Young leader rewilds her career path

Bonnie Chapman, 24, from Stockton-on-Tees, is rewilding her career. While helping run her family’s hobby shop, she’s branching out into hands-on work restoring nature. She’s working nationally with Youngwilders a national youth-led nature recovery group and regionally with the North East’s YOUNG (Young Rewilders Networking Group). 

A business management graduate from Newcastle University, Bonnie’s connection with nature began early, growing up with horses, sheep, and ducks at home and spending much of her time outdoors on walks and hikes. She caught the rewilding bug when she joined Climate Action North’s Bookwilding sessions. The online reading group focuses on wildlife, rewilding, and nature-based solutions. She said: “Those sessions really planted the seeds for my interest in rewilding. They were a great way to learn how it works and why it matters for nature.”

Her curiosity led her to the North East Rewilding Network’s first anniversary event last December, where she met Climate Action North’s CEO Sharon Lashley. Bonnie said: “Sharon helped me realise that my interest in nature, wildlife, and rewilding could actually turn into a career. Coming from a business degree, it was amazing to see how different and exciting this path is.”

Bonnie is now a founding committee member and Events Co-ordinator for YOUNG, a Climate Action North initiative and part of the North East Rewilding Network. The group helps young people step into the wild world of community rewilding, offering opportunities to volunteer, access mentoring, explore green careers, and even develop ideas for their own social enterprises.

Sharon said: “Bonnie has thrown herself into every opportunity. She’s a brilliant example of how young people can turn their love for nature into real skills, and a career in the growing green jobs world.”

Earlier this year, Bonnie was chosen as a Wild Steward at Castle Howard through the Youngwilders one-year programme. She said: “I’m so excited and proud. I was in disbelief when I found out I’d been chosen. It’s an honour to work with this team and learn hands-on skills in rewilding.”

She added: “There’s only so much you can learn in books. The network and stewardship roles give me real experience. I’ve done oyster monitoring, set up camera traps, and helped plan habitat restoration and planting.

“I’m also enjoying using social media to share what we’re doing, find information, and make new connections, and being part of a community of people who care about nature has grown my knowledge, experience, and confidence. These projects are helping me grow a wilder career and experience the hope and change that rewilding brings.”

Bonnie is now exploring careers in nature and conservation, building on the hands-on skills she’s gaining through YOUNG and her stewardship role.

To get involved or sponsor YOUNG, email info@climateactionnortheast.org.uk

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