Grange Project

20/01/2025

🎧New Podcast Ep: Going Off-Grid: Tiny Homes, Big Solutions! 🎙️

If you’ve ever contemplated heading to the hills in your own off-grid escape, this is the episode for you. Craftsman builder Simon Whitfield of the The Tiny Home Company covers the key ingredients necessary to create your own self-built home, as well as philosophy underpinning the ‘tiny living’ lifestyle.

Prefer to experience tiny living first-hand? 🌿 Book a stay in one of our stunning off-grid escape cabins (crafted by Simon himself) here: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/offgridescapes

Listen to the full ep here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7GQewYY0s87m4iyzx5el5Y?si=c723fa8ab4d1465b

07/01/2025

Looking for a "pick me up" at the start of 2025? 🙃.

Your search is over! Why not join our superb, welcoming and passionate community for the Grange Project's 4th community day? 15th Feb. (NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY).

Sign up if you:

➡️ Fancy doing something wholesome, fun and physical (Activities for all!)

➡️ Want to be immersed in wilder nature

➡️ Want to have a positive effect on the world (no matter how small)

➡️ Want to meet likeminded people

➡️ Want to explore the Grange Project

➡️ Want to better understand nature restoration

➡️ You like cake (other delicious food and drink will be provided!).

Click here: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/volunteers-day

06/01/2025

Today is the last chance to join us in supporting Wales' largest rewilding project. OVER 1000 acres! The team over at Tir Natur are working tirelessly to make this dream a reality. Every little helps 😁.

At 1000+ acres Wales’ largest ecosystem restoration project will see nature & people flourishing providing hope and momentum with rewilding

05/01/2025

Snow Pigs ❤️🌨️🛷

02/01/2025

Some people may look at this picture and see mud and bird poo. And they wouldn’t be wrong. BUT. I see progress:

This patch of churned-up earth is a sign of our two British Saddleback pigs hard at work, acting as ecosystem engineers. Their natural rooting behaviour is helping break up compacted soil, aerate the earth, and create the perfect conditions for wildflowers and native plants to flourish.

It’s incredible how quickly our perspective have shifted with a little education. What once might have looked like a muddy mess now feels like hope, growth, and a step closer to restoring balance to this landscape. 🐷.

20/12/2024

It's amazing what chatting with a bloke in a pub in Bristol can lead to! 🤣

A snippet of last week's episode of the Wilder Podcast where Tom and Chloe chat to Matt Swarbrick of Henbant permaculture. Matt shares how they:

* Bought a "small farm on a mortgage"
* Produce delicious, nutrient-dense food
* Build nutrient-rich soil while increasing biodiversity
* Create social capital by placing the community at the heart of everything

And most importantly, they enjoy the process every step of the way!

Full Episode: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-033-an-agriwilding-evolution-with-matt-swarbrick

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LEUwbNTwBbXrINa5BKVrL?si=wcpE0-YTStuO0cYrId3DB

13/12/2024

🎙️New Wilder Podcast Episode: An Agriwilding Evolution with Matt Swarbrick 🎧

Matt Swarbrick, a farmer in North West Wales, shares with us the journey of Henbant permaculture. Using the principles of holistic decision making and , they’ve created a thriving ecosystem that enables them to produce delicious nutrient dense food and magical spaces for both people and nature. Enjoy Matt’s warmth and passion as he paints a picture of the beautiful world they are creating.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LEUwbNTwBbXrINa5BKVrL?si=124102d7ed1e47cd

Listen here: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-033-an-agriwilding-evolution-with-matt-swarbrick

Matt Swarbrick, a farmer in North West Wales, shares with us the journey of Henbant. Using the principles of holistic decision making and agriwilding, they’ve created a thriving ecosystem that enables them to produce delicious nutrient dense food and magical spaces for both people and nature.

12/12/2024

There is no silver bullet to solve the meta-crisis we face.

A snippet of last week's episode of the 'Wilder' podcast, where Tom and Chloe interview the visionary Jyoti of North Star Transition. Join us as we discuss the possibilities of complex, uncertain and transformative ways forward.

Full episode: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-032-how-to-build-a-regenerative-nation-with-north-star-transition

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5BTBqiUG8IX6OUrGOMN2w2?uid=02a085239b3adf2ec99c&uri=spotify:episode:7Aqlt5Z95Rtrksm71ucItp

25/11/2024

🎧New Podcast Ep: 032: How to Build a Regenerative Nation with North Star Transition:

How do you make a nation regenerative? What does it take to transform the Wye and Usk catchments? Jyothi Banerjee and North Star Transition are asking some of the most complex questions of our time, with three clear objectives: to propose a plan which is transformative, locally owned and investable. This is a fascinating conversation about systems change from an incredibly articulate communicator.

