Winter Wonder Walk at Heal Somerset

Join us for a revitalising winter stomp around your local rewilding site at Heal Somerset.

Winter can be a challenging season — for both us and the wildlife around us — but it also offers a uniquely beautiful chance to connect with nature. With trees bare of leaves, it's easier to spot our resident and overwintering birds, and the muddy ground provides the perfect canvas for spotting the footprints of elusive animals like badgers, foxes, deer, and perhaps even our wild-living beavers.

Led by expert wildlife guide Nick Patel, you'll explore the sights and sounds of winter wildlife, while gaining insight into how rewilding is already transforming the landscape and supporting biodiversity at Heal Somerset.

We'll meet at 10am in the visitor car park before heading out on the walk. Afterwards, warm up in our farmhouse with light refreshments — and maybe even a festive treat or two — as you chat with Nick and fellow walkers about the morning’s discoveries.

Festive hats and seasonal outfits are warmly welcomed — but entirely optional!

What you might spot: siskin, chiffchaff, treecreeper, long-tailed tit, kestrel, short-eared owl, snipe, lapwing

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”.

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

9.55am: Meet at visitors' carpark

10am: Walk begins

12pm: Refreshments at farmhouse

CLOTHING AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We recommend you bring binoculars for this walk, if you don't have any you could use, please let us know ahead of the day.

It is likely to be wet underfoot so we recommend that you wear wellingtons or sturdy waterproof shoes or walking boots suitable for rough, uneven ground. If the forecast is wet, bring a waterproof jacket and a hat and dress warmly.

[We give this level of detail to encourage wider participation in our events 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 walk 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 14 are welcome on the walk 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. 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 car parking available for all tour participants. We do have a minibus for station pick ups where needed so contact events@healrewilding.org.uk for more information about that.

Photo credit: Frost web image by Alex Sams, Providence Ecological