charity for nature connection in young people

wilderconnections.charity

Wilder Away Days - nature-centred corporate experiences

wilderawaydays.co.uk

Platform Nature - tools for nature restoration projects

platformnature.com

Leave Curious - Rob's rewilding YouTube channel (120,000 subscribers)

https://www.youtube.com/@CuriousLeave

Dayhike Magazine - the magazine Tom said had him turning every page

dayhike.co.uk

Book an open day or open morning at the Grange Project

grangeproject.co.uk

• Episode 9 - Building the Ultimate Mosaic: A Grange Project Update
• https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-009-building-the-ultimate-mosaic-a-grange-projectnbspupdate
• Episode 29 - Failure and Success: 12 Months of Rewilding at the Grange Project
• https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-029-failure-and-success-12-months-of-rewilding-at-the-grange-project

If you listened all the way through, send us an email with just one word: Flamingo

[email protected]

It tells us you're here, and it means more than you'd think.

If this episode made you want to see what's happening on the land, get updates on the distillery, or just come for a walk - all the links are above.

To support the podcast: share it with one person who'd genuinely find it interesting. That's it. That's all we ask.

In this conversation, we update you on two big milestones for the Grange Project, the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and our OECM recognition, before sitting down with Professor Mike Berners‑Lee.

We ask Mike to explain the polycrisis: how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food insecurity and geopolitical instability are all interlinked. Mike helps us see why recycling alone won’t cut it: plastics are produced almost entirely from fossil fuels, their emissions could eat up a large chunk of the remaining carbon budget and their additives disrupt hormones.

We also talk about why technology by itself isn’t enough, how misinformation slows progress and what practical steps we can all take-like switching to trustworthy media and supporting a national information campaign to wake up and act.

[00:05] Introduction and mission. We open the show by explaining why we started the Wilder Podcast: to share our learning about rewilding and the wider forces shaping our world. We remind listeners that we created the Grange Project two and a half years ago to restore nature, grow food, support eco‑businesses and reconnect people with land.

[02:24] Two big updates. We proudly announce the launch of the Welsh Rewilding Alliance and its report A Welsh Way to Wild. We also share that the Grange Project has been recognised by the Welsh Government as an OECM, a big step in confirming that our land management has rigorous governance and real biodiversity benefits.

[07:08] Introducing Professor Mike Berners‑Lee. We explain how we first encountered Mike’s work-reading There Is No Planet B inspired us to buy the farm and start the Grange Project. Mike introduces himself as a professor, consultant and author.

[11:09] What is the polycrisis? Mike explains that the polycrisis is a tangle of interconnected challenges driven by humanity’s unprecedented power. He emphasises that disasters like pandemics and wars no longer happen in isolation; their severity comes from the cascading effects they unleash. For us, it was eye‑opening to see how our economic and political systems amplify these stresses.

[16:58] Examples of cascading crises. We discuss real‑world examples: the COVID‑19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine amplifying food and energy crises. Mike highlights that plastic production has boomed since the 1950s and plastics are a major source of emissions and endocrine disruption. It reinforced for us how everything is connected.

[20:43] Wake‑up call and the National Emergency Briefing. Mike tells us about the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster, where experts covered nine dimensions of the crisis from health and food to national security and no one thought the situation was exaggerated. We both feel this shows how widely the severity of the crisis is recognised and why we need national action.

[23:05] Misinformation and media ownership. We explore how misinformation is blocking progress. Mike challenges the narratives that climate action will leave us poorer and colder, and explains how social‑media algorithms spread disinformation. We urge you to choose trustworthy news sources and recognise manipulation.

[29:14] Techno‑optimism vs. systemic change. Mike says that simply scaling up renewables isn’t enough. He points out that although renewable capacity has grown massively, fossil energy use has also climbed, so overall emissions keep rising. That’s why systemic measures like carbon pricing and fossil‑fuel constraints are critical.

