FROME — The number of bird species at Heal Somerset increased from 67 to 94 over three years, while butterfly species rose from 11 to 24 and small mammal species grew from three to five, according to data released by Heal Rewilding. The charity reported these gains at its 190-hectare (460-acre) former dairy farm in east Somerset near Frome, the first site it acquired for rewilding.
Heal Somerset now hosts at least 15 bat species and 60 species of breeding bird, including the endangered bullfinch and numerous tree pipits. A humane trapping survey found five small mammal species on the site, compared with three at a nearby organic dairy farm. The rewilding process relies on natural processes rather than targeting specific species outcomes, allowing ecosystems to regenerate with minimal human intervention.
Management practices include returning streams to a more natural flow with the help of free-roaming beavers, leaving dead wood in place, and encouraging scrub and tree regeneration. Two Tamworth pigs currently roam the land, with plans to reintroduce a small number of cattle and ponies. The project is supported by more than 250 volunteers who assist with surveying, removing barbed wire fencing, and other site maintenance tasks.
Jan Stannard, chief executive and co-founder of Heal Rewilding, said, "To some extent you hold your nerve and trust nature. If you give wildlife an undisturbed safe place, a sanctuary, you have this sense that something good is going to come out of it. It’s an absolute joy to see wildlife resurging." Stannard added that the organization’s reporting was partly motivated by the limited coverage of rewilding in the UK-wide State of Nature report for 2023. "We were struck by how little attention was given to rewilding, despite the extraordinary growth of the movement. There are now hundreds of rewilding projects across Britain and many report seeing remarkable ecological changes. But stories alone are not enough. If rewilding is to be fully recognised within national nature recovery strategies, we need robust, long-term data that demonstrates impact."
The site also serves as a community hub, with partnerships involving 15 underserved groups, including people living with dementia, individuals with additional needs, and those facing financial hardship. Youth groups and schools participate in on-site activities, and rewilding ranger Dan Hill noted the transformation since the project began in 2023. "I remember seeing the monoculture of rye grass swaying in the wind and thinking, crikey, it’s desolate. Three years has flown by and so much has changed. It’s incredibly exciting. I’m learning so much." Hill also said, "Seeing what nature wants to do – it’s very hopeful. And it’s not just about nature – when you get people coming to the site and they say, ‘I just want to keep coming back, I’ve never seen a site like this before’, it really puts a smile on your face."
No independent assessment of Heal Somerset’s claims was available.