Wilder Podcast

Chloe and Tom speak with Gwenni Jenkins-Jones and Eben Muse from Tir Natur, a Welsh rewilding charity working to establish Wales’s largest rewilding site. The conversation explores the unique challenges and opportunities for rewilding in Wales and why this moment represents a turning point for nature recovery in the country.
Tir Natur recently secured a 1,195-acre landscape in the Doethïe Valley in the Cambrian Mountains, creating a rare opportunity to demonstrate what large-scale ecosystem restoration could look like within a distinctly Welsh cultural and ecological context. The discussion moves beyond ecology alone, examining how rewilding intersects with language, rural communities, land ownership, farming identity and the future of the countryside.
This episode is both hopeful and honest. It explores the realities of nature loss in Wales, the misconceptions surrounding rewilding and the importance of community participation in restoring landscapes. At its heart is a powerful idea: that restoring nature is not about removing people from the land, but about rebuilding relationships between people, place and the living systems that sustain both.
Tir Natur Crowdfunder – Support the charity’s fundraising appeal for Wales’s largest rewilding project. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tirnatur
Key topics & chapter markers
[00:05] – Introduction & project updates. Chloe and Tom welcome listeners, recount the story of spotting an unexpected otter on their land, apologise to “Pig Sheep Man Paul” for previous sheep‑related frustrations and announce a series of learning events at the Grange Project.
[06:28] – Meet Gwenni & Eben. Guests introduce themselves: Gwenni recently became Tir Natur’s fundraising manager after volunteering for a year, while Eben volunteers in planning, community engagement and translation in addition to his day job in access conservation. They describe Tir Natur as a volunteer‑powered charity whose name means “nature’s land”.
[08:30] – Why Wales needed Tir Natur. Rewilding projects in England and Scotland inspired action, yet Wales lacked a dedicated rewilding charity. Gwenni recounts that frustration with stalled government action and the desire to create a Welsh flagship site led to Tir Natur’s founding.
[09:40] – What ‘rewilding’ means to Tir Natur. Eben and Gwenni define rewilding as restoring whole ecosystems rather than managing single species. They plan to use hardy grazer, cattle, ponies and pigs to create a mosaic of habitats and make the landscape resilient to climate change.
[13:06] – The Welsh context. Eben outlines sobering statistics: Wales scores around 37 % on the Biological Intactness Index and 90% of its peat bogs are in poor condition. Agricultural pollution has degraded rivers, and political parties are reluctant to prioritise nature. Gwenni notes that shifting baselines mean many people have forgotten what a healthy landscape looks like.
[20:50] – Navigating rewilding’s reputation. Gwenni acknowledges past projects that failed to engage communities and insists Tir Natur will listen to local voices, retain the farmer on the productive part of the land and ensure access rather than exclusion. Eben rejects profit‑driven rewilding and stresses that land should serve communities, not corporate reputations.
[30:00] – A 1 195‑acre canvas for rewilding. Gwenni paints a picture of the Doethïe site: 1 195 acres with two rivers, 160 acres of degraded peat ready for restoration and 55 historic features including ancient farmsteads. The charity plans early interventions such as peatland rewetting and river restoration, followed by the introduction of grazing animals to kick‑start natural...

Tom and Chloe sit down with Clare from Planton farm to explore what regenerative agriculture really means. Drawing on Claire’s journey from the conventional food industry into regenerative farming, the conversation explores why our current food system is under strain and how working with nature offers a viable, hopeful alternative.
Together they explore soil health, livestock grazing, culture change in farming, and the realities farmers face when trying to shift away from extractive systems. From cattle as “ecosystem engineers” to the surprising role chickens can play in regeneration, this episode is a grounded, honest look at food, farming and the mindset shifts required to restore landscapes while keeping farms viable.
Key topics & chapter markers
[00:00] – Introduction and context
Clare joins the podcast after visiting the Grange Project, sharing her background and passion for grazing livestock and regenerative farming.
[03:56] – What regenerative agriculture actually means
A clear explanation of regeneration as the opposite of degradation – restoring soil, water, biodiversity and people – and why there is no single “recipe” for doing it well.
[05:24] – Regenerative vs organic farming
How organic and regenerative systems overlap, where they differ, and why organic certification doesn’t automatically guarantee soil regeneration.
[07:05] – The challenge of definition and greenwashing
Why regenerative agriculture lacks certification, how the term can be misused, and the importance of asking one key question as a consumer: what is this regenerating?
[08:48] – Why the current food system is struggling
A look back to post-war agriculture, the drive for volume, the rise of chemical inputs and the unintended consequences for soil health, nutrition, biodiversity and resilience.
[13:16] – Economics of regenerative farming
Why high-input, high-output farming is hitting a ceiling, how rising input costs are eroding margins, and why some farmers turn to regenerative approaches for financial survival as much as environmental reasons.
[15:02] – Culture change and farmer mindset
Farming as identity, pride and tradition – and why regenerative farming challenges deeply held ideas about tidiness, productivity and what “good farming” looks like.
[20:28] – Roots to Regeneration
Clare explains the two-year Roots to Regeneration programme, designed to support farmers and food-system professionals through deep, supported transition rather than surface-level change.
[24:23] – Cattle, climate and eating less but better meat
Why grazing animals can be central to regeneration, how grasslands co-evolved with ruminants, and why cattle can act as ecosystem engineers when managed well.
[29:38] – Chickens in a regenerative system
Exploring pasture poultry, nutrient imbalance, river pollution and why the current chicken industry is structurally broken.
[36:07] – Interconnected roles on the farm
How chickens and cattle support each other through manure management, pest control, fertilisation and orchard grazing.
[38:47] – The future of farming
Regenerative agriculture as a potential fifth agricultural revolution, the rise of eco-literacy and a vision of farming that is more resilient, humane and joyful.
About the guest
Clare is a regenerative farmer and food-system specialist based in Shropshire. She runs Planton Fam, an 80-acre regenerative holding integrating cattle, chickens, trees and perennial crops. With a background spanning the...

