Into The Light

Into The Light, our two-day rewilding gathering at Heal Somerset, will be back in June 2026 and the theme will be water – exploring and celebrating the rivers and wetlands in our landscapes from both a rewilding and a cultural perspective.

Whether you’re already involved in rewilding or just beginning to explore how to support nature recovery, this event is for you. Expect a welcoming, hopeful experience with learning, creativity and practical information.

What to expect:

– Inspiring talks and conversations with leading voices
– A focus on terrestrial water systems and the wildlife that depends on them
– A beautiful setting within our rewilding site where you will be immersed in nature
– Plenty of time between talks and activities for catching up with old friends and making new connections

Confirmed speakers include:

– Minni Jain, director, The Flow Partnership
– James Wallace, chief executive, River Action
– Meg Avon, poet, activist, performance artist
– Eva Bishop, environmentalist
– James Aldridge, artist and consultant
– Stephen Rutt, author and naturalist
– Jack Perks, wildlife cameraman and river conservationist
– Jon Burgess, chartered forester and resilience officer, Forestry Commission
– Daniel Hill, rewilding ranger, Heal Somerset
– Josh Ashbee, restoration specialist
– With many more to be announced!

Friday 5 June

Friday is designed primarily for people involved in rewilding projects or working in ecology, land management, conservation, policy and education, as well as landowners, students and anyone looking to explore rewilding in more detail.

Key themes for Friday will include:

– The health of our freshwater ecosystems
– Rewilding-focused management of our river and wetland habitats
– Wildlife found in those habitats
– Habitat and species recovery

Saturday 6 June

Saturday is a day for sharing stories, challenging ideas, asking questions and celebrating the many ways people are making a difference for nature in their own places.

Our water theme continues, this time with more emphasis on our emotional, historical and cultural connections to rivers and wetlands. Through talks, workshops and shared experiences, we’ll explore what these habitats mean to us and how they shape the communities around them.

Key themes for Saturday will include:

– Community-focused rewilding projects
– The cultural and historical significance of water in our landscapes
– Hopeful, practical stories of nature recovery from around the UK
– Connection, celebration, and collective action