[33:35] Human psychology and leadership. Together we discuss why people aren’t inherently selfish. Neuroscience and social history suggest we can cultivate cooperation and empathy. Mike encourages us to seek leaders who are kind and honest, and we talk about the courage it takes to speak up and push for change.

[47:19] Calls to action. We finish by encouraging you to sign the letter at nebriefing.org, host local screenings of the briefing film and start conversations in your community. Mike notes that facing these issues head‑on feels liberating, we felt it too.

[49:05] Host reflections. After the interview, we reflect on our own nerves and gratitude for Mike’s clarity. We discuss doing a mini‑series on the individual crises and debate whether information alone prompts action. We conclude that people need both facts and relatable stories of hopeful change.

We were honoured to speak with Mike Berners‑Lee, a professor at Lancaster University and founder of Small World Consulting. He advises organisations on sustainability and wrote There Is No Planet B and A Climate of Truth. Mike is known for making complex issues accessible and for advocating systemic solutions to interlinked crises.

1. National Emergency Briefing – A national information briefing on the climate and nature crisis with expert videos, action guides and community‑screening resources. Learn more at https://nebriefing.org.
2. The Welsh Way to Wild report – The Welsh Rewilding Alliance’s report sets out a practical vision for rewilding in Wales. Download the report at https://rewildingalliance.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Welsh-Rewilding-Alliance-Report-2026.pdf.
3. Small World Consulting – Mike Berners‑Lee’s consultancy helps organisations understand sustainability challenges and thrive in a volatile world. Visit https://www.sw-consulting.co.uk.
4. There Is No Planet B – Mike Berners‑Lee’s handbook on climate, biodiversity and practical solutions. Learn more and find retailers at https://theresnoplanetb.net .
5. A Climate of Truth – Mike’s latest book explores honesty in politics, media and business as a critical lever for tackling the polycrisis. Details and purchase links are at https://climateoftruth.co.uk.
6. National Emergency Briefing open letter – Add your name to the open letter calling for a televised national emergency briefing at https://nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir.
7. Screw This, Let’s Try Something Else – A hopeful podcast featuring community-led projects that are changing food, energy and housing systems. Listen on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/screw-this-lets-try-something-else/id1863391095.
8. The Grange Project – Our own rewilding project in Monmouthshire, where we experiment with nature restoration, food growing and eco‑business. Learn more at https://grangeproject.co.uk.

As rewilders, we see how climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, public health and social instability are woven together. This episode shows that tackling one issue in isolation isn’t enough we need to change the systems that drive multiple crises and challenge misinformation. By combining big‑picture analysis with concrete steps, from signing a letter to choosing better media, we hope to inspire you to join us in building a more hopeful, resilient future.

Chloe and Tom speak with Gwenni Jenkins-Jones and Eben Muse from Tir Natur, a Welsh rewilding charity working to establish Wales’s largest rewilding site. The conversation explores the unique challenges and opportunities for rewilding in Wales and why this moment represents a turning point for nature recovery in the country.

Tir Natur recently secured a 1,195-acre landscape in the Doethïe Valley in the Cambrian Mountains, creating a rare opportunity to demonstrate what large-scale ecosystem restoration could look like within a distinctly Welsh cultural and ecological context. The discussion moves beyond ecology alone, examining how rewilding intersects with language, rural communities, land ownership, farming identity and the future of the countryside.

This episode is both hopeful and honest. It explores the realities of nature loss in Wales, the misconceptions surrounding rewilding and the importance of community participation in restoring landscapes. At its heart is a powerful idea: that restoring nature is not about removing people from the land, but about rebuilding relationships between people, place and the living systems that sustain both.

Tir Natur Crowdfunder – Support the charity’s fundraising appeal for Wales’s largest rewilding project. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tirnatur

[00:05] – Introduction & project updates. Chloe and Tom welcome listeners, recount the story of spotting an unexpected otter on their land, apologise to “Pig Sheep Man Paul” for previous sheep‑related frustrations and announce a series of learning events at the Grange Project.

