Heal Live: Birmingham
Thu 14 Nov 2024 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT
Midlands Art Centre, B12 9QH
Description
Heal Live: Birmingham – find out the latest on the upcoming Heal film about rewilding our first site in Somerset and join us and our expert panellists to discuss access to nature and the need to create sanctuary for wildlife
Each event offers an opportunity to hear about the ups and downs of establishing our first rewilding site, Heal Somerset, including an update on our upcoming film showing the beginning of its amazing journey towards recovery. We’re really excited to share with you the changes we’ve witnessed and to show what rewilding can give back to wildlife, to people and to communities in a relatively short space of time.
We will also be joined by some brilliant expert West Midlands-based speakers from within the rewilding and wildlife sectors where we will hear about examples of innovation and good practice in the area. We will also be asking what the local rewilding community is doing to tackle disparity in access to nature, whilst ensuring balance when it comes to wildlife’s need for sanctuary. There will be the chance for everyone attending to contribute, challenge and question, to deepen the conversation.
Confirmed speakers for this event include:
- Jan Stannard, Founder and acting CEO, Heal (host)
- Professor Chris Baines, Environmentalist, writer and broadcaster
- Dr Delia Garratt, CEO, Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust
- Cherelle Harding, Founder of Steppers UK
- Daniel Hill, Rewilding Ranger, Heal Somerset
Jan Stannard is a Co-founder and Chair of Trustees of the national rewilding charity Heal, which launched in March 2020 to raise money to buy land in England for nature recovery, climate change action and wellbeing. Jan moved into the charity sector after 40 years’ experience in business, having served on company boards in the strategic communications and digital marketing sectors. She first became active in campaigning for wildlife in 2015 when she set up a local swift group, which has since organised the installation of hundreds of swift boxes. She also oversaw the largest ever amphibian ladder project in England in 2018, helping to stop migrating toads from drowning in road drains. She has a BA in Geography and a first-class honours degree in Psychology, and while studying for the latter, qualified as an executive coach and trained as a resilience specialist.
Chris Baines is one of the UK’s leading independent environmentalists, an award-winning writer and broadcaster, and a lifelong campaigner for nature conservation and access to wildlife. His book “How to Make a Wildlife Garden” has been in print for 40 years and is now published as a gardening classic by the Royal Horticultural Society.
In 1979 Chris was a founder and first chair of the pioneering Urban Wildlife Group – now the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. He is an adviser to the National Trust, a national Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, and an RSPB lifetime achievement medallist. He is Hon Patron of the Countryside Management Association and has always worked to forge creative partnerships between conservationists and industry. For the past 11 years Chris has chaired the independent Landscape Stakeholders Advisory Group for the National Grid.
Chris was one of the original presenters of BBC Countryfile, his Children’s TV series The Ark won an international Wildscreen award in 1987, and his most recent film-documentary “The Living Thames” won the UK Charity Film Award in 2019. The sequel “The Historic Thames” is currently in production.
Dr Delia Garratt is CEO at Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, the leading charity working for nature’s recovery across Birmingham and the Black Country; protecting, restoring and creating wildlife-rich, accessible spaces that benefit people and wildlife. She is passionate about nature's recovery in an urban environment and also that everyone has an equal opportunity to access nature in their daily lives.
Prior to joining the environmental sector Delia spent over 20 years working in heritage and culture. Most recently as Director of Cultural Engagement at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust leading on their award-winning learning and engagement programmes. Delia is a Trustee at the Fields Studies Council, an environmental education charity creating outstanding opportunities for everyone to learn about nature. She is also Trustee at SAMPAD a charity promoting and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of South Asia, and the creativity and innovation of British Asian artists.
Cherelle Harding is the founder of Steppers UK a CIC dedicated to connecting people of colour to the outdoors through fun, therapeutic and creative outdoor experiences.
Daniel Hill is the Rewilding Ranger at Heal Somerset. He is currently co-ordinating the 2024 baseline surveys, managing both contractors and volunteers, and is working closely with Rewilding Britain to provide feedback on their monitoring framework as one of 5 pilot sites. Looking forward to 2025, Dan expects to be out in the field implementing Heal’s first kick-start interventions such as smashing up land drains, building leaky dams and introducing pigs, utilising teams of volunteers where possible.
Dan’s passion for nature was sparked as a child growing up on an organic small holding in rural south Wales watching red kites soar above. His love of rewilding developed through volunteering with the RSPB on the Somerset Levels after completing a degree in Mathematical Sciences. He now continues his learning on The Rewilding Training, an in-depth course run by Embercombe.
This will be an engaging, warm and informative evening full of stories of hope and positive change, so will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in nature and wildlife, from rewilding and wildlife experts and professionals, students and campaigners to young people, landowners and anyone who is interested in finding out more about the principles of rewilding or is simply seeking answers in the face of devastating nature and climate decline in the UK.
Travel
At Heal, we actively encourage and support sustainable travel. When travelling to our events, we invite you to consider more eco-friendly options such as walking, cycling, using public transport (buses and trains) or car sharing. However, we understand that these alternatives may not always be feasible and appreciate your consideration.
Thank you to our event sponsor, The Curious Network.
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.
Location
Midlands Art Centre, B12 9QH