In this pre‑Christmas episode, hosts Chloe and Tom sit down with Tom Clark and Alex Brocklesby from the National Trust at Purbeck.
Purbeck is one of the UK’s most biodiverse areas, yet many residents remain disconnected from the nature on their doorstep. Tom and Alex explain how varied geology; including Pool Harbour, chalk ridges and heathlands, creates an incredible range of habitats.
They describe how the Purbeck Heaths, the UK’s first super national nature reserve, unites 3500hectares of heathland owned by NGOs, statutory bodies and private landowners. The conversation explores why connecting local communities to this landscape is as important as ecological restoration, highlighting systemic barriers like work pressures and lack of time.
Key topics & chapter markers:
Each bullet below begins with the approximate start time for that segment:
[00:05] Welcome & purpose of the Wilder Podcast. Chloe and Tom explain that the podcast has evolved from documenting their family’s rewilding journey to exploring wider systemic challenges—education, community, economy and eco‑entrepreneurship.
[04:20] Conservation sheep and lessons in rewilding. Chloe and Tom recount borrowing six conservation sheep, difficulties moving them between fields and why most commercial sheep aren’t suited to rewilding. Conservation breeds like the Castlemilk Moorit nibble less and promote diverse grasslands.
[16:55] Introducing Purbeck’s biodiversity. Tom Clark and Alex Brocklesby describe Purbeck as one of the most biodiverse parts of the UK because of its varied geology—harbours, chalk ridges, heathlands and limestone cliffs. They note the long‑standing presence of organisations like Natural England, the National Trust and RSPB.
[19:17] Super National Nature Reserve. The guests explain that the Purbeck Heaths are the UK’s first super national nature reserve. The reserve unites several smaller reserves into a continuous 3500 hectare landscape that includes private landowners, demonstrating collaboration beyond NGOs.
[20:54] – Experiences on the Isle of Purbeck. Visitors can see snakes, lizards, puffins, eagles, beavers and butterflies; picnic in flower‑rich meadows; explore sheltered beaches with seahorses; wander ancient woodlands; watch sunsets; or go coasteering along the Jurassic Coast. Four million people visit each year because the region offers so many ways to connect with nature.
[22:55] – Why local people aren’t more connected to nature. Despite living in a biodiverse landscape, Purbeck residents aren’t any more nature‑connected than people elsewhere. Nearly 40 % of local children start school without ever having been to the beach. Tom and Alex discuss building trust with schools, community groups and businesses and reflect on the need for community‑led approaches, rather than top‑down conservation.
[27:19] – Systemic barriers & opportunities. Modern lifestyles—commuting, low‑paid seasonal work, high numbers of second homes—leave little time for nature connection. Society is structured around nine‑to‑five routines rather than natural rhythms. The guests urge listeners to co‑create solutions that make time in nature accessible to everyone.
About the guests:
Tom Clark Land & Outdoors Manager for the National Trust’s Purbeck portfolio. He leads teams responsible for nature conservation, habitat restoration and visitor engagement across the Purbeck Heaths. Tom is passionate about collaborative, community‑led rewilding and believes the future of conservation depends on partnerships between NGOs and local people.
Alex Brocklesby Community & Volunteering Manager for the National Trust at Purbeck. With a background in...

