Boost for Climate Action North rewilding network

Climate Action North has been awarded a £15,000 grant to expand its rewilding support for landowners, project managers, and local groups across the North of England.

Climate Action North will use the Rewilding Innovation Fund grant, managed by Rewilding Britain, to expand the support it provides through the North of England Rewilding Network established in 2018.

It will also set up an online platform to showcase small-scale land, community and marine rewilding projects taking place in the North of England to paint a picture of the collective efforts to bring support nature recovery, promote Climate solutions, mobilise community rewilding, and link to the wider rewilding networks.

Climate Action North Managing Director, Sharon Lashley, said: “Rewilding is a powerful way to tackle the nature and climate emergencies, inspire hope while creating social and economic benefits for people. This funding will help us expand the support for the growing movement of rewilding land and sea practitioners across the North of England, wherever they are in their journey to restore nature and ecosystems.

“We’re particularly excited to showcase smaller-scale nature-restoration projects that may otherwise be overlooked, as well as work taking place in the marine environment, by creating a supportive online platform where people can learn about rewilding, how to get involved, and promote practical action.”

Rewilding Britain champions rewilding and the restoration of ecosystems so nature can take care of itself. The charity also influences policy, inspires public action, and catalyses joined-up practical action to establish rewilding and major nature recovery across at least 30 percent of Britain’s land and sea by 2030.

Sara King, Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Manager, said: “The Rewilding Innovation Fund aims to remove barriers to rewilding projects, whether they’re at the early planning stages or want to move a project one step wilder.

“We were impressed with Climate Action North’s plans to expand its rewilding network support. The creation of an online platform to paint a picture of the collective rewilding work taking place across the north of England will be incredibly helpful to inspire and inform the action that is urgently required. We cannot achieve nature recovery without the support of local networks and projects.”

The Climate Action North Rewilding Network acts as a supportive community where people can learn about rewilding, happening in the area, how to get involved with local groups and projects and take practical action. 

Sharon concluded: “We’ve been flying the rewilding flag for over six years, and we look forward to showcasing the increasing effort across the North of England online and in one place, showcasing the excellent work already happening in our region, ensuring connectivity and sharing best practice.”

As well as holding the first large scale rewilding conference hosted by naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham in 2018, Climate Action North also runs its own community rewilding initiative Pollinator Parks®, which aims to increase  biodiversity on business parks and gives people a place to enjoy nature; and Global Wilders® an awards programme of education activities focused on people, places, plants, and animals to restore nature and inspire Climate Action.

Find out more about the Rewilding Innovation Fund grant.

Climate Action North reinvests all funds raised into climate action projects across the North of England. To find out about sponsorship opportunities, get in touch.

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