[06:28] – Meet Gwenni & Eben. Guests introduce themselves: Gwenni recently became Tir Natur’s fundraising manager after volunteering for a year, while Eben volunteers in planning, community engagement and translation in addition to his day job in access conservation. They describe Tir Natur as a volunteer‑powered charity whose name means “nature’s land”.

[08:30] – Why Wales needed Tir Natur. Rewilding projects in England and Scotland inspired action, yet Wales lacked a dedicated rewilding charity. Gwenni recounts that frustration with stalled government action and the desire to create a Welsh flagship site led to Tir Natur’s founding.

[09:40] – What ‘rewilding’ means to Tir Natur. Eben and Gwenni define rewilding as restoring whole ecosystems rather than managing single species. They plan to use hardy grazer, cattle, ponies and pigs to create a mosaic of habitats and make the landscape resilient to climate change.

[13:06] – The Welsh context. Eben outlines sobering statistics: Wales scores around 37 % on the Biological Intactness Index and 90% of its peat bogs are in poor condition. Agricultural pollution has degraded rivers, and political parties are reluctant to prioritise nature. Gwenni notes that shifting baselines mean many people have forgotten what a healthy landscape looks like.

[20:50] – Navigating rewilding’s reputation. Gwenni acknowledges past projects that failed to engage communities and insists Tir Natur will listen to local voices, retain the farmer on the productive part of the land and ensure access rather than exclusion. Eben rejects profit‑driven rewilding and stresses that land should serve communities, not corporate reputations.

[30:00] – A 1 195‑acre canvas for rewilding. Gwenni paints a picture of the Doethïe site: 1 195 acres with two rivers, 160 acres of degraded peat ready for restoration and 55 historic features including ancient farmsteads. The charity plans early interventions such as peatland rewetting and river restoration, followed by the introduction of grazing animals to kick‑start natural processes.

[38:40] – Next steps & call to action. The first priorities after purchase are community engagement, bringing in hardy grazers and restoring peatlands. Gwenni invites listeners to visit the site, volunteer, share expertise or donate. Fundraising continues to finish purchasing the land and begin restoration.

Gwenni Jenkins‑Jones is the fundraising manager for Tir Natur. After volunteering for a year, she now leads fundraising and community engagement for the charity, using her professional skills to connect donors with a shared vision for rewilding. Email: [email protected]

Eben Mewes works in access conservation and is an ambassador for Campaign for National Parks. He volunteers with Tir Natur, focusing on planning, community outreach and translation. Motivated by frustration with policy in Wales, he sees the new rewilding site as a chance to show what’s possible and to reconnect people with their landscapes.

1. Tir Natur – Charity website – Learn about the organisation’s vision for a Wales where wild nature and communities thrive together. https://www.tirnatur.cymru/
2. Tir Natur – “The Land” – Explore the 1 195‑acre Doethïe site in the Cambrian Mountains, including peatbogs, river corridors and plans for natural grazing. https://www.tirnatur.cymru/the-land
3. Guardian article – News piece covering Tír Natur’s £2.2 million purchase of the 1 195‑acre site, its restoration goals and plans for hardy grazers. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/15/welsh-charity-buys-more-than-405-hectares-for-rewilding
4. Tir Natur Crowdfunder – Support the charity’s fundraising appeal for Wales’s largest rewilding project. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tirnatur

1. Listen & subscribe: Follow the Wilder Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite app and leave a rating to help others discover the show.
2. Support rewilding: Visit the Tir Natur website, volunteer, donate or share the project with friends. Grassroots action and community support will determine the success of this flagship site.

Tom and Chloe sit down with Clare from Planton farm to explore what regenerative agriculture really means. Drawing on Claire’s journey from the conventional food industry into regenerative farming, the conversation explores why our current food system is under strain and how working with nature offers a viable, hopeful alternative.