Guest: Tom Johnstone – Founder of We Are Nature Based
Host: Tom Constable (co‑founder of The Grange Project)
Episode overview
In this special episode, Tom Constable talks to flood‑management expert Tom Johnstone about the catastrophic flooding that recently hit Monmouthshire and large parts of Wales. We explore what drove the event, whether it was simply a natural flood or part of a climate‑induced trend, and what practical solutions exist to reduce future risk.
This conversation is grounded in both data and lived experience; it also responds to a social‑media debate where some posts dismissed any link between climate change and flooding.
About Tom Johnson:
Founder of We Are Nature Based, a community interest company that helps water companies, local authorities and land managers adopt natural flood management techniques.
Works across the UK integrating nature‑based solutions with traditional (grey) infrastructure, including leaky woody dams, tree planting and wetland creation.
Previously collaborated with the Grange Project to install around 50 leaky woody structures in their stream – an effort that Tom Constable credits with slowing water on the farm.

Episode highlights:
[00:00] Introduction & purpose – Host Tom Constable explains the devastating floods that struck Monmouthshire and his aim to explore whether the floods are climate‑induced or natural.
[01:50] Acknowledging the impact – Guest Tom Johnson sends sympathies to affected communities, noting the hardship and setting the tone for a thoughtful discussion.
[03:20] Why Tom Johnstone? – Tom Johnstone outlines his credentials as the founder of We Are Nature Based and his expertise in natural flood management.
[04:30] What happened? Rainfall & river levels – The conversation turns to the flood statistics: nearly 120 mm of rain fell in 12 hours (more than 10 % of the annual average) and the River Monnow’s defences were overtopped.
[06:30] Are floods climate‑induced? – Tom Johnson explains that while floods are natural, the frequency of heavy rainfall and droughts is increasing due to climate change.
[09:00] Land use, soils & runoff – They discuss how centuries of land drainage, river straightening and intensive farming have compacted soils and accelerated runoff; Tom uses a dried‑out sponge analogy to describe baked soils repelling water.
[13:00] Dredging vs. slowing the flow – A pragmatic discussion on dredging where it’s needed and why slowing the flow with leaky dams, ponds and vegetation is often a better approach.
[16:00] Grange Project anecdote & climate projections – Tom Constable shares how hedgerows, tussocky grass and woody debris have slowed runoff on his farm; Tom Johnson discusses predictions of more flash‑flood events in Wales.
[19:00] Beyond higher walls: budgets & catchments – They question the wisdom of endlessly raising flood walls and advocate investing some flood‑defence budgets in catchment‑wide natural solutions.
[22:00] Policy & planning recommendations – Tom Johnstone suggests permeable paving for new developments, smart rainwater butts, incentives for farmers to hold water on their land, and...

In episode 46 of The Wilder Podcast, hosts Chloe and Tom explore how wild places heal people and ecosystems. Their guest is Jo Roberts, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation UK. Jo shares how her childhood in South Africa fostered a deep respect for wilderness, how trauma influenced her career path, and why she believes access to nature should be a basic public health right. The conversation covers the Grange Project’s latest updates (volunteers, community‑days and new Berkshire pigs), the difference between parks and true wilderness, and the Wilderness Foundation’s programmes for survivors of domestic abuse, young people experiencing mental‑health challenges and at‑risk youth. Together they discuss why being outdoors with others, facing manageable challenges and reconnecting with non‑human nature can transform mental and emotional health.
Guest:
Jo Roberts – CEO, Wilderness Foundation UK
Jo has been Chief Executive of the Wilderness Foundation since 2004 and previously worked as Projects Director and Project Coordinatorwildernessfoundation.org.uk. A South African by birth, Jo was shaped by wild places across Africa and studied social anthropology during apartheid. She moved to the UK in 1984 and later merged her global network of wilderness practitioners into programmes that use nature to promote wellbeing and behavioural changewildernessfoundation.org.uk. Jo is a master NLP practitioner and psychotherapeutic counsellor who leads wilderness therapy programmes, with research interests in how immersion in nature affects mental healthwildernessfoundation.org.uk. She also serves on the Essex Climate Action Commission and champions the idea that “we help nature and nature helps us”wildernessfoundation.org.uk.
Timestamps & Topics:
[00:00] Introductions & Grange Project update
[08:00] Jo Roberts’ background
[16:00] What counts as wilderness?
[28:00] Why wilderness heals
[36:00] Programmes & therapeutic work
[45:00] Access to nature as a public health right
[55:00] Reflections & takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
Wild places are medicine. Research on the Wilderness Foundation’s TurnAround programme shows that spending time in wilderness and receiving long‑term support improves emotional wellbeing for most participants and helps them into education, training or worksmileymovement.org.
Nature‑based therapy blends challenge and care. Programmes like Blossom and Brave Futures combine bushcraft, outdoor cooking and art therapy with trauma‑informed counselling