Wilder Podcast Grange Project

In this inspirational conversation, we start off with the story of the curlew and end up discussing the importance of ‘nature literacy’. Mary’s creativity, passion and determination shine through as we hear about her historic campaign for the curlew, driving forward the natural history GCSE and her hopes for a nature pathway throughout our education system. ‘If you’re prepared to put yourself out there, to be uncomfortable, be vulnerable, do all the hard work, just because you love something, then you will be absolutely amazed about what happens’.
Credit for the curlew call: Merlyn Driver, singer songwriter and nature focused musician, www.merlyndriver.com
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Interested in becoming a Wild Steward?Reach out to jack@youngwilders.uk
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Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our GuestMary Colwell is a writer, TV and radio producer and conservationist, whose massive walk across the breadth of the UK in 2016 helped raise the profile of the Curlew, and led her to write the greatly influential Curlew Moon. Mary founded Curlew Action in late-2019 after a series of talks, meetings and forums among experts discussing what was most needed to rescue the rapidly declining UK Curlew population. Mary loves long distance walking, camping, reading and cycling, as well as wildlife and storytelling, and it is her passion for telling the story of the curlew that has helped launch it into the public consciousness in the past few years. If that wasn’t enough, for eleven years, she spearheaded a successful campaign for a GCSE in Natural History.
You can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-colwell-1202779/?originalSubdomain=uk 
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe provide a few quick updates from the Grange Project: planning (again), the arrival of the British Saddlebacks and our collaboration with Youngwilders..
[00:04:16] Mary Colwell joins us and we are introduced to the curlew, why they are so special and we hear an extract of their call.
[00:09:47] Mary helps us reflect on the many factors that are contributing to the decline of the curlew and why Wales has been particularly badly affected.
[00:15:04] Chloe questions Mary about what the systemic solution might be for this systemic problem and how they are indicators of the health of a...

Join the journey of Heal Rewilding as we hear about the mission of the charity, the acquisition of their first site and progress a year later. Jan Stannard, Founder Trustee and Acting CEO, clearly describes the many decisions made by the charity over the last year and the importance of new spaces for nature. We loved the ambition, the insights shared and Jan’s thoughtful reflections.
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Join the Grange Project Community WhatsApp Group. Link here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CrMABch050S1BjiPliTE9h
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Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our Guest:Jan Stannard is a founder-trustee and Acting CEO of Heal Rewilding, which launched in March 2020 to raise money to buy land in England for nature recovery, climate change action and wellbeing. The charity’s goal is to create a new site in every English county, 48 sites in total covering 24,000 acres. Heal acquired its first site, Heal Somerset, in December 2022 which is now open to the public. 
Jan moved into the charity sector after 40 years’ experience in business, having served on company boards in the strategic communications and digital marketing sectors. She first became active in campaigning for wildlife in 2015 when she set up a local swift group, which has since organised the installation of hundreds of swift boxes. She also oversaw the largest ever amphibian ladder project in England in 2018, helping to stop migrating toads from drowning in road drains. She has a BA in Geography and a first-class honours degree in Psychology, and while studying for the latter, qualified as an executive coach and trained as a resilience specialist.
You can find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janstannard
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe provide a few quick updates from the Grange Project: planning (or lack of), our WhatsApp Community Group and Project Pigs.
[00:05:32] We are introduced to Jan Stannard from Heal Rewilding, she describes the inception and mission of Heal and the importance of new spaces for nature.
[00:12:00] Jan describes the process of acquiring their flagship site, Heal Somerset, and the criteria for their sites.
[00:17:55] We talk about one of the experiences offered by Heal - a unique nighttime soundscape experience performance entitled ‘Out of the Darkness’.
[00:21:21] Jan talks about the importance of water on rewilding sites and takes us on a verbal journey around Heal...

In this delightful chat with Frank, we start to make sense of why our relationship to food is so critical for the climate. We explore a range of topics including the scary impact of food waste, the challenge of our meat and dairy consumption and the role of social tipping points. As well as the science, Frank also shares with us his vision of the ‘good life’ and the benefits of this for our wellbeing and the planet.
Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our GuestFrank Holleman is the co-founder of the Fork Ranger, which creates beautiful products to help us eat more sustainably, including a cookbook, seasonal calendar and a wonderfully engaging app. Frank has a background in communications before beginning Fork Ranger in 2019, you can follow him on Linkedin or learn more about Fork Ranger via their website, links below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollemanfrank/?originalSubdomain=nl
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share their reflections on the success of the Grange Project’s first volunteers day (more in the article link below).
[00:] Frank introduces himself and his rationale behind starting the Fork Ranger, specifically the critical role food can play in addressing climate change.
[00:] We begin to explore the impact of food waste, including the differences between avoidable, partly avoidable and unavoidable waste.
[00:] Frank shares the importance of not heading for ‘perfection’ in our sustainable food choices.
[00:] We then begin a conversation about the relationship between livestock and sustainable eating, specifically considering the role of land use. 
[00:] Tom questions Frank about our nutritional needs and whether they can be met by an entirely plant based diet.
[00:] Frank highlights the difference between food consumption and production and we talk about the hope he holds for the future in our relationship to food.
[00:] We consider whether we can make a difference at an individual level and how food really matters.
[00:] Frank shares some research around social tipping points and Chloe and Tom share an example of their journey, with meat and diary becoming ‘luxury products’.
[00:] We conclude the interview with Frank’s vision of the ‘Good Life’; less flying, more adventures, less stuff and more memories.
[00] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for