Together they explore soil health, livestock grazing, culture change in farming, and the realities farmers face when trying to shift away from extractive systems. From cattle as “ecosystem engineers” to the surprising role chickens can play in regeneration, this episode is a grounded, honest look at food, farming and the mindset shifts required to restore landscapes while keeping farms viable.

[00:00] – Introduction and context

Clare joins the podcast after visiting the Grange Project, sharing her background and passion for grazing livestock and regenerative farming.

[03:56] – What regenerative agriculture actually means

A clear explanation of regeneration as the opposite of degradation – restoring soil, water, biodiversity and people – and why there is no single “recipe” for doing it well.

[05:24] – Regenerative vs organic farming

How organic and regenerative systems overlap, where they differ, and why organic certification doesn’t automatically guarantee soil regeneration.

[07:05] – The challenge of definition and greenwashing

Why regenerative agriculture lacks certification, how the term can be misused, and the importance of asking one key question as a consumer: what is this regenerating?

[08:48] – Why the current food system is struggling

A look back to post-war agriculture, the drive for volume, the rise of chemical inputs and the unintended consequences for soil health, nutrition, biodiversity and resilience.

[13:16] – Economics of regenerative farming

Why high-input, high-output farming is hitting a ceiling, how rising input costs are eroding margins, and why some farmers turn to regenerative approaches for financial survival as much as environmental reasons.

[15:02] – Culture change and farmer mindset

Farming as identity, pride and tradition – and why regenerative farming challenges deeply held ideas about tidiness, productivity and what “good farming” looks like.

[20:28] – Roots to Regeneration

Clare explains the two-year Roots to Regeneration programme, designed to support farmers and food-system professionals through deep, supported transition rather than surface-level change.

[24:23] – Cattle, climate and eating less but better meat

Why grazing animals can be central to regeneration, how grasslands co-evolved with ruminants, and why cattle can act as ecosystem engineers when managed well.

[29:38] – Chickens in a regenerative system

Exploring pasture poultry, nutrient imbalance, river pollution and why the current chicken industry is structurally broken.

[36:07] – Interconnected roles on the farm

How chickens and cattle support each other through manure management, pest control, fertilisation and orchard grazing.

[38:47] – The future of farming

Regenerative agriculture as a potential fifth agricultural revolution, the rise of eco-literacy and a vision of farming that is more resilient, humane and joyful.

Clare is a regenerative farmer and food-system specialist based in Shropshire. She runs Planton Fam, an 80-acre regenerative holding integrating cattle, chickens, trees and perennial crops. With a background spanning the National Farmers Union, major retailers and sustainability consultancy, Claire brings a rare systems-level perspective to farming, food and land use.

She is also co-founder of Roots to Regeneration, a two-year transition programme supporting farmers and food-industry professionals to redesign agricultural systems that work for people, planet and profit.

1. Plant & Farm – regenerative meat and produce with UK mainland delivery
2. https://www.plantandfarm.co.uk
3. Roots to Regeneration – applications open for the next cohort: https://rootsofnature.co.uk/roots-to-regeneration/
4. Groundswell Agriculture Festival – learning and inspiration for regenerative farming
5. https://groundswellag.com

1. 🎧 Listen & subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast platform
2. 🌱 Share the episode with anyone curious about food, farming or systems change
3. 💬 Join the conversation – what questions do you have about regenerative agriculture?

In this pre‑Christmas episode, hosts Chloe and Tom sit down with Tom Clark and Alex Brocklesby from the National Trust at Purbeck.

Purbeck is one of the UK’s most biodiverse areas, yet many residents remain disconnected from the nature on their doorstep. Tom and Alex explain how varied geology; including Pool Harbour, chalk ridges and heathlands, creates an incredible range of habitats.

They describe how the Purbeck Heaths, the UK’s first super national nature reserve, unites 3500hectares of heathland owned by NGOs, statutory bodies and private landowners. The conversation explores why connecting local communities to this landscape is as important as ecological restoration, highlighting systemic barriers like work pressures and lack of time.

