Wild Recovery

An introduction to the principles of wilding and nature recovery, and their application for land of any size.

Are you watching the receding tide of life with dismay and grief?

How can we ensure that our children get to hear as much birdsong as we did as children? Or even better, more!!

This new one day introduction to rewilding and nature recovery explores one of the most exciting areas of modern land management.

Wilding is big news these days, from reintroducing beavers to re-wiggling rivers to making hedgehog holes and using grazing animals differently - we can adapt our practices to encourage habitat for other species to return in greater numbers alongside us humans.

Hosted at Moor Barton Wilding by members of the Steering Group, Wild Recovery will share the underlying principles of wilding and explore how to apply them at different scales in the following areas: woodland, gardens, water, farms and animals.

We will use Moor Barton and Trenchford Woods as a case study of wilding in progress, visiting its woodland, wetland, wood pasture, beaver landscape and more. You will experience first hand what can be done and the effect this has, whilst learning rewilding principles that can be applied to any site.

Rewilding works very well at large scales, and there are many ways to use its principles at any scale, from a small patio upwards. Wild Recovery will show you practical ways that you can help the tide of life return to your garden, street, field, smallholding, parish, farm and wider landscape. 

The day will also include a tour of the 6.5 acre beaver enclosure at Moor Barton Wilding. We will explore the extraordinary lake and wetland landscape that the beavers have created, turning what was once a canalised stream into a complex habitat that now supports a myriad of other wildlife. There will be an optional beaver-spotting 'sit spot' in the evening after the course has finished.

This learning day is for you if:

• You are a landowner, land manager or gardener interested in learning the basics of rewilding.
• You are interested in Moor Barton Wilding and want to learn more about the project.
• You are a student, graduate or interested in pursuing a career within the rewilding / nature restoration sector.
• You want to know more about how rewilding works.

Outcomes from the day....
You will:

• Be introduced to the history and principles of rewilding.

• Have clear examples of how these principles can be used for land and projects of different scales and types.

• Have ideas about what to do on your land or in your livelihood.

• Be inspired and better prepared to talk to others about rewilding.

  

  
  

  The lead facilitator for this one day introduction to rewilding and nature recovery is Peter Cow. A passionate nature lover and rewilder, Peter has taught Permaculture Design for over 15 years all around Europe and beyond. He also leads online and in person nature connection trainings, gatherings and events. A graduate of the Embercombe Rewilding training, Peter has been involved with Moor Barton Wilding since its inception, as a member of the Steering Group and also running events on site. He currently anchors the Keystone Species Worksphere for the project. Peter lives near Holne on Dartmoor and loves travelling on his e-bike, listening to bird song and getting into rivers!

  Peter will be supported by past and present members of the Moor Barton Wilding Steering Group, Liz Parker, Josh Parker and Annie Watson.

  A bit about Moor Barton Wilding

  Moor Barton Wilding CIC is a 120 acre project on the north east shoulder of Dartmoor dedicated to rewilding land and people. The land is made up of a mosaic of ecologically rich habitats - including wood pasture, hazel coppice, transitional edge and wildflower glades, closed canopy woodland, wetland, veteran trees and conifer woodland - and has been a site for species reintroductions including, in 2022, four beavers. Believing that humans are part of nature with a key role to play in restoring our ecological systems, Moor Barton engages communities near and far, offering many opportunities to learn about and get involved in different aspects of rewilding. https://www.moorbarton.org/