Spending time in nature is a deep-seated human need, hardwired into our brains and bodies. According to a study by Natural England, 40% of people feel that nature has been more important than ever to their wellbeing during the pandemic. Over the last 18 months, people have reconnected with the natural world in lots of different ways - finding joy and fulfilment in its mood-boosting, stress-reducing, immune-strengthening power.
For those of us working in conservation and rewilding, this has felt particularly exciting. We have seen a huge increase in the number of people going outside to explore their local area. And this wasn’t the reserve of the already-converted hillwalkers, ramblers and runners. People of all ages, abilities and backgrounds were exploring and enjoying any green spaces they could find. Often this meant discovering nearby parks and nature reserves they didn’t even know existed. People also got creative and sought nature in unlikely places. Consider the ‘rebel botanists’1 and teachers2 who wrote on pavements with chalk to point out wild plants growing through the cracks.
Those who found themselves returning to the same places day after day, week after week, watched the seasons change with new wonder. Flowers emerged, birds built nests, fledgling chicks found their wings, and leaves unfurled to full splendour before turning bright red, rusty orange and deep yellow. Together, we watched the days shorten and lengthen - and it felt like optimism was in the air.
But we know that the wealth of nature is not equally available to everyone. Lockdown restrictions highlighted the disparity in access to green space. One in ten UK households have no access to a private or shared garden.3 Disadvantaged communities are less likely to have access to a green space near their home,4 which means they are not able to benefit from the health and wellbeing boost from green space and wildlife that many of us take for granted.
So what does this mean for Trees for Life? Well, it has emboldened our mission to connect more people to nature. This lies at the heart of what the Rewilding Centre will do - and builds on our many years of working with community groups to bring people from all walks of life into wilder places, where new perspectives, skills and friendships have blossomed.
At the Rewilding Centre, people will be able to enjoy the regenerating forest and its wildlife in even more ways - from a casual passing visit, to a more immersive multi-day stay. We want to remove barriers so that people of all backgrounds and abilities can begin to rewild themselves.
The centre will feature step-free access from the car park. There will be a lochan for people to glimpse underwater wildlife, a natural play area, and a range of footpaths to explore the wider estate (please support our trails appeal here). In the building itself will be a classroom for visiting schools and workshops. A presentation and event space will encourage learning and discussion. A cafe will offer local food and drink. And a dedicated immersive storytelling bothy and a resource room will offer people the opportunity to delve deeper into the natural and cultural history of Dundreggan and the wider area.
We can’t wait to welcome visitors to the Rewilding Centre in spring 2023.
If you’re interested in finding out more about visiting with your school, university, community group or club, please get in touch with kat@treesforlife.org.uk.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/01/not-just-weeds-how-rebel-botanists-are-using-graffiti-to-name-forgotten-flora-aoe
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52224798
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56889322
[4] https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/07/03/covid-19-has-highlighted-the-inadequate-and-unequal-access-to-high-quality-green-spaces/