Each bullet below begins with the approximate start time for that segment:

[00:05] Welcome & purpose of the Wilder Podcast. Chloe and Tom explain that the podcast has evolved from documenting their family’s rewilding journey to exploring wider systemic challenges—education, community, economy and eco‑entrepreneurship.

[04:20] Conservation sheep and lessons in rewilding. Chloe and Tom recount borrowing six conservation sheep, difficulties moving them between fields and why most commercial sheep aren’t suited to rewilding. Conservation breeds like the Castlemilk Moorit nibble less and promote diverse grasslands.

[16:55] Introducing Purbeck’s biodiversity. Tom Clark and Alex Brocklesby describe Purbeck as one of the most biodiverse parts of the UK because of its varied geology—harbours, chalk ridges, heathlands and limestone cliffs. They note the long‑standing presence of organisations like Natural England, the National Trust and RSPB.

[19:17] Super National Nature Reserve. The guests explain that the Purbeck Heaths are the UK’s first super national nature reserve. The reserve unites several smaller reserves into a continuous 3500 hectare landscape that includes private landowners, demonstrating collaboration beyond NGOs.

[20:54] – Experiences on the Isle of Purbeck. Visitors can see snakes, lizards, puffins, eagles, beavers and butterflies; picnic in flower‑rich meadows; explore sheltered beaches with seahorses; wander ancient woodlands; watch sunsets; or go coasteering along the Jurassic Coast. Four million people visit each year because the region offers so many ways to connect with nature.

[22:55] – Why local people aren’t more connected to nature. Despite living in a biodiverse landscape, Purbeck residents aren’t any more nature‑connected than people elsewhere. Nearly 40 % of local children start school without ever having been to the beach. Tom and Alex discuss building trust with schools, community groups and businesses and reflect on the need for community‑led approaches, rather than top‑down conservation.

[27:19] – Systemic barriers & opportunities. Modern lifestyles—commuting, low‑paid seasonal work, high numbers of second homes—leave little time for nature connection. Society is structured around nine‑to‑five routines rather than natural rhythms. The guests urge listeners to co‑create solutions that make time in nature accessible to everyone.

Tom Clark Land & Outdoors Manager for the National Trust’s Purbeck portfolio. He leads teams responsible for nature conservation, habitat restoration and visitor engagement across the Purbeck Heaths. Tom is passionate about collaborative, community‑led rewilding and believes the future of conservation depends on partnerships between NGOs and local people.

Alex Brocklesby Community & Volunteering Manager for the National Trust at Purbeck. With a background in community organising, Alex builds relationships with schools, youth groups and local organisations to help residents benefit from the region’s natural assets. She co‑leads the Purbeck Community Project, which aims to make nature connection part of everyday life.

1. Purbeck Heaths Super National Nature Reserve learn about the UK’s first “super” NNR, which brings together three existing reserves to create a bigger, more connected landscape. Visit the official site at https://purbeckheaths.org.uk.
2. National Trust Purbeck the National Trust teamed up with six other landowners to create the Purbeck Heaths super reserve; find top facts, wildlife information and visitor guidance at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/nature-conservation/uks-first-super-nature-reserve-at-purbeck-heaths.
3. The Grange Project Chloe and Tom’s 80‑acre rewilding initiative in Monmouthshire aims to restore wilder nature and inspire people through community involvement. Explore our story at https://www.grangeproject.co.uk.
4. Nature Connection research the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group studies how people’s relationships with nature affect wellbeing and conservation behaviourderby.ac.uk. Read more and access resources at https://www.derby.ac.uk/research/themes/zero-carbon/zero-carbon-nbs-research-centre/nature-connectedness-research-group/.

1. Subscribe & review: If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Wilder Podcast on your preferred podcast app and leave a rating. It helps others discover the show.
2. Join the conversation: Share your thoughts or questions on social media and tag @WilderPodcast. What experiences have inspired your connection to nature?
3. Support nature restoration: Visit the National Trust Purbeck or your local nature reserve. Consider volunteering, donating or joining a community project to help make landscapes wilder and more inclusive.

