Yorkshire Volunteers Awarded £12,000 to Spread Rewilding Across Region

A Yorkshire nature charity is celebrating after being granted funding to explore innovative ways to encourage rewilding across the region.

The Yorkshire Rewilding Network (YRN), which is run by a team of volunteers who connect, inspire and enable rewilding, have received £12,000 from Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Innovation Fund.

Announcing the funding on World Environment Day, YRN committee member Sarah Mason said it will allow them to open up rewilding to a wider range of communities who are not large land owners.

Sarah said.

“Thanks to Rewilding Britain’s funding we will now be able to go into areas and kickstart rewilding conversations among people for whom it’s not currently on their radar,”

“There’s often a feeling that rewilding is only for people who own lots of land but that isn’t true – no one on the YRN committee is a large land owner, for example. Rewilding is all about letting nature take the lead to restore natural processes and this can happen in urban settings, in schools, or anywhere there is a patch of land.

“This project is all about bespoke engagement - finding locations that don't have a lot of rewilding at the minute, gathering the insight into what other activities are already happening there and looking at how we can encourage and support more rewilding.

“We want to get more people talking about rewilding, sharing ideas and philosophies, and see where communities can then take it.”

Jenny Hayward from the Yorkshire Rewilding Network says rewilding can happen in a range of different locations.

On the Yorkshire Coast there are rewilding projects underway in Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, a map showing where there are rewilding projects taking place in Yorkshire can be seen at https://www.yorkshirerewildingnetwork.org.uk/map-of-projects/

Jenny says rewilding is a more natural method of managing the land.

The group says that rewilding projects can be delivered by both large land owners and by people who have control over small areas of land.

Jenny says the projects can scale depending on what land is available.

The group say they will use the funds to deliver projects which let nature take the lead to restore natural processes.

Jenny Hayward says the idea is to get more local communities involved in rewilding projects.

YRN aim for their rewilding hubs to provide a blueprint for other networks around the country, showcasing how more people can get involved in rewilding even when they don’t own or manage land.

Sarah says.

“Nature is really good for everyone, in many different ways,”

“Strong ecosystems provide us with food security, help us to reduce flood risk and be more resilient to drought and wildfires.

“But being out in nature is also beneficial for people both physically and mentally, and nature-rich spaces can bring communities together. We want to make sure all those benefits are accessible to everyone.

“Rewilding encourages a balance between people and the rest of nature so that we thrive together. It has a huge, joyful message; it brings hope, happiness and shows how quickly life can flourish if we give it space and time.”

Since 2021 Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Innovation Fund has helped fund 44 rewilding initiatives across Britain’s land and sea, from community-driven to technology-focused projects.

Sara King, Rewilding Manager at Rewilding Britain, said:

“We’re delighted to be able to support this brilliant [rewilding project from Yorkshire Rewilding Network. Connecting local rewilding projects, as well as the rewilders themselves, is a vital step in supporting large scale nature restoration.

“This inspiring, innovative rewilding project will provide a blueprint for other county networks, showcasing how more people can get involved in rewilding even if they don’t own or manage land.”

There are more details about the Yorkshire Wildlife Network at https://www.yorkshirerewildingnetwork.org.uk/

There are more details about Rewilding Britian at  https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/how-to-rewild/funding-for-rewilding/rewilding-innovation-fund