The Rewild Project is a grass roots, non-profit social enterprise focused on reconnecting people to nature through heritage crafts, environmental education and ecological restoration. The Rewild project is based in the forest of dean and aims to reconnect people to nature by reviving traditional, land-based skills to connect people back to ways of living off the land. We run community growing pro
jects and various craft workshops and courses; the Rewild Project promotes the use of Agro-Ecology and Permaculture design to create thriving food growing spaces, a renewed interest in land and food, newly skilled people and improved eco-systems. Ancient knowledge and skills are fast being forgotten and we appear to be seeing the ill effects on people through a disconnection to land and nature. Once thought of as an invaluable resource for food, shelter, medicine, craft and much more land is being stripped to make way for large scale agriculture and monoculture farming. Facing a crisis in people’s health, maintaining wildlife species and soil fertility due to loss of habitat, deforestation and chemical farming we need a new approach to land use and our food systems. Agroecology is a whole systems approach to agriculture and food systems development based on traditional knowledge, alternative agriculture and local food system experiences. Permaculture is the development of agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. A Forest Garden is designed and maintained specifically, not using the normal tenets of gardening but taking its vision from nature and very much based on a natural ecology of a young forest. The project actively improves environments by using Agro-Forestry growing methods that build soil fertility, are resilient to climatic changes, are low energy inputs and create varied ecosystems for wildlife to thrive and people to enjoy. We use education and awareness to build enthusiasm for growing food and sustainable rural living The Rewild Project works with schools and community groups on fun and engaging project’s; not only giving people the skills to be more resilient and self sufficient but also empowering communities to take control of their food systems and land. The Rewild Project has a fruit and medicinal herb garden where various forms of Agro-Forestry are being experimented with to grow organic vegetables, fruit, nuts and herbs. Sited at the fruit and medicine garden is also the projects edible, bare root tree nursery where trees, shrubs and plants are propagated for outreach projects such as community Forest Gardens, Permaculture orchards and sensory gardens. The Forest of Dean has a rich heritage of orchards, small holding and farming the commons and still has a strong sense of small scale farming and commoners rights. The Rewild Project has propagated heritage varieties of fruit trees so community orchards can preserve these local varieties. As part of a holistic approach to teaching land based skills The Rewild Project likes the use of outdoor classroom spaces, encouraging connection to the land and nature, hopefully giving people an improved sense of wellbeing.
