Wilder Podcast

• Ep. 045: Community Land Stewardship with Chris Blake

  This week on the Wilder Podcast, we sit down with Chris Blake to explore how communities can steward land through collaboration, long-term vision and trust between local people and public bodies. We also share Grange Project updates (bumper apple harvest, the market garden & "cathedral-scale" polytunnel!), two recent courses, and announce Wilder Away Days - our nature-based corporate retreats.Key takeaways:Community land stewardship ≠ one model. Freehold, long leasehold, management agreements and co-production each offer different ways for local values to shape land.Co-production works when power is shared. Start with a blank page, bring evidence-givers (forestry, ecology, education), and let a mixed panel turn evidence into values & principles - not expert-written plans.Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) can beat clear-fell on 100-year horizons: better soils, flood risk, vistas - and local, steady jobs from ongoing thinning rather than boom-and-bust harvesting.Public bodies win too. Communities unlock grants, volunteers and entrepreneurial energy that agencies often lack - delivering outcomes already in policy (biodiversity, access, carbon).Trust is the glue. A year-long, facilitated process built mutual respect between Natural Resources Wales managers and residents; FSC certification also helps keep plans on track.Practical first steps. If transfer isn’t feasible, explore long leases or co-produced forest/resource plans; talk to national support orgs early (see "Resources").Timestamps:00:06 — Welcome & what’s ahead00:30 — Grange Project update: community day, record apple harvest & juice pressing06:50 — Announcement: Wilder Away Days (purposeful team retreats in wild nature)10:15 — Guest intro: Chris Blake & the journey to community stewardship13:05 — What is “community land stewardship”? Why it matters15:40 — Lessons from Scotland’s community buyouts (Noidart, forestry, hydro, housing)19:40 — The co-production model in the Rhondda: who’s in the room & how it ran27:55 — Designing for Continuous Cover Forestry & local jobs over decades30:00 — Why agencies benefit: capacity, risk culture, and policy delivery34:35 — Accountability: FSC, public scrutiny & relationship-based safeguards37:55 — Inside the room: creative methods, expert “witnesses,” values > wish-lists47:50 — Where to go for help (nation-specific orgs)49:47 — Closing reflections: changing the values that shape landscapes50:02 — Hosts’ debrief: win-wins, optimism, and where else co-production fitsGuest:Chris Blake - social entrepreneur focused on community energy and land stewardship; founding director at The Green Valleys,...

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• Ep. 044: The Quiet Revolution of Growing Your Own with Gaz Oakley