Ep Art Image Credit: Purbeck Super NNR in Dorset at Little Sea | © National Trust Images / John Miller

Guest: Tom Johnstone – Founder of We Are Nature Based

Host: Tom Constable (co‑founder of The Grange Project)

In this special episode, Tom Constable talks to flood‑management expert Tom Johnstone about the catastrophic flooding that recently hit Monmouthshire and large parts of Wales. We explore what drove the event, whether it was simply a natural flood or part of a climate‑induced trend, and what practical solutions exist to reduce future risk.

This conversation is grounded in both data and lived experience; it also responds to a social‑media debate where some posts dismissed any link between climate change and flooding.

• Founder of We Are Nature Based, a community interest company that helps water companies, local authorities and land managers adopt natural flood management techniques.
• Works across the UK integrating nature‑based solutions with traditional (grey) infrastructure, including leaky woody dams, tree planting and wetland creation.
• Previously collaborated with the Grange Project to install around 50 leaky woody structures in their stream – an effort that Tom Constable credits with slowing water on the farm.

[00:00] Introduction & purpose – Host Tom Constable explains the devastating floods that struck Monmouthshire and his aim to explore whether the floods are climate‑induced or natural.

[01:50] Acknowledging the impact – Guest Tom Johnson sends sympathies to affected communities, noting the hardship and setting the tone for a thoughtful discussion.

[03:20] Why Tom Johnstone? – Tom Johnstone outlines his credentials as the founder of We Are Nature Based and his expertise in natural flood management.

[04:30] What happened? Rainfall & river levels – The conversation turns to the flood statistics: nearly 120 mm of rain fell in 12 hours (more than 10 % of the annual average) and the River Monnow’s defences were overtopped.

[06:30] Are floods climate‑induced? – Tom Johnson explains that while floods are natural, the frequency of heavy rainfall and droughts is increasing due to climate change.

[09:00] Land use, soils & runoff – They discuss how centuries of land drainage, river straightening and intensive farming have compacted soils and accelerated runoff; Tom uses a dried‑out sponge analogy to describe baked soils repelling water.

[13:00] Dredging vs. slowing the flow – A pragmatic discussion on dredging where it’s needed and why slowing the flow with leaky dams, ponds and vegetation is often a better approach.

[16:00] Grange Project anecdote & climate projections – Tom Constable shares how hedgerows, tussocky grass and woody debris have slowed runoff on his farm; Tom Johnson discusses predictions of more flash‑flood events in Wales.

[19:00] Beyond higher walls: budgets & catchments – They question the wisdom of endlessly raising flood walls and advocate investing some flood‑defence budgets in catchment‑wide natural solutions.

[22:00] Policy & planning recommendations – Tom Johnstone suggests permeable paving for new developments, smart rainwater butts, incentives for farmers to hold water on their land, and integrated catchment planning.

[25:00] Closing thoughts & call to action – Tom Constable thanks his guest and encourages listeners to learn more, support affected communities and push for systemic change.

• We Are Nature Based: Tom Johnstone’s organisation specialising in natural flood management.
• The Grange Project: grangeproject.co.uk – Tom and Chloe’s nature‑restoration project in Monmouthshire.

Ep Art Image acknowledgement: GETTY IMAGES

In episode 46 of The Wilder Podcast, hosts Chloe and Tom explore how wild places heal people and ecosystems. Their guest is Jo Roberts, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation UK. Jo shares how her childhood in South Africa fostered a deep respect for wilderness, how trauma influenced her career path, and why she believes access to nature should be a basic public health right. The conversation covers the Grange Project’s latest updates (volunteers, community‑days and new Berkshire pigs), the difference between parks and true wilderness, and the Wilderness Foundation’s programmes for survivors of domestic abuse, young people experiencing mental‑health challenges and at‑risk youth. Together they discuss why being outdoors with others, facing manageable challenges and reconnecting with non‑human nature can transform mental and emotional health.

