Collective Action. Powerful Impact
In the UK, 8.7 million people now rely on antidepressants and some face therapy waiting‑lists of 18 months or more. Rewilders at the Sharpham estate in Devon looked at those numbers and asked a simple question: what if the land itself could be part of the cure?
Five years into its restoration, Sharpham has swapped dairy cattle for long grasses, wildflower meadows and barn‑owl hunting grounds. The estate now hosts retreats where NHS staff and people dealing with trauma practise mindfulness directly inside a thriving ecosystem.
Government‑funded “green social prescribing” pilots have now tracked more than 8,000 participants in nature walks, community gardening, wild swimming and conservation tasks. Happiness scores leapt from 5.3 to 7.5/10, while anxiety fell from 4.8 to 3.4 - all for about half the cost of a block of CBT. Researchers describe it as “better than medication” for many participants.
While Sharpham shows what’s possible on 550 acres, LettsSafari is pioneering “smaller‑scale rewilding” and building the world’s first network of rewilding safari parks in south‑west England. As a paid subscriber you fund tree‑planting and habitat creation, then “safari” via video, informative articles and wildlife photography - lowering the barrier for city‑dwellers who can’t reach vast estates every weekend. You'll also receive nature tips to rewild your own patch – no matter how small.
Sensory reset: Untamed spaces bombard the brain with fractal patterns, varied soundscapes and phytoncides from plants, all shown to lower cortisol and calm the amygdala.
Purpose and agency: Helping to restore a patch of land or log wildlife sightings gives immediate, visible results - a proven boost to self‑esteem and meaning.
Social connection: Group tasks like sapling planting or species surveys create low‑pressure communities that combat isolation.
Hope in action: Seeing biodiversity bounce back counters eco‑anxiety with tangible progress.
Visit or volunteer: Book a half‑day at a local project; even a single guided walk can reset your stress baseline.
Re‑green your commute: Swap one gym session a week for a stroll or cycle through the wildest route you can find.
Create a micro‑rewilding patch: Leave a corner of your garden or balcony pot to grow “scruffy”, add a small log pile and log the invertebrates that appear. We'll show you how in our Rewilding Guides!
Join the digital safari: LettsSafari’s online community shares content as well as useful hints and tips - collective motivation without leaving home.
Rewilding is often framed as a gift to wildlife, but the emerging evidence is clear: what heals ecosystems also heals people. Nature is ready to work alongside counsellors and doctors - and often for far less cost. The next step is simply to step outside, get our hands (a little) dirty and let the wild work its quiet magic.
Feeling inspired? Grab your boots, plant a tree, or fire up a LettsSafari subscription. Your mind, and the planet, will thank you.