Heal Somerset immersive tour

Our immersive tour is a different way of experiencing our beautiful site, enabling those taking part to focus on the sounds of nature as they move silently through the rewilding landscape, taking stops every 10 to 15 minutes along the way for optional conversation and some words from your guide, Karen Skeates, on what you have seen and are likely to see in the next section.

This site began its recovery from its ecologically depleted state at the beginning of 2023 and our sightings board is already full. Walking with a quiet group provides a better chance of seeing some of the wildlife here and even if the creatures are elusive, it's still a peaceful and restorative place to be, with a hopeful sense that wildlife is returning in abundance.

Each immersive tour of around two hours will be in a group of up to ten people. Arrival is 9.30am with the tour beginning at 9.40am, finishing at around 11.45am with light refreshments. Adults and accompanied children aged 14+ are welcome, as are assistance dogs, but no other dogs or pets are allowed on site.

Come and find out how Heal is making a positive difference on the ground to nature recovery and climate change and enjoy the effects on your own wellbeing of mindfully being in nature.

Please note that it is a condition of the tour that participants respect the prolonged moments of silence. If take up for the tour is lower than three people, we will postpone and come back to you to discuss an alternative date.

About Your Guide, Karen Skeates

Karen is an artist, vegetable grower, seed saver and garden rewilder who is proud to now have all three species of UK newts, and, at long last, hedgehogs in her garden. Karen has a professional background in Environmental Education including the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Karen says “Since childhood I have had a sensitivity to nature and a high degree of awareness of the more-than-human world. Heal Somerset is becoming a haven for all kinds of life, including humans and as a guide for the Immersive Tours I hope to create a space for people to have an encounter with reality and have the chance to be fully open to all that nature has to offer”.

Tour location

Heal Somerset is in a very rural location, a few miles from Bruton, Frome, the A303 and the Wiltshire border, at Lower West Barn Farm, Bindon Lane, Witham Friary, BA11 5HH. Directions will be sent in a confirmation email.

Sponsored tickets from Providence Ecological

We have a small number of free tickets available for this event thanks to sponsorship from Providence Ecological. These are intended to be for the use of young people, students and anyone that may find the cost of the event prohibitive. These are offered on a basis of trust and on a first come first served basis. You can see more about Providence Ecological on their LinkedIn page and their website

Timings

Arrive: 9.30

Tour departs: 9:40

Tour ends: approximately 11:45

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Refreshments

After the tour there will be tea and coffee (with dairy and plant milks), herbal teas, coffee, soft drinks, water and biscuits.

Clothing and other considerations

We recommend that you wear sturdy shoes or walking boots suitable for rough, uneven ground and wellingtons if the weather has been very wet in the days leading up to the tour. If the forecast is wet, bring a waterproof jacket and a hat. To reduce the chance of ticks finding their way inside clothing, we recommend long trousers tucked into socks. If the forecast is hot, it's best to wear layers including a light cotton shirt or t-shirt and please bring sun cream and potentially a hat. We also recommend bringing a water bottle, preferably a reusable one. You will be able to top it up at the site.

[We give this level of detail to encourage wider participation in our tours by people who may be unfamiliar with being out in nature and we hope this is useful for them as well as a reminder to those already aware.]

Accessibility, support and babies/children

The site is not yet wheelchair-accessible, unfortunately.

If you are hearing impaired and unable to participate without a BSL translator, please let us know so that we can arrange that.

If you use an assistance dog, your dog will be welcome.

Other things

Dogs

We welcome assistance dogs but you can't bring a pet dog or any other pets to the site.

Supporting Heal

You'll have the chance to become a Friend of Heal and to donate to support our work.

Special ticketing

If you are unwaged, a student or living on a very low income, we have a small number of tour tickets available at £2 including the Eventbrite ticketing fee. Please email heal@healrewilding.org.uk if you would like to come on this basis.

Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel this tour and either refund you or book you into an alternative date. This would be due to a very poor weather forecast or illness and will be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Local accommodation

We can't offer accommodation yet at Heal Somerset. There are lots of places to stay in and around Frome and Bruton.

Transport

The remote rural location means that travelling here by car is the most practical option and there will be booked car parking available for all tour participants.

COVID-19

Please do not to travel to, or attend, this tour if you have COVID-19 or showing symptoms. We will monitor any changes in advice or restrictions regarding COVID-19 and in-person events. Please be aware that attending an in-person event carries a risk of catching COVID-19 and you come at your own risk. We recommend that you only attend if you are double vaccinated and boosted.