By Grange Project
The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.
We journey across Europe with James Shooter, host of the rewild podcast. From inspirational community led rewilding projects, to the trial and tribulations of road tripping, sit back and enjoy his story-telling skills. On that theme, we end the episode with a discussion about the role of communications and collaboration in the rewilding movement.
Your Hosts:James Shooter is a nature photographer, filmmaker and podcaster currently based in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland. He’s fully immersed in the world of rewilding, the large-scale restoration of nature, and finding ways to communicate positive environmental stories through a variety of different media.
For the last 10 years he has worked at Scottish rewilding charity, SCOTLAND: The Big Picture as a visual content creator and guide. Throughout 2023 & 2024 he was travelling across the continent, teaming up with Rewilding Europe, to produce The Rewild Podcast - immersive discussions with an army of passionate people fighting back for nature.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-shooter-b1920256/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://www.jamesshooter.com/
Podcast: https://rewildingeurope.com/the-rewild-podcast/
Resources:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, focusing on our newly launched Corporate Brochure.
[00:05:30] We meet James who introduces himself, his family and the origin story of the Rewild Podcast
[00:13:05] James summarises the aims of the Rewild Podcast
[00:16:05] We hear about two of the projects he featured on the podcast that James found particularly inspirational, Seawilding on the west coast of Scotland and Greater Coa Valley in Portugal.
[00:20:18] We discuss the differences in the scale of nature between Europe and the UK, and the power of nature recovery, even alongside modern day conflict in Ukraine.
[00:26:58] James shares the unexpected challenges on route, which were mostly van related!
[00:32:44] Chloe asks James about the impact of the podcast, on listeners and him alike.
[00:36:36] We then go on to discuss what’s next for James and the power of communication and conversation.
[00:41:36] James tells a story about lynx reintroduction to illustrate the need for common ground in the UK.
[00:44:32] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
There is a vision in Cornwall, one of large scale nature recovery from land to sea. In this episode we hear the story and the vision of ‘Tor to Shore’, eloquently described by Matt Walpole, CEO of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We discuss unexpected challenges (looking at you beavers), the importance of joined up landscapes and the power of community engagement.
Your Hosts:As an ecologist by training, Matt spent ten years conducting conservation research in Africa and Asia at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent. He then moved to Cambridge and the conservation charity sector, where he has been for the last 18 years.
Matt has worked in leadership roles for international charities such as the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Fauna & Flora International. He is a longstanding member of the judging panel of the World Responsible Travel Awards and has acted as a trustee for various conservation organisations, including the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire where he is currently Chair of the Conservation, Education and Communities Committee. He also directed a ground-breaking UK-wide assessment of the value of nature to society for Defra and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, including a few rewilding facts and the value of pig ‘micro-habitats’.
[00:08:35] Our guest for today, Matt Walpole, introduces himself and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
[00:13:01] We discuss what ‘rewilding’ means to the Trust and how they are applying these principles.
[00:18:10] Tom and Chloe question Matt about the role of animals on the landscape.
[00:20:51] Matt gives us an overview of the Tor to Shore project, including the opportunity to increase carbon sequestration through seagrass habitats.
[00:24:46] Chloe asks Matt about the meaning of ‘nature friendly farming’ and how Tor to Shore are working to engage farmers, including the role of data collection.
[00:31:55] We discuss the meaning of marine rewilding, the associated interventions and the engagement of fishermen and women.
[00:35:53] Chloe asks Matt about the challenges they’ve experienced as part of the project to date, including an unexpected arrival.
[00:39:33] Closing the conversation, we discuss the importance of landscape scale recovery, the funding behind it and where listeners can go to find out more.
[00:44:45] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
For both new and regular listeners, we cover everything you need to know about the Grange Project one year in. Whether you’re interested in the physical changes, how we intend to finance the project or our vision for nature education, we hope you find value in our enthusiasm!
**Sign up for the newsletter at www.grangeproject.co.uk**
Your Hosts:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe set the context of the episode and what they intend to cover over the next 40 minutes.
[00:03:17] Chloe shares the approach that informs the rewilding at the Grange Project: collaboration, experimentation and engagement.
[00:10:38] We highlight some of the amazing volunteers who have supported the Project, as well as some of the rewilding interventions that have occurred on the land.
[00:18:00] Tom introduces his beloved pigs, and their effects on the land.
[00:25:00] We discuss the problems and possibilities of grants, including the one we received for our Tiny Forest.
