Join expert wildlife guide Nick Patel at our beautiful rewilding site and experience Heal Somerset at twilight.

September is a really special time of the year as nature makes its transition into the Autumn months. This twilight walk will be a great opportunity to experience our rewilding site as the sun sets, which is the perfect time to spot foxes, owls, moths, bats as well as any interesting migratory birds that may be flying over the site.

Your guide Nick will help you identify the sights and sounds of wildlife as well as highlight some of the important plants and trees that provide vital habitats, boosting nature recovery on the site.

Come along to learn what rewilding is already achieving at Heal Somerset and to enjoy the peace and restoration of connecting with the nature around you.

You will meet Nick at 5.30pm at our visitors parking and after the tour, you can join Nick and your group for light refreshments in our 17th century farmhouse to reflect on what you have seen.

What you might see: barn owl, yellow wagtail, reed bunting, angle shades moth, painted lady butterfly, elephant hawkmoth caterpillar, ivy bee, wasp spider, inkcap fungi.

About your guide, Nick Patel:

Nick is a tour guide, conservationist, naturalist and birder and is passionate about helping to protect, create and maintain British wildlife. A lifelong Birdwatcher, and former Nature reserve Warden, Nick has devoted his life to shouting about how amazing our native biodiversity is and just why we should care for it.

Nick says “I am really pleased and super excited to be working with Heal and looking forward to showcasing some of the amazing work they are doing at the Heal Somerset site. It’s truly inspiring and you can already feel an abundance of nature, which I am excited to share with people though my tours”.

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.

TIMINGS

Arrive: 5.25pm

Walk departs: 5.30pm

Walk ends: approximately 7.30pm

Refreshments: From 7.30pm

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CLOTHING AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We recommend you bring binoculars if you have them for this tour although there will be a couple of spare pairs available on the day.

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. Remember your antihistamine if you are a hay fever sufferer!

[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

The site is not yet wheelchair-accessible, but we do have one all-terrain mobility scooter available. If you would like to use this, please let us know ahead of the event.

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

If you have any additional questions about accessibility please email events@healrewilding.org.uk.

OTHER THINGS

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.

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

Children and babies

Children over 12 are welcome on the tour as are babies in slings (the site is not pushchair-friendly in a lot of areas). Please contact events@healrewilding.org.uk for more information about bringing children.

Dogs

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

Supporting Heal

Please note, up to 50% of your ticket price will go towards supporting the work of Heal.

You'll also 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 and the cost of attending is prohibitive, please email events@healrewilding.org.uk as we may be able to support your attendance. Please note this may not always be possible.

Local accommodation

We can't offer accommodation yet at Heal Somerset but in the summer months, we have camping and tipi options available on site. You can find out more here: https://www.healsomerset.org.uk/camping. There are also 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 car parking available for all tour participants. If you are doing a group booking for 4-8 people, we may be able to organise a pick-up from a local train station (Castle Cary, Bruton or Frome) so please email events@healrewilding.org.uk to discuss arranging that.

Covid-19

Please do not attend this talk if you are feeling unwell or have a temperature.