Listen here: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-032-how-to-build-a-regenerative-nation-with-north-star-transition

20/11/2024

"There are so many different skill sets that can help make change in this world." 🌍

A snippet of last week's episode where Tom and Chloe interview the adventurous James Shooter of the Rewild Podcast as they explore his family's European rewilding road trip. (You could do it too!).

Full Episode: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-031-a-european-adventure-with-james-shooter

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kYF8BSrukh0z2C661L2Xb?si=sA5vKuPrSLSlD9ng9Ozn

18/11/2024

BEFORE and AFTER:

The top image was taken just over 12 months ago, when we had just started transforming this area. We began by removing the old clay drainage pipes, creating a small scrape, and even experimenting with a smaller digger to mimic wild boar activity (yes, there were a few 'donuts' involved!).

Fast forward to today, and the bottom image shows the incredible progress we've made — with nature leading the way. The scrape has become a valuable source of water (and a bath!) for an increasing variety of wildlife, including our resident barn owls (see the second image).

As for the 'donuts', they had their impact, but they can’t compete with the work of our new British Saddleback pigs — our very own 'Ecosystem Engineers'! 🤗

We couldn’t be happier with the results, and we’re sure nature agrees. 🌿

05/11/2024

👀 Seeing is believing! From fields to thriving wilderness, Grange project in 2040?

We’re constantly exploring how to share the power of rewilding with those beyond the conservation community – those who might not yet see how wild spaces are essential for us all. That’s why we’re excited to share this 3D animation, created by the talented Karen Gazzard from The Ruby Cube Ltd. Karen’s work takes us from where our 80-acre site was last year – open fields – to what it could look like 10 to 20 years down the line, with nature allowed to thrive.

This animation is more than just a visual; it’s a story, a way to show what rewilding can mean for us all and to help spark connections with people outside the ‘green bubble’. Our question is simple but important: how do we communicate what we’re doing and why it matters?

Thank you, Karen, for helping us tell our story. We hope this inspires you all to think about the spaces we share, the wilds that still have a place in our future, and the way each of us can support that journey. 🌍✨

Rewilding Britain

25/10/2024

"We need to see nature in recovery if we're going to survive... We won't do that unless we can do it over a far greater scale than we currently are."

A snippet of last week's episode where Tom and Chloe interview the inspiring Matt Walpole of Cornwall Wildlife Trust who shares his thoughts on how we truly can affect landscape scale change.

Full Episode: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-030-tor-to-shore-landscape-level-recovery

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bCPlLCgqWx1HojMnIKvb2?si=EpRTVmsWRnO_a4QOrOPufg

15/10/2024

🎙️New Episode: Tor to Shore - Landscape Scale Recovery 🎧

There is a vision in , one of large scale nature recovery from land to sea. In this episode we hear the story and the vision of ‘Tor to Shore’, eloquently described by Matt Walpole, CEO of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We discuss unexpected challenges (looking at you beavers), the importance of joined up landscapes and the power of community engagement.

Listen here:

There is a vision in Cornwall, one of large scale nature recovery from land to sea. In this episode we hear the story and the vision of ‘Tor to Shore’, eloquently described by Matt Walpole, CEO of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We discuss unexpected challenges (looking at you beavers), the importance ...

10/10/2024

"If we can't look after nature, and we can't look after our home, our planet, then how do we look after each other, ourselves and our community?"

A snippet of last week's episode where Tom and Chloe discuss key developments, rewilding efforts, financial strategies, and their vision for nature education after a year on the Grange Project!

Full episode: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcast/ep-029-failure-and-success-12-months-of-rewilding-at-the-grange-project

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3m6Q3lHJh3yVAH52P3wVlI?si=SisgZv1mSUSux8L2TmePhw

07/10/2024

Free on 19th of October?

It's that time again. Community day #3 is upon us. Come and join us, absolutely no experience required, a warm and welcoming rewilding community awaits! 🤗.

Main focus: Complete planting of the Tiny Forest using the Miyawaki method to create a densely planted, biodiverse forest with native species. (Project supported by a Welsh Government grant, serving as an outdoor classroom for education activities).

Over 400 trees to plant within an area the size of a tennis court, fostering a strong community atmosphere.

Alternative activities include:

- Winter Shelter Construction: Build shelters for insects, reptiles, and rodents using clay land drains.

- Tree Maintenance: Check trees planted in March, remove weeds and grasses, and add mulch if needed.

- Fence Removal: A more physical task, important for enhancing the sense of ‘wildness’ on site.

Sign up here:

Community day: Saturday 19th October Name * First Name Last Name Email * Phone * Country ( # # #) # # # # # # # Do you consent to being added to the Volunteers WhatsApp Group? * Yes No Thank you! Thank you so much for expressing an interest in our second community event on Saturday 19th of October, 2024. We...