Jo Roberts – CEO, Wilderness Foundation UK

Jo has been Chief Executive of the Wilderness Foundation since 2004 and previously worked as Projects Director and Project Coordinatorwildernessfoundation.org.uk. A South African by birth, Jo was shaped by wild places across Africa and studied social anthropology during apartheid. She moved to the UK in 1984 and later merged her global network of wilderness practitioners into programmes that use nature to promote wellbeing and behavioural changewildernessfoundation.org.uk. Jo is a master NLP practitioner and psychotherapeutic counsellor who leads wilderness therapy programmes, with research interests in how immersion in nature affects mental healthwildernessfoundation.org.uk. She also serves on the Essex Climate Action Commission and champions the idea that “we help nature and nature helps us”wildernessfoundation.org.uk.

[00:00] Introductions & Grange Project update

[08:00] Jo Roberts’ background

[16:00] What counts as wilderness?

[28:00] Why wilderness heals

[36:00] Programmes & therapeutic work

[45:00] Access to nature as a public health right

[55:00] Reflections & takeaways:

• Wild places are medicine. Research on the Wilderness Foundation’s TurnAround programme shows that spending time in wilderness and receiving long‑term support improves emotional wellbeing for most participants and helps them into education, training or worksmileymovement.org.
• Nature‑based therapy blends challenge and care. Programmes like Blossom and Brave Futures combine bushcraft, outdoor cooking and art therapy with trauma‑informed counsellingwildernessfoundation.org.ukwildernessfoundation.org.uk. Participants learn boundaries, resilience and self‑care in a supportive group.
• Volunteers and community matter. The Grange Project’s success owes much to volunteers and WWOOF‑ers who contribute energy and ideas; the hosts underline that community days not only help the land but also energise the hosts.
• Access to nature is a social issue. Jo argues that nature immersion should be a public health right, and points to transport, funding and education policy as barriers. She calls for greater investment in outdoor education and for teachers and parents to model curiosity about nature.
• Three ingredients for healing: a diverse, “wild” environment; a supportive group or tribe; and a challenge that develops mastery and resilience.

• Wilderness Foundation UK: Main charity page with information on programmes, events and volunteering opportunities – https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk.
• Blossom Programme: Nature‑based therapy for survivors of domestic abuse; meets for ten weeks in woodland near Chelmsfordwildernessfoundation.org.uk – https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/domestic-violence-recovery/.
• Brave Futures: Eight‑week group‑therapy programme for children, teens and adults experiencing mental‑health challengeswildernessfoundation.org.uk – https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/brave-futures/.
• TurnAround: A year‑long wilderness‑therapy programme for vulnerable young people; includes a Scottish expedition and mentoringsmileymovement.org – https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/turnaround/.
• Grange Project: Tom and Chloe’s 80‑acre nature‑restoration site in Wales; volunteer opportunities and podcast archive – https://grangeproject.co.uk.
• WWOOF UK: Information on Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), the volunteering network mentioned in the episode – https://wwoof.org.uk.

• Volunteer or donate: The Wilderness Foundation relies on volunteers and donations to run programmes; opportunities range from mentoring to conservation work. Details are on the Foundation’s volunteer page.
• Explore your local wild spaces: Whether it’s a city park or a remote forest, take time to notice birdsong, plant patterns and the feel of the wind. Even small pockets of wildness can soothe the mind.
• Share this episode: If you know someone who might benefit from wilderness therapy or who is interested in rewilding and mental health, share this episode of the Wilder Podcast.

• Wilderness Foundation UK – email [email protected]; phone 0300 123 3073wildernessfoundation.org.uk.
• The Grange Project – email [email protected] for volunteering or to attend future community days.

This week on the Wilder Podcast, we sit down with Chris Blake to explore how communities can steward land through collaboration, long-term vision and trust between local people and public bodies. We also share Grange Project updates (bumper apple harvest, the market garden & "cathedral-scale" polytunnel!), two recent courses, and announce Wilder Away Days - our nature-based corporate retreats.

