Ep. 035: In Business For Nature: Project Updates and Make it Wild

·55 min·3 clips

Chloe says the Grange has planted over 3,000 trees in six months across pioneer islands, hedgerows, and an orchard.

1. Wilder Podcast episode 35 pairs a Grange project update with a Make It Wild interview about nature restoration and commercial sustainability. 2. Tom and Chloe host the episode, and Helen Neve joins as co-founder and co-director of Make It Wild, bringing a surgeon-to-rewilding background. 3. The episode asks how the Grange and Make It Wild can support nature while still paying for land, staff, and infrastructure. 4. Tom says the Grange has planted more than 3,000 trees across pioneer islands, hedgerows, and a traditional orchard since September 2024. 5. Chloe says those plantings use native species chosen with help from Harvey, the Young Wilders wild steward and tree expert. 6. Tom describes four additional brash piles, including two designed as protected “small mammal hotel” structures. 7. Chloe explains that over one kilo of local yellow rattle seed was scattered on 30 acres of pig-rootled ground before the frost. 8. Tom says the two pigs have rootled about a third of the project and created disturbance that should help biodiversity in spring and summer. 9. Chloe says the tiny forest covers 200 square metres, holds 600 trees, and will become an outdoor classroom space. 10. Tom says the 2,000-square-metre market garden will use polytunnels, strip beds, raised beds, an edible forest garden, and permaculture principles. 11. Tom says the project moved away from a CIC because business and charitable work became too hard to separate cleanly. 12. Chloe says the new plan is a limited company for glamping and corporate away days, with a percentage of revenue or profit funding a charity. 13. Tom says the charity will focus on nature connectivity, schools outreach, local benefit, and wider national impact. 14. Chloe says they are looking for trustees to build the charity’s expertise and influence. 15. Tom says two new companies have been incorporated: the Grange Distillery and the Grange Studio. 16. Tom says the Grange Studio will use podcasting and digital marketing to generate revenue more quickly and feed profits into the charity. 17. Helen says Make It Wild began in 2010 with a 26-acre field bought as a personal legacy project for nature. 18. Helen says Make It Wild now manages over 500 acres across 10 sites in North Yorkshire and uses phase one ecological surveys to decide what each site needs. 19. The interview has a practical, conversational tone, with both couples comparing notes on land management, business structure, and the problem of making restoration pay. 20. Listeners interested in rewilding, carbon offsetting, and conservation business models will get the most from this episode.

As heard by us

A grounded rewilding conversation focused on practical land decisions.

Tom and Chloe begin with a full Grange project update, then bring in Helen of Make It Wild, which gives the episode a firm sense of place before it moves into nature protection and restoration.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want rewilding talk with mud on its boots.

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