[00:28:58] Chloe and Tom share the implications of the successful planning application for our Wilder Lodge barn conversion, specifically for corporate partners.
[00:33:57] Tom describes his hopes for ecopreneurship at the Grange Project, including our pending planning application for a micro-distillery, and our beautiful Tiny Homes.
[00:36:56] We share our visions for nature literacy and connectivity from the Project.
In this interview with Simon Roper, we debate the problems and possibilities of technology in rewilding, covering everything from the latest innovations to whether technology ever could, or should, replace boots in the ground. Whether you’re a self described technology geek or living a low tech lifestyle, the debates in this episode offer something for everyone.
Your Hosts:Simon Roper is the Director of Ambios responsible for external networks and vocational training. He leads in project focused grant fundraising and has a specific training role around species reintroductions and mammal ecology. Simon’s outreach work for Ambios includes visiting Universities to give talks about rewilding and helping to facilitate local and national rewilding networks. Simon is passionate about ecology, biodiversity and creating positive learning environments. He co-founded Ambios in 2001, to help people achieve their goals for nature and employment.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-roper-97a989a/?originalSubdomain=uk
Website: https://www.ambios.net/
Resources:https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ - Merlin Bird App
https://www.picturethisai.com/ - Plant Identification App
https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/recording-and-monitoring/irecord-butterflies - Butterfly Identification App
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, including news of a fallen tree and recent encounters with barn owls.
[00:07:12] Our guest for today, Simon Report, introduces himself, Ambios and his interest in the use of technology in nature.
[00:13:00] Tom asks Simon to describe a practical application of technology use within Ambios, including GIS mapping and drones.
[00:19:50] We debate whether apps and technology can ever replicate ecological expertise.
[00:24:41] We discuss significant moments in nature, with or without technology.
[00:28:30] Simon reflects on a high risk and exciting development within technology in the world of learning, utilising AI.
[00:36:51] Chloe questions Simon about how these technical developments may impact jobs in nature conversation.
[00:39:07] Tom concludes the conversation by inviting Simon to reflect on the future technological developments in this space
[00:42:37] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
In the context of carbon emissions related to imported foods, increasing food insecurity, pollution from intensive farming and corporate monopolies, maybe it's time we reimagined the future of farming in the UK? Duncan Fisher eloquently describes how Our Food 1200 / Ein Bwyd 1200 are working to build a reliable and affordable supply of food for all, focusing on accessible and small scale agroecological farms.
Your Hosts:Duncan Fisher is the Director and Co-Manager of Our Food 1200, he lives in Crickhowell and has a varied background, including extensive experience in child welfare and development and sustainable travel.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanfisher/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://ourfood1200.wales/ to find out more about the work of Our Food 1200, including the application link for the Future Farms Partnership in Powys.
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, sharing the love from our second community day and news of a recently awarded grant.
[00:06:40] Our guest for today, Duncan Fisher, introduces himself and gives an overview of Our Food 1200.
[00:12:05] Tom asks Duncan to elaborate on why we require a new approach to farming, specifically in relation to food security and the affordability of farmland.
[00:16:50] Chloe questions Duncan about the environmental impacts of our current food system, including the carbon impact of imported food, and the profitability of growing fruit and vegetables.
[00:23:14] We discuss the definition of agroecological and what you might expect from a small-scale future farm.
[00:26:16] Duncan introduces their flagship project: The Future Farms Partnership.
[00:31:22] We discuss the perspective of George Monbiot and his ‘protein factories’, considering the importance of decentralisation.
[00:35:58] Chloe reflects on the joy of community connections associated with local and small-scale farming.
[00:39:25] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
James Hitchcock, CEO of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, takes us on a big picture journey in this week’s episode. Covering a range of topics including the role of the Wildlife Trusts, the relationship between Wales and rewilding and the conception of his dream project, Wilder Pentwyn Farm.
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SIGN UP for the VOLUNTEERS DAY: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day
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Your Hosts:James Hitchcock is the CEO of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, he has extensive experience working in applied conservation, specialising in land management and associated skills, from practical management through to leadership roles. Of particular relevance to this podcast, James has a long held passion for restoring nature at landscape scale and believes rewilding to be a practical and holistic scalable solution to the challenges we face in the UK.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hitchcock-a6263790/
https://www.rwtwales.org/ to find out more about the fantastic projects of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, including Wilder Pentwyn Farm.
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, including the SEWBReC Recorder’s Day, our work with Youngwilders, the pigs and our summer community day.