• Community land stewardship ≠ one model. Freehold, long leasehold, management agreements and co-production each offer different ways for local values to shape land.
• Co-production works when power is shared. Start with a blank page, bring evidence-givers (forestry, ecology, education), and let a mixed panel turn evidence into values & principles - not expert-written plans.
• Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) can beat clear-fell on 100-year horizons: better soils, flood risk, vistas - and local, steady jobs from ongoing thinning rather than boom-and-bust harvesting.
• Public bodies win too. Communities unlock grants, volunteers and entrepreneurial energy that agencies often lack - delivering outcomes already in policy (biodiversity, access, carbon).
• Trust is the glue. A year-long, facilitated process built mutual respect between Natural Resources Wales managers and residents; FSC certification also helps keep plans on track.
• Practical first steps. If transfer isn’t feasible, explore long leases or co-produced forest/resource plans; talk to national support orgs early (see "Resources").

00:06 — Welcome & what’s ahead

00:30 — Grange Project update: community day, record apple harvest & juice pressing

06:50 — Announcement: Wilder Away Days (purposeful team retreats in wild nature)

10:15 — Guest intro: Chris Blake & the journey to community stewardship

13:05 — What is “community land stewardship”? Why it matters

15:40 — Lessons from Scotland’s community buyouts (Noidart, forestry, hydro, housing)

19:40 — The co-production model in the Rhondda: who’s in the room & how it ran

27:55 — Designing for Continuous Cover Forestry & local jobs over decades

30:00 — Why agencies benefit: capacity, risk culture, and policy delivery

34:35 — Accountability: FSC, public scrutiny & relationship-based safeguards

37:55 — Inside the room: creative methods, expert “witnesses,” values > wish-lists

47:50 — Where to go for help (nation-specific orgs)

49:47 — Closing reflections: changing the values that shape landscapes

50:02 — Hosts’ debrief: win-wins, optimism, and where else co-production fits

Chris Blake - social entrepreneur focused on community energy and land stewardship; founding director at The Green Valleys, long-term work in the Rhondda on co-produced forest visions; chair & founding trustee at Black Mountains College; volunteer director at Co-production Network for Wales and Global Action Plan.

• Natural Resources Wales (NRW) - public forest & land manager in Wales
• Welcome to Our Woods - community woodland group in Treherbert
• The Green Valleys - community renewable energy & stewardship
• Black Mountains College - climate-focused higher education
• Co-production Network for Wales - facilitation & training
• FSC certification - forest management standards & accountability

Getting started / advice:

• England: Locality
• Wales: Development Trusts Association Wales (DTA Wales)
• Scotland: Community Land Scotland
• Northern Ireland: Development Trusts NI
• (Note: legislation and routes differ by nation - start with your country’s body above.)

Ditch the windowless hotel. Come to our architect-designed hub in wild nature for strategy, communication and team-bonding days - with facilitation by a clinical psychologist, purposeful conservation activities, and seasonal food grown metres from the table. Profits support Wilder Connections (youth nature-connection charity).

Enquiries: wilderawaydays.co.uk

Chloe Constable - clinical psychologist & systemic psychotherapist; facilitator of reflective, nature-based work with organisations, co-leads the Grange Project and the Wilder Podcast.

Tom Constable - veteran, producer and entrepreneur; co-leads the Grange Project and the Wilder Podcast.

The Wilder Podcast explores nature connection, rewilding and the practicalities of building people-and-planet-positive projects - told from the ground at our 80-acre Grange Project in Wales, plus conversations with practitioners, researchers and community leaders.

• Subscribe & review: it really helps others find the show
• Share this episode with someone working in land, community or local government
• Book a Wilder Away Day for your team: wilderawaydays.co.uk
• Follow the Grange Project for course dates, volunteer days & market-garden news: grangeproject.co.uk