Hope In Action: The State of Nature at Heal Somerset

Join Heal's co-founder and CEO, Jan Stannard, for a presentation and walk which brings to life the findings from the Heal Somerset State of Nature Report 2026. 

This is the first ever State of Nature report which focuses solely on rewilding and its aim is to produce tangible evidence that rewilding can drive rapid and meaningful ecological recovery and contribute our results to a national dataset for rewilding.

The land at Heal Somerset is recovering using nature-led approaches, with our role being to help restore natural processes through interventions. These interventions include the introduction of animals acting as ecosystem engineers (pigs and, in future, cattle and ponies), the renaturalisation of water flows, and natural and assisted regeneration of trees and scrub (such as blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble and wild rose). 

During the session, Jan will share the thinking behind Heal's approach, talk about the interventions taking place across the site and discuss the first suite of species and habitat surveys that form the foundation of the report.

Following the presentation, you'll join Jan on a guided walk through Heal Somerset to see these nature-led approaches in action and discover how rewilding can help tackle the UK's biodiversity crisis, strengthen climate resilience and create healthier, more resilient ecosystems.

All photos used here are credited to Jenny Vickers.

You can read the full Heal Somerset State of Nature report here

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

10am: Meet at our Community Nature Cabin for welcome, refreshments and talk

11am: Comfort break followed by a site tour

12.15pm: Refreshments and depart

CLOTHING AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

We recommend you bring binoculars if you have them for the walking part of this event

We recommend that you wear sturdy boots as thanks to our wild-living beavers, it may be wet underfoot. Bring sunscreen, antihistamines if you need them and ticks will be about so we suggest long trousers which you can tuck into socks. We will advise on weather in the run-up to the event.

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 event 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 at this event 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

Though we welcome assistance dogs, you can't bring a pet dog or any other pets to the site.

Supporting Heal

Please note, all proceeds from 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

There are lots of places to stay in and around Frome and Bruton, and you can find information for some of them here.

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 (included in your ticket price).