  In this episode, Tom and Chloe sit down with chef-turned-homesteader Gaz Oakley to explore his remarkable journey from the high-pressure kitchens of Cardiff and London to a more grounded life growing food and foraging in the Welsh hills. With 1.8 million YouTube followers, five cookbooks, and a deepening connection to land, Gaz shares how food, nature, and simplicity became the foundation of his transformation.This honest conversation explores the systemic challenges of modern living, the healing power of growing your own food, and how small acts like growing herbs on a windowsill can become a radical form of resistance.Key TakeawaysNature deficiency is real. Gaz describes the anxiety and disconnection he felt in city life — and how growing his own food and spending time outdoors radically improved his wellbeing.Food is medicine. From fermenting tomatoes to foraging yarrow, Gaz has reimagined food not just as fuel but as nourishment for body, soul, and soil.Start small, grow meaningfully. Whether it's a tomato plant on a windowsill or an allotment plot in the city, Gaz encourages listeners to take accessible first steps towards food autonomy.Authenticity over aesthetics. Despite his large digital following, Gaz speaks candidly about the tension between online influence and offline peace, and his longing to connect with people in-person through real-world projects.Music, clothing, and relationships change. When you reconnect with nature, everything else aligns — even your Spotify playlist.Timestamps00:00 – A sip of hibiscus and a warm welcome01:00 – Setting the tone: hospitality, herbs, and grounding rituals03:00 – What’s The Grange Project? An intro for new listeners06:00 – Upcoming community day highlights (apple pressing, polytunnel building, wood meadows)08:00 – Meet Gaz Oakley: chef, YouTuber, homesteader11:30 – From burnout to foraging: Gaz’s turning point during COVID15:00 – How growing food changed Gaz’s entire relationship with cooking18:00 – The deeper meaning of foraging, soil health, and nourishment22:00 – From beats to birdsong: how Gaz’s music taste reflects his transformation25:00 – Systemic critique and compassion for city dwellers28:00 – Social media, influence, and the silent revolution of self-sufficiency34:00 – How self-sufficient is Gaz? The ups and downs of growing most of your food38:00 – Time, joy, and the rhythm of gardening41:00 – Herbalism, slow living, and detoxing from industrial life46:00 – Gaz’s advice: practical steps for rewilding your life — even in the city50:00 – Final reflections and future plans52:00 – Postscript chat: bromances, polytunnels, and McDonald’s metaphorsGuest BioGaz Oakley is a chef, author, YouTuber, and passionate homesteader based in Wales. Best known for his plant-based recipes and hugely popular channel "Avant Garde Vegan", Gaz is now on a mission to grow his own food, live more naturally, and inspire others to reconnect with the land.Links & ResourcesGaz Oakley on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/avantgardeveganThe Grange Project: https://www.grangeproject.co.ukJoin the WhatsApp Community: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/whatsappNewsletter Signup: Stay updatedSupport the podcast: Rate, review, and share!Mentioned in this episode:Visit & Stay at the Grange ProjectWould you like to escape the trappings of the modern world and wake-up in the morning to one of the best views in South Wales, where only the birds are noisy? We have two beautiful and sustainably built ‘tiny homes’, carefully located in secluded locations across our 80 acre rewilding project.Visit Grange Project

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• Ep. 043: From Loss to Life - Ben Goldsmith & Natural Capital

  In this episode of the Wilder Podcast, we sit down with Ben Goldsmith, financier, conservationist, and passionate rewilding advocate, to explore the deeply personal and global dimensions of nature restoration.Ben shares how the tragic loss of his daughter, Iris, became the catalyst for rewilding his Somerset farm, transforming grief into a living love letter to her wild spirit. We also explore his belief in the healing power of nature, both for individuals and for landscapes, and why reconnecting young people with the natural world is one of the greatest challenges of our time.From there, we broaden the lens to global rewilding projects and the emerging role of nature credits, from carbon and biodiversity credits to water quality markets, in funding large-scale ecological recovery. Ben explains the opportunities, risks, and integrity challenges of these markets, and why, despite their imperfections, they may be one of the most powerful tools available to scale restoration at speed.Key TakeawaysHow the loss of Ben’s daughter Iris inspired his family’s rewilding journey.The healing role of nature in times of deep grief.Why rewilding can happen on any scale, from a window box to thousands of acres.The promise and pitfalls of nature credits, from carbon markets to biodiversity net gain.Why reconnecting young people with nature is essential for our collective future.How hope, optimism, and pragmatic financing can fuel a wilder world.Timestamps00:00 – Weather, drought, and the Grange Project’s changing landscape09:30 – Introducing Ben Goldsmith and his lifelong passion for nature16:00 – Rewilding in memory of Iris: grief, love, and transformation27:00 – Nature connection, childhood, and ecological identity33:00 – The return of beavers and winning hearts for rewilding36:00 – Nature credits explained: carbon, water, biodiversity46:00 – Risks, integrity, and scepticism in new nature markets52:00 – The future of Welsh farming and policy courage01:00:00 – Reflections on accountability, funding gaps, and next stepsGuest Bio – Ben GoldsmithBen Goldsmith is an environmentalist, investor, and writer. He chairs the Conservative Environment Network and is the founder of Rewilding the World, a podcast sharing stories of global restoration. His memoir, God is an Octopus, documents his journey through grief and the solace he found in rewilding his Somerset farm after the tragic loss of his daughter Iris. Ben has also worked extensively in green investment, particularly in natural capital and renewable energy, seeking ways to channel finance into large-scale ecological recovery.HostsTom & Chloe Constable are the founders of the Grange Project, an 80-acre rewilding initiative in Monmouthshire, Wales. Through the Wilder Podcast, they document their journey in restoring nature, raising a young family, and exploring the wider rewilding movement with leading voices from around the world.The Wilder PodcastThe Wilder Podcast explores the people, ideas, and projects driving the rewilding movement. From family farms to global landscapes, we share honest conversations about restoring nature, finding hope, and building a wilder future.Connect with Us🌱 Visit the Grange Project: www.grangeproject.co.uk🌿 Follow on Instagram:

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• Ep. 042: Restorative Practices for a Wilder World

  In this episode of the Wilder Podcast, Chloe and Tom discuss the recent opening of the Grange Hub and explore two significant restorative practices: Natural Flood Management (NFM) and Nature Guardianship. Tom Johnston from We Are Nature Based CIC explains how NFM utilises natural processes to manage water flow, contrasting it with traditional gray infrastructure. The conversation also explores Nature Guardianship, a concept that integrates the voice of nature into decision-making processes. The episode highlights the need for a mindset shift in water management and the potential for these practices to create our 'wilder world'.Community discount for the Grange Project's Wilder Cabins: 'COMMUNITY10'. Click here.Your Hosts:Tom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/Website: https://www.grangeproject.co.ukPodcast Journey Page: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcastGrange Project Contact & Social Media:Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/grange.project/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grangeprojectYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrangeProjectLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Takeaways:The Grange Hub opening marks a significant milestone for the project.Natural Flood Management (NFM) uses natural processes to manage water flow.NFM can prevent flooding and enhance biodiversity.Nature Guardianship brings the voice of nature into decision-making.Restorative practices reconnect humans with nature.Community engagement is crucial for successful environmental initiatives.Cumulative small interventions can have a large impact on water management.Mindset shifts are necessary for effective water management.Nature Guardianship can help shift cultural attitudes towards nature.Investing in nature-based solutions is essential for sustainability.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Wilder Podcast and Grange Hub Opening12:23 Natural Flood Management: Understanding the Concept42:07 Nature Guardianship: A New Approach to Decision-Making54:25 Restorative Practices: Reflections from the interview.

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• Ep. 041: The Lost Art of Nature Connection

  SummaryIn this episode of The Wilder Podcast, hosts Chloe and Tom explore the concept of nature connection, discussing its importance for mental health and wellbeing, the barriers that prevent it, and the pathways to rekindling our relationship with the natural world. They explore the significance of understanding nature connection, particularly among adolescents, and stress the need for systemic change to encourage deeper engagement with nature. The conversation underscores the reciprocal relationship between people and the environment, calling for a shift in language and policy to strengthen nature connection across society.Prof Miles Richardson's booksWebsiteThe Blackbird's SongReconnectionNature Connection Research GroupTakeawaysNature connection is vital for mental health and wellbeing.The UK ranks low in both nature connectedness and biodiversity.Urbanisation and technology are major contributors to disconnection from nature.Emotional engagement and education can foster stronger nature connection.Adolescents often experience a notable dip in nature connection during their teenage years.Research shows a strong correlation between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviour.Engaging the senses is a powerful way to deepen nature connection.Community involvement plays a key role in successful nature restoration projects.Nature connection should be seen as a reciprocal relationship.Systemic changes are essential to improving access to nature for everyone.Chapters00:00 – Introduction10:49 – Understanding Nature Connection16:01 – Defining Nature Connection21:25 – Nature Connection and Wellbeing32:55 – Barriers to Nature Connection45:43 – Pathways to Nature Connection50:48 – Engaging Adolescents in Nature Connection55:54 – Reflections and Future Directions

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