by Sammy Mennell
18th March 2025
In recent months the Yorkshire Rewilding Network has been running a pilot project to explore how we might encourage local Rewilding Hubs across the region. We quizzed Sammy Mennell, YRN Trustee and Hubs project team member, to find out more about it…
What is a local Rewilding Hub?
At its heart, a Hub is a group of people coming together who are passionate about rewilding and want to make a difference to their local area. It’s a recognition that we’re so much more effective when we can connect in person with others for practical help and inspiration.
What do Hubs do?
Hubs provide a space for in-person events, where rewilders can meet others who live locally and share their passion. All kinds of activities are possible – perhaps a workday doing practical rewilding; or a workshop passing on the skills needed to restore our land. There’s also scope for inspirational events that bring people together through the arts – film showings, poetry readings, exhibitions – to celebrate rewilding.
Hubs can also create opportunities for those without land to get involved in rewilding projects. In North Leeds there are two core sites with regular volunteering events: this allows people to pitch in and build a meaningful relationship with a physical site, whether or not they have access to a space to rewild themselves.
And Hubs constantly evolve, depending on the needs of the local area and the passions of the people involved in it.
“It was working alongside people who share our passion for nature and protecting and restoring wild places that was so uplifting.”
Why have them?
As a network, we’ve seen the power of in-person events to really galvanise action, and ensure people feel supported if they want to make rewilding part of their lives. We live in such a huge county that the Hubs create an opportunity for people to build relationships locally to each other.
One example in Leeds is the Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre, also known as HEART, which is using its community space to bring rewilders together to share ideas on how to increase rewilding in Leeds, and to hold creative arts events. As a result, the team at HEART has ended up with loads of contacts and links to expertise to allow them to start planning their rewilding journey with confidence – and with a band of enthusiastic volunteers!
Where did the idea come from?
We had a Rewilders’ Day during our YRN rewilding festival in the summer of 2023, where people who were actively rewilding came together for a range of activities and discussion. The day was gloriously warm, sunny and uplifting in every way, and the main feedback we got was how good it was to network with others in person. We reflected on how hard it is to create opportunities for people to do this on a regular basis, and the idea of the Hubs was born! We also thought about all those passionate people who weren’t at the Rewilders’ Day because they didn’t have a project they could get involved in – and we wanted to do something about that as well. We see the Hubs as a way to give more people access to nature recovery opportunities – and a way to include and engage more diverse groups too.
Who can join a hub?
Anyone! Hubs are for anyone who is passionate about nature recovery and wants to be part of it. The power of community will always be greater than individuals trying to get things done by themselves and coming together in Hubs will create so much energy and joy that it’s sure to drive more rewilding across Yorkshire.
“It was fresh inspiration to feel that we are now part of a network which will support us and which I hope our community can contribute to in turn. It brought our own group closer together and we had fun!”
Where are they?
YRN is currently supporting the development of two Hubs: an urban Hub in north Leeds, and another in Whitby and the Esk Valley – a rural area in the North York Moors National Park. Claire Blindell is our part-time Rewilding Engagement Officer, and her primary focus is on the Hub project. She has spent the last few months organising various events, supporting core volunteers involved in the Hubs and networking with rewilders in their areas to find out what they need from a Hub.
When will there be a Hub near me?
It would be wonderful to see more local rewilding Hubs spreading across the region and further afield too… but that’s up to you! The main aim of the project is to explore how YRN might support individuals and groups to get started with a local network in their community. If that’s something you’d like to do, then we’d be keen to hear from you.
Are they just in Yorkshire?
If you’re working within the community alongside others to increase the amount of rewilding in your area, then you’re part of a rewilding Hub! Although we know Yorkshire best, we know there are many others outside of our great county who also want to experience rewilding where they are.
This pilot project is being partly funded by the Rewilding Britain network through their Innovation Fund, so we’ll be sharing whatever we learn with them and with other regional networks across Britain. We hope this will encourage ever more connections to be made, inspiration to be spread and nature recovery to happen.
How can I find out more about the Hubs?
If you live near either of our pilot Hubs, send us an email and Claire can add you to the mailing list specifically for that Hub, so you’ll be kept up to date with developments and events.
You can also keep an eye on our socials (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) and on the website where we share updates on the Hubs and post about upcoming events here.
What can I do to get involved?
We’re always looking for keen rewilders to join our merry volunteers to help run these Hubs. Please do try to be as specific as possible about the skills and time you have to offer, and we’ll try to find a way to get you involved.
For more information about the Hubs, to join a Hub mailing list, or to get involved please email info@yorkshirerewildingnetwork.org.uk and head up your email ‘Local Rewilding Hubs’.
“I love it that groups with common aims and ideals in common are beginning to connect in strength”
[Image Credits: Claire Blindell, Tom Jepson, M Kelsey, Sammy Mennell, Mark Whyatt]