Hugh Somerleyton is one of the founders of WildEast, the nature recovery charity committed to restoring 20 per cent of East Anglia to the wild by 2050. Ahead of a new educational event at Fritton Lake next week, he explains why he hopes it will become a significant annual event
The WildEast initiative in East Anglia encourages everyone to donate 20 per cent of what they have to nature, whether it be a garden or a window box. Co-founded by Hugh Somerleyton, owner of the Somerleyton Estate, WildEast aims to return 250,000 hectares of land to nature and radically change how it is seen across East Anglia. He says: ‘We founded WildEast on the back of being inspired by the great landscape scale nature recovery projects around the world: Yellowstone, Tompkins Conservation in Chile and Carpathia in Romania.’
Although ‘vexed about how to capture the romance of these, without bears, wolves and snow-capped mountains in flat, heavily farmed East Anglia’, it was decided that the lynx would become part of the WildEast branding, ‘to define the region.’
The WildEast Foundation aims to return 250,000 hectares of land to nature and radically change how it is seen across East Anglia – whether that’s farming estates, industrial estates, or housing estates.
‘The idea was to democratise nature recovery.’ Head to WildEast’s website and you’ll discover ‘the map of dreams’ – or, rather, land pledges. Although the team are very much taking it ‘one pledge at a time’, he describes the map as ‘the place to celebrate and share people’s efforts, however big or small: backyard, schoolyard, churchyard and farmyard – we even have a prison yard!’
Next week sees ROAR, an event initiative with a main objective to engage both adults and children and raise awareness about WildEast.
Visitors will get to hear from experts on nature recovery including Dutch rewilding expert Leo Linnartz, Cambridge University’s expert on climate threats; plus, Bill Sutherland and Mike Wadham’s Big Green Internet project on Sunday October 23. Wednesday (October 26) will profile a wide range of existing pledgees and Friday (October 28) features Ben Rawlence, Author of The Treeline, Chris Jones from The Beaver Trust and Oxford University’s environmental expert John Lynch.
There will also be live music throughout the day including a performance by Paul Johnson, a WildEast supporter, who has written and recorded a song dedicated to the WildEast foundation. Plus, the opportunity to meet and talk to the founders of WildEast and enjoy a range of nature- based activities including nature safaris, foraging, lake swimming and wild food.
‘WildEast ROAR is meant to be a pilot for what we hope will become a significant annual event,’ says Hugh Somerleyton. ‘ROAR is part of our commitment to persuade 1,250,000 people from across the region to join our movement and pledge to do their part so that nature can survive for generations to come. It’s open to everyone, we’ve got a unique line up of special eco-restoration experts so come and join us.’
As for the future, he says they hope to create a CGI game for kids called WildEast Salvation, ‘and grow the number and diversity of pledges until the planet saving is done!’
The WildEast ROAR event will take place between October 23-29, 2022, at Fritton Lake, Norfolk (NR31 9HA). Tickets cost from £6 for adults and children are free to attend, with the option of a lunchtime barbeque for an additional £10 for adults and £8 for children. Tickets are limited and must be booked in advance by going to the Fritton Lake website.
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