[00:07:03] Our guest for today, James Hitchcock, introduces himself and the journey to his current role.
[00:10:26] James describes the role of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust (RWT) and how it works alongside other NGOs such as the National Trust and Natural Resources Wales.
[00:20:18] Tom asks questions about the funding sources for RWT and whether James perceives them to be fit for the future.
[00:26:33] James reflects on what drew him to Wales personally and some of the unique features of this country, including the Wellbeing for Future Generations Act.
[00:29:43] We discuss the relationship between Wales and rewilding and James shares his perspective on the ‘Summit to Sea’ project.
[00:35:39] James talks us through the conception and vision for Wilder Pentwyn Farm.
[00:41:06] We conclude the conversation by thinking about our responsibilities as ‘good ancestors’.
[00:42:30] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
The foundations of this rich episode are a conversation with Laura Fairs, the Lead Facilitator and Co-Creator of the Embercombe Rewilding Training. We discuss the history of the training, the key subjects covered in the training and the importance of inclusivity and diversity. It was then our pleasure to host alumni from the 2023 course: Claudia, Olly and Gerry. They share with us their experiences and the power of the community that’s been created.
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SIGN UP for the VOLUNTEERS DAY: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day
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Your Hosts:Laura Fairs is a conservationist, rewilder, facilitator and speaker. She is the co-creator and lead facilitator for the Embercombe Rewilding Training and the co-founder of Devon Wildland, a network of wilder sites and people across the Haldon Hills, Teign Valley and surrounding areas.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-fairs/
The alumni of the 2023 Rewilding Training were:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerry-o-brien-51007323/
Embercombe Rewilding Training: https://embercombe.org/the-rewilding-training/ Introducing the UK’s first in-depth, blended Rewilding Training. This 9-month learning journey will take you from a curiosity about rewilding to having the confidence, knowledge, skills, ability and contacts to be able to rewild your own site, or another landowner’s.
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe briefly introduce the podcast.
[00:02:55] Our guest for today, Laura Fairs, introduces herself and the history of Embercome.
[00:07:45] We talk about why rewilding training at Embercombe and the content of the training.
[00:17:23] We discuss Laura’s perspective on the impact of the course and the power of community.
[00:22:00] Laura reflects on the 2023 course and her hopes for the future.
[00:26:22] We move to the second half of the episode, speaking to the alumni of the 2023 Rewilding Training course; they introduce themselves and what led them to Embercombe.
[00:37:00] We discuss the experiences of Olly and Claudia, who joined the Rewilding Training from a non-nature based background.
[00:46:04] Chloe asks the alumni about the impact of the training and the importance of community.
[00:57:06] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
Keen for More:Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm
In Wilding, Isabella Tree tells the story of the ‘Knepp experiment’, a pioneering rewilding project in West Sussex, using free-roaming grazing animals to create new habitats for wildlife. Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope.
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/wilding-the-return-of-nature-to-a-british-farm-isabella-tree/942604?ean=9781509805105
Why do beavers create dams? How do they enhance the ecosystem around them? What is getting in the way of their return? As a Project Officer with the Welsh Beaver Project, Alicia Leow-Dyke is the perfect guest to introduce us to the beaver and their importance within the British Landscape.
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SIGN UP for the COMMUNITY DAY: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day
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Your Hosts:If you’re interested in finding out more about the HighGround Charity (who Tom supported in his Offa’s Dyke adventure) please go to the following link: https://highground-uk.org
Grange Project Contact & Social Media:Alicia Leow-Dyke has been the Wildlife Trusts Wales (WTW) Welsh Beaver Project Officer since 2016. With over 10 years of experience working with beavers, Alicia is the perfect guest to introduce us to the beaver and the feasibility of re-introducing them to Wales.
Find out more at:
[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share the latest news from the Grange Project, including the outcome of Tom’s crazy challenge, the next community day and an update on planning!
[00:06:57] We introduce our guest, Alicia Leow-Dyke, and she gives us a beginner’s guide to beavers: what they look like, where they live and how they like to spend their time.
[00:16:10] We then go on to talk about what’s just so special about beavers and the influence they have on the system around them as ‘ecosystem engineers’.
[00:19:39] Alicia shares her knowledge about why beavers were lost from Britain.
[00:22:07] We hear about the Welsh Beaver Project, why it was established, what’s been achieved and where beavers are in Wales.
[00:25:06] Alicia shares some of the concerns that people hold about the reintroduction of Wales and where beavers are currently across the country.
[00:35:12] We discuss the future of beavers in Wales and where you can find out more about the Project.
[00:38:15] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
Rob graciously takes us back to woodland basics in this fascinating episode as we consider the role of trees in addressing the climate and ecological crises. We discuss the unique opportunities presented by the Welsh uplands, the (successful) efforts of bracken to take over the world and the innovative techniques developed by Stump up For Trees as they seek to plant one million trees across the Brecon Beacons.
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Keen to join the WhatsApp community?
Follow this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CrMABch050S1BjiPliTE9h
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Your Hosts:If you’re interested in finding out more about the Highground Charity (who Tom is supporting with his Offa’s Dyke adventure) please go to the following link: https://highground-uk.org
Grange Project Contact & Social Media:Rob Penn is an author, journalist and broadcaster. He has written widely on subjects such as cycling, travel and bread, as well as a number of books about British woodland including the The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees, about the ash tree and Woods: A Celebration, published by the National Trust. He also wrote and presented Tales From the Wildwood, a series for BBC4 about woodland management. As well as being the co-founder and Project Manager of Stump up for Trees, he is patron of the Small Woods Association and set up a local community woodland group.
Find out more at: https://stumpupfortrees.org
Or buy his books at: The Man who Made Things Out of Trees: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-man-who-made-things-out-of-trees-robert-penn/4252570?aid=477&ean=9780141977515&
OR Woods: A Celebration:
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/woods-a-celebration-robert-penn/263376?ean=9781911358114
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share the latest news from the Grange Project, covering diverse subjects including the pigs (and their ecosystem engineer functions), the Monmouthshire Botany Group and Tom’s latest crazy challenge,
[00:07:55] We introduce our guest, Rob Penn, and start the conversation by considering the importance of trees, including the ecosystem service they provide.
[00:13:50] Rob then explains how we’re doing within the UK in terms of woodland cover (and how that compares internationally) and where we should be planting tees.
[00:21:48] We hear about the attempts of bracken to take over the world, and how it’s being pretty successful within the Welsh uplands.
[00:25:53] Rob then shares with us some of the challenges of planting on the steep bracken banks and the innovative techniques required to address them.
[00:34:54] We discuss what is meant by ‘wood security’ and how this should be considered on an equal footing with food security.
[00:37:27] Chloe asks about sources of funding for tree planting, including government and natural capital.
[00:41:31] We conclude the conversation by hearing about the work of Stump Up For Trees and the joy of working alongside volunteers.
[00:45:22] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
Are you one of the 84.4% of the population that live in an urban setting? In this episode, Elliot and Digby from Citizen Zoo tell us about rewilding projects across London, including the reintroductions of water voles and beavers. We hear about some of the unexpected impacts of these projects, the opportunity to create nature friendly ‘cities of the future’ and some of the opportunities and challenges of urban rewilding.
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Keen to join the WhatsApp community?
Follow this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CrMABch050S1BjiPliTE9h
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Your Hosts:Citizen Zoo is a social enterprise committed to rewilding and conservation, beginning with a group of friends and now ‘rewilding our future, to create a world filled with wildlife’. They currently have a portfolio of projects including: London beavers, Get InVOLEd and Wild Tolworth Farm, with a focus on community and engagement.
Find out more at: www.citizenzoo.org
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share the latest news from the Grange Project: update on the trees planted in March on the community day, our mixed emotions in the loss of a fallen oak and project pig.
[00:00:00] Elliot and Digby introduce themselves and the mission and structure of Citizen Zoo (including the origins of the name).
[00:00:00] We discuss what is meant by urban rewilding and its importance, with people as the driving force.
[00:00:00] Elliot talks about one of the Citizen Zoo projects launched in 2019: Get InVOLed.
[00:00:00] Elliot and Digby introduce us to one of the flagship projects of the social enterprise: returning beavers to London’s waterways. We particularly reflect on the impact on the local community.
[00:00:00] We talk about the importance of volunteers, nature engagement and the opportunity of cultural diversity in urban settings.
[00:00:00] Tom questions Elliot and Digby about some of the challenges for Citizen Zoo, including the risk of becoming ‘too successful’, the balance between the needs of humans and nature and the importance of flexibility and responsiveness.
[00:00:00] We continue the conversation with a discussion about nature education and engagement, particularly within urban populations.
[00:00:00] Finally, we conclude the conversation by hearing about Wild Tolworth Farm and the opportunity to bring large herbivores into urban settings.
[00:00:00] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.