Into The Light 2025

Our two-day gathering at Heal Somerset is returning for 2025!

Our 2025 event will have a festival feel and build on the things people loved about the 2024 gathering: small, relaxed and low tech with lots of time built into the programme for conversation. This event will bring together people from our fast-growing community doing something positive about nature recovery right now. You will hear from leading voices and key change-makers from across the rewilding movement in the UK and meet others working in a range of sectors, from environment, wildlife, finance and tech to scientists, climate change campaigners, career seekers and those looking for answers in the face of devastating nature and climate decline.

On each of the two days, people will gather to learn from our inspiring speakers, share knowledge and talk about what’s working and what’s not. Together we will discuss creative and action-focused approaches and strategies to mitigate the biodiversity and climate crises we are facing, and explore the positive impact of rewilding on nature, climate and wellbeing.

Attendees will have the opportunity to spend time together on our beautiful rewilding site, helping to foster a greater level of connection, mutual support and interaction with others working towards the same goals within this relatively new sector.

Friday 6 June

The programme on Friday is being curated with those working in the nature, ecology, land management and other professional sectors in mind, but would be of interest to others, for example landowners, students and anyone who wants a deeper dive into rewilding. 

Key themes for Friday will include species surveys and the role of interventions in rewilding.

Saturday 7 June

Saturday will feature inspiring speakers from a range of backgrounds in nature recovery and wildlife, and our audience will have the chance to contribute, challenge and question, as well as share good practice and positive stories of nature-recovery in their own areas. 

Key themes for Saturday will include the impact that rewilding has on our wildlife along with the benefits it brings for us and our wellbeing, both as individuals and communities.

You can see confirmed speakers and timings of main programme on our website

There will be basic camping available on site, from Thursday night to Sunday night, parking (included in the ticket price) and a minibus pick up service run by volunteers to and from nearby railway stations.

Many thanks to event sponsors:

 Finance Earth is the UK’s leading environmental impact investment advisor and fund manager, with a mission to mobilise finance for nature, climate, and communities. As a social enterprise, Finance Earth works in partnership with world-leading environmental organisations to protect and restore nature utilising market-based mechanisms and implementing bespoke financial tools. With a focus on scaling high-integrity conservation investment, Finance Earth’s team has structured over £1 billion of project financing to close the global biodiversity funding gap and deliver environmental and social impact across the UK and internationally.

The Curious Network creates surprising places and manages vibrant communities across the UK. Using careful design to regenerate each unloved space into a unique place that wears its heritage proudly on its sleeve. This provides a sense of belonging and connection through considered building design, building long-term relationships, and holding events. This network is also open to businesses beyond our buildings through our virtual TCN Membership. Which provides access to the talent, growth, connections, and community that help businesses and their employees thrive, wherever they're located.

Ticket Pricing

We have set ticket prices to acknowledge that some attendees will be in a position to pay more than others and the higher prices for those that can afford it, will help subsidise the cost of tickets for others. This is an honesty system and we ask that you choose the level that is most applicable to you.

Food and drink

There will be a small bar on the Friday and Saturday evening and there will be a food van available each day.

On Friday we will have pizzas, pizzettes and salads from vherbal kitchen

Vherbal kitchen is an independent food truck on a mission to bring delicious, plant-based pizza to pop-ups, festivals, markets, and private events! Their menu has carefully crafted flavour combinations, blending the traditional with the unique and complemented perfectly by paired sides and desserts. They believe that great pizza is just the beginning and their mission is rooted in three core pillars: Pizza. People. Planet. These values drive everything they do, from the dough they stretch to the community they build and the sustainable practices they embrace

On Saturday we will have curries, dahls and momos from Tibetan Memories

Tibetan Memories produce delicious, homemade, healthy and tasty Tibetan food. The chef Namdi instinctively uses a uniquely Tibetan process of mindfulness in food production which he absorbed during his intense monastic training.  Thanks to Namdi’s monastic background he believes strongly in the welfare of all sentient beings and food is predominately vegan and if not, vegetarian.

Age

Into The Light is open to anyone aged 16 or over as long as they are accompanied by an adult, and 18 or over if attending alone.

Camping

Wild camping is available on site at Heal Somerset and you will need to select a camping ticket for each night you would like to stay. The camping is basic with a mains cold water tap and toilets but it does also have excellent views! If camping is not your thing, there are lots of places to stay in and around Frome and Bruton which are a short drive from the site.

Tours

We will have optional tours which we will let you know about once confirmed. You will be able to book in advance or on the day if there is still availability. These will take place outside of the main programme times so will not clash with any speakers.

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.

Transport and parking

The remote rural location means that travelling here by car is the most practical option. If you are driving, parking is included in the price of your ticket but you will need to select a parking ticket for each day you will be on site so we can keep an eye on the number of cars. We will do some minibus pick ups from Frome and Castle Cary stations for those travelling on trains, you can find out more about those by emailing events@healrewilding.org.uk 

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 event. 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) and plenty of antihistamine if you suffer from hay fever.

[We give this level of detail to encourage wider participation by people who may be unfamiliar with being at an outdoor event and we hope this is useful for them as well as a reminder to those already aware.]

Accessibility

If you are a wheelchair user or have any other additional accessibility requests, please email events@healrewilding.org.uk to discuss requirements. We now have a Tramper (an all-terrain vehicle) to enable you to tour the mown paths on the site at your own risk.

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

Dogs

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

Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel this event in its entirety or one of the event days, but this will be avoided unless absolutely necessary. You will be refunded in the case of cancellation. Changes to the programme including speakers could be made at anytime.

Please note, tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.