Heal Somerset

Heal Somerset A magical new place for nature owned and managed by Heal Rewilding

Open to the public for walks, tours and events

01/09/2026

As the seasons turn, Heal Somerset becomes a busy stopover, wintering ground and home for an ever-changing cast of birds.

Join expert wildlife guide Nick Patel Wilder Skies - wildlife tours for a relaxed guided walk through our evolving habitats, learning to identify birds by sight and sound and discovering more about migration, changing plumage and the fascinating behaviours that come with the turning season.

From redwings and goldcrests to stonechats, snipe and lapwings, there’s plenty to look out for – whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting to notice the birds around you. 🐦

You’ll also discover how rewilding is creating increasingly diverse habitats at Heal Somerset, providing food, shelter and safe places for birds as the colder months arrive.

🔗 Book your place through the link below and come see autumn through a bird’s-eye view. 🍁
https://ow.ly/jHaW50ZAXPh

25/08/2026

Forget hungry hippos... we have a hungry heron at Heal Somerset!

Rats, fish, crayfish... it's not picky. We're encouraged to see we can provide it with a varied diet 😂

With the recent heatwave, we’ve been making the most of the cooler evenings at Heal Somerset – and what a treat it’s bee...
19/08/2026

With the recent heatwave, we’ve been making the most of the cooler evenings at Heal Somerset – and what a treat it’s been. 🌅

As the temperature drops, the wildlife comes out: barn owls swooping low over the fields as they hunt, hares bounding through the long grasses and, of course, the beaver family doing beavery things. 🦉🐇🦫

And then there are the sunsets… 🌄

There’s something rather special about experiencing Heal as the day winds down.

Will you make an evening visit to Heal Somerset soon?

What a difference a year makes... Despite being in the middle of a drought, our beaver wetlands have kept the riparian c...
13/08/2026

What a difference a year makes...

Despite being in the middle of a drought, our beaver wetlands have kept the riparian corridor gloriously lush and vibrant - a striking contrast to the dried toast look of the surrounding area! Compare the same area to April 2025 (not a time of drought) and the difference is extraordinary.

The first photo was taken just before the beavers started building their dam here - which first appeared as a small collection of sticks in May 2025. Fast forward to August 2026 and the riverside area looks considerably healthier, even with months of minimal rain and high temperatures!

We continue to be astonished by the impact the beavers are having on the land and, in this time of high wildfire risk, are so grateful they chose to make their home at Heal Somerset. 💚

📷 1st photo - Chris Stitchman, 2nd photo - Tom Francome

Hold on to your binoculars, we've got a great range of tours and events coming up over the next couple of months!💚 Famil...
11/08/2026

Hold on to your binoculars, we've got a great range of tours and events coming up over the next couple of months!

💚 Family Reptile Adventure, Thursday 27 August
💚 Autumn Birds with Nick Patel, Saturday 19 September
💚 Autumn Equinox Gathering, Sunday 27 September
💚 Herbalism & Medicine-Making Day, Saturday 3 October

🔗Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.healsomerset.org.uk/events

📸 Grass snake image: Nick Patel Wilder Skies - wildlife tours

'Plastic Bones' has arrived at Heal Somerset.This striking handmade globe, created from plastic waste, cans, discarded c...
06/08/2026

'Plastic Bones' has arrived at Heal Somerset.

This striking handmade globe, created from plastic waste, cans, discarded clothing and other reclaimed materials, is impossible to ignore. Created by the Frome Youth Climate Group in collaboration with artist Julie Starks, it shines a light on the growing burden of plastic pollution and overconsumption, while reminding us of the vital role young people are playing in shaping a better future.

After being paraded through Frome High Street earlier this year, 'Plastic Bones' is now on temporary display in our Community Nature Barn. If you're visiting Heal Somerset, do stop by and take a look – it's a powerful piece that invites reflection, conversation and action.

🌍♻️

04/08/2026

Who have we had visiting our beaver wetlands recently? 🧐

It's been busy down the waterhole - everyone's been taking advantage of the water in this dry weather! Our trail cameras have captured:

💚The piggies
💚A grey heron feeding
💚A mallard and her ducklings
💚A curious roe deer
💚A moorhen and her adorably fluffy little chicks
💚And another grey heron which spooked a passing beaver!

It's great to see so much action within just a few days - we'll be keeping a watchful eye out for more creatures venturing this way!

29/07/2026

Our twilight beaver tours are selling out fast! Five dates are sold out, spaces remain on four dates:

🦫 Saturday 29 August, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
🦫 Saturday 5 September, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
🦫 Friday 2 October, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
🦫 Thursday 8 October, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

🔗 Don't miss out - book today and this could be you! https://ow.ly/THmc50Zq1Xq

It's not just the land that's changed at Heal Somerset! Over the years our farmhouse garden has undergone a similar tran...
22/07/2026

It's not just the land that's changed at Heal Somerset! Over the years our farmhouse garden has undergone a similar transformation - from a green lawn monoculture to a gloriously wild and thriving habitat. We have...

👉 Dug deep beds and nurtured a variety of wildlife-friendly flowers
👉 Replaced the concrete troughs bordering the garden with wooden fencing
👉 Created a pond (this is still ongoing as we experiment with the best (natural) ways to prevent the water from draining out)
👉 Let the grass grow long, welcomed different species like adjuga and yellow rattle and allowed mole hills to lie undisturbed

This work was all achieved by volunteers and our very own green-fingered Caddy, who between them have created a joyous environment for a range of wildlife - not to mention the Heal team! Thank you ☺️🙏

📷 2023 images: Sam Rose. Bottom 2026 image: Neil Aldridge

🎥 We had an exciting visit last week as BBC Points West came to film at Heal Somerset!The team spent the afternoon explo...
16/07/2026

🎥 We had an exciting visit last week as BBC Points West came to film at Heal Somerset!

The team spent the afternoon exploring Heal’s mission, joining Jan to discover our beaver wetland area and learning more about our vision for nature recovery. They also spoke with our Community Engagement Manager, Julia, about the vital ‘people’ strand of our work and the importance of connecting communities with nature.

We were especially pleased that members of Wild Memories, a local group supporting people living with dementia and regular visitors to Heal, shared their experiences too.

We're delighted to be featured and can’t wait to see the final piece. Keep an eye out for Heal Somerset on BBC Points West soon!

Address

Lower West Barn Farm, Witham Friary
Frome
BA115HH

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