As the majority of the UK population lives within an urban environment, it’s critical that ‘wilder nature’ is not the privilege of the rural landscape. Stephen Mason, Community Parks Officer at Cheltenham Borough Council, shares practical examples of what rewilding can look like in a semi-urban context, how to bring people along with the journey and the benefits for people, places and nature alike. 
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SIGN UP for the VOLUNTEERS DAY: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day
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Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our GuestStephen Mason is the Community Parks Officer for Cheltenham Borough Council. He is passionate about nature, rewilding, volunteering and engaging communities, and is delighted to be paid for doing the work he loves!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mason-926893259/https://www.facebook.com/cheltenhamparks
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share a lengthy update on the Grange Project, discussing the plan for the volunteers day, the dilemmas of health and safety, and what they’ve learnt about native trees and tree protection.
[00:] Stephen introduces himself and the role of a Community Parks Officer.
[00:] We discuss the importance of context and what ‘rewilding’ means in a semi-urban to Cheltenham Borough Council, for example the creation of a wild-flower meadow in a heritage park within the town.
[00:] Stephen shares the consultation process involved with making changes to community green spaces and how the council are working to engage and educate people.
[00:] We then talk about a community orchard project, including a scrape, and the benefits for nature and the local residents.
[00:] Chloe talks about her experiences working in mental health and the value of green prescribing and engaging young people with nature. 
[00:] Stephen shares more examples including veternising a mature sycamore tree in order to create wildlife habitats and the importance of a mosaic of habitats. 
[00:] We end the interview with Stephen by discussing the challenges of dispersal and wildlife corridors within a semi-urban environment.
[00] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
Keen for...

Chantal’s passion for the wild boar exudes throughout this interview as we discuss the role the boar plays in habitat-regeneration, the challenge they present for their human neighbours and how they might just be rewilding us? Following the success of her recently published book ‘Groundbreakers - The return of Britain’s wild boar’, Chantal indulged our stories from the forest as we reflected on the myths, the debates and the opportunities of living alongside these complex animals.
Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our GuestChantal is a naturalist, writer and science communicator. Having grown up in the tidy countryside of Kent, her encounters with the growing rewilding movement opened her eyes to the potential for restoring nature in Britain, and inspired her to study the relations between people and wild boar in the Forest of Dean. She currently lives in Cheltenham, never too far from the boar. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantallyons/https://chantallyons.uk
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share an update from the Grange Project, specifically Tom’s first experience of a local community council meeting.
[00:05:22] We welcome Chantal to the podcast and she describes her background and how found herself writing a book about wild boar.
[00:09:08] Chantal gives us a history of wild boar in the UK and how they contribute to our ecosystems.
[00:17:05] Tom describes the effects of wild boar disturbance and the hazards of running in the forest.
[00:21:42] Chloe questions Chantal about some of the challenges of humans coexisting alongside wild boar, including disturbance and the ‘threat’ they present.
[00:28:00] Chantal reports how the wild boar have started to ‘rewild’ people. 
[00:35:20] We discuss how Forestry England have worked to achieve a balance between the boar, the ecosystem and the people that live alongside them.
[00:38:35] Chantal describes two possible futures for our relationship with the wild boar.
[00:43:42] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.
Keen for more:To purchase Chantal’s wonderful book: a...

Toni, co-founder of Green Up Farm, takes us through everything you need to know about indoor hydroponic vertical farming: from what you need to get started, routes to market and the challenges of being zero waste. We loved this episode for Toni’s transparency and the strength of the values which underpin the success of Green Up Farm.
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SIGN UP for the VOLUNTEERS DAY: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day
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Your HostsTom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/
Grange Project Contact & Social MediaEmail: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: 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/
Our GuestToni is the co-founder of Green Up Farm, alongside her husband, Alex. They had a dream to set up an environmental and nature friendly method of producing food and following extensive research, they came across Indoor Hydroponic Vertical Farming. This led to the creation of Green Up Farm, Pembrokshire’s first indoor hydroponic farm growing microgreens, micro herbs and specialty crops for the hospitality industry.
https://www.instagram.com/greenupfarm/
Listen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share updates from the Grange Project: a visit from Sara King at Rewilding Britain, our volunteer day and a new starter to the team. 
[00:04:56] We welcome Toni to the podcast and she shares the origins of Green Up Farm.
[00:10:21] Toni describes the fundamentals of the business: what an indoor farm is, what they grow and who they sell to.  
[00:14:50] We talk about the problems and possibilities of being a zero waste business, automation and energy sources.
[00:24:21] Tom questions Toni about the scaling of the business, generating custom and the financial viability.
[00:30:54] Toni shares the advice she would give others interested in setting up an indoor farm and ecopreneurs, the possibilities of franchising and their vision for Green Up Farm.   
[00:36:44] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them from the conversation. 
[00:40:10] We share an interview with Ella, the first recruit for the Grange Project, who is helping us with social media and community engagement.
Keen for more:https://greenupfarm.co.uk: Explore the website to find out more about the benefits of indoor hydroponic produce, microgreens and some beautiful images of the produce itself!