Heal the Land Bristol Screening

Join us in Bristol for a screening of Heal the Land, the new film documenting the beginning of nature recovery at Heal Somerset.

Heal the Land is a compelling, inspiring and hopeful film about the transformation of a former intensive dairy farm in Somerset into a thriving new place for nature and people.

This beautiful 25-minute documentary, filmed entirely at the Heal Somerset site during 2024, is a journey of drama, discovery and insight into the start of this rewilding journey. The film features astonishing new arrivals, a remarkable array of wildlife and insightful commentary from experts and the Heal team. Above all, it shows the extraordinary resilience of nature and how quickly wildlife comes back if we give it space and leave it in peace. 

Alongside the screening, we will be joined by some brilliant expert speakers from within the rewilding and wildlife sectors who can offer a deeper insight into the world of rewilding and the ups and downs of establishing a rewilding site including rewilding principles, innovations, interventions and good practice.

With England currently one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth, the challenge to restore biodiversity and kickstart nature recovery has never been more urgent. Come along to find out how rewilding can give back to wildlife and to ourselves as individuals and communities. 

Timings*

7pm: Doors open 

7.30pm: Introduction and film screening

8.15pm: Panel discussion

9.15pm: Networking

10pm: Event ends

*please note these could change slightly but the screening time of 7.30pm is fixed

Confirmed speakers for this event include:

• Eva Bishop, head of communications, Beaver Trust
• Tom Francome, director of Heal the Land
• Daniel Hill, rewilding ranger, Heal Somerset
• Hayley Smith, producer of Heal the Land
• Jan Stannard, co-founder and CEO, Heal

Plus more to be announced.

Tom Francome is the founder of Planet House Productions and is a director, videographer and video editor who has credits shooting on feature documentaries for Nat Geo, Disney+, BBC and ITV.

As the Rewilding Ranger at Heal Somerset, Daniel Hill manages the site’s monitoring and land management programs. You can find him surveying for signs of beavers, co-ordinating volunteer work parties, or working with partners to deliver the hydrological restoration plan, amongst a huge variety of other tasks. 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.

Hayley Smith is an award-winning natural history series producer and director with 30 years’ experience in the TV industry. She has worked on factual programmes across the BBC, ITV, C5, National Geographic, Discovery and Sky Nature. Her credits include the global hit series Meerkat Manor shot in the Kalahari, Wild Britain with Ray Mears for ITV and Pygmy Hippo – A Very Secret Life for BBC2’s flagship series Natural World.

Her BBC4 feature-length documentary Nature’s Turtle Nursery: Inside the Nest revealed for the first time the extraordinary hatching of eggs inside an olive ridley turtle’s nest during the mass nesting event in Costa Rica. Hayley began her freelance career as a producer on the enduring Longleat series Animal Park with Kate Humble and Ben Fogle and has spent many years showcasing the work of conservationists, wildlife rangers and vets around the world. She’s become a passionate advocate of rewilding, seeing the power of storytelling as a way to inspire others to join the movement.

Jan Stannard is a Co-founder and CEO 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.

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 Triodos Bank for supporting this event