Climate Action North rewilding training sparks community action

Rewilding isn’t just for sprawling nature reserves, it’s a movement everyone can take part in, from urban planners to balcony gardeners to community activists.

Climate Action North’s CPD-accredited course, ‘Rewilding, Nature, and Us,’ is sharing the knowledge and tools individuals and organisations need to take direct action to support nature.

Rewilding is a recognised strategy for restoring nature and protecting biodiversity. However, it’s not limited to large-scale projects. It’s something that, through Community Rewilding can connect spaces of all sizes, whether that’s planting native wildflowers on a balcony, turning a park into a wildlife haven, or reviving neglected urban areas into thriving habitats.

With growing awareness of the need to preserve and restore ecosystems, community rewilding takes centre stage in this one-day training course. It provides participants with a useful and consecutive set of understandings to help and motivate them to rewild in their own communities.

Starting with the essential insights into how nature works and the building blocks of nature, the course looks at rewilding as an approach to ecological restoration and brings it all together by exploring the ‘mini-rewilding’ successes that can be achieved in the participants own areas. People leave more skilled, confident, and able to rewild their own place; be it personal, workspace, or in a community.

It has already attracted a wide range of participants, from professionals and community leaders to urban planners and individuals all keen to implement rewilding principles in their work and personal spaces. To date, over 70 participants have earned CPD certificates.

The training is delivered by Phil Macari, Climate Action North’s Ecology and Community Rewilding Director. He said: “We need to reframe and reimagine our outdoor landscapes and aim for a touch of bohemian untidiness that will benefit both wildlife and our environment. I call this idea ‘scruffination,’ and it’s all about changing how we view our outdoor spaces and embracing the wild side of nature.”

“It offers valuable insights into how individuals, community groups, and organisations can contribute to community rewilding efforts and practically support and care for the environment in our local areas.”

The course combines video presentations, guided learning, and interactive discussions, helping attendees understand ecology, rewilding principles, and how these can be applied to community projects or personal green spaces.

A participant, Valerie, said: “The course opened my eyes to how even small actions, whether it's rewilding my garden or working with neighbours, can make a big difference. I feel much more confident in taking steps to create positive change in my community.”

Phil added: “At the heart of the course is the concept of community rewilding, the idea that anyone can contribute to a greener, wilder world. With more and more people realising the need to protect and restore ecosystems, this course is the perfect way to embrace rewilding and enhance the wellbeing of our neighbourhoods and lay the groundwork for a sustainable future.”

The next course takes place on Friday 17 October at Dalton Park Outlet. Register to attend.

The time for talking is over, today we need to act.