REWILDING 10 HECTARES
Diversity in a 300-Hectare Watershed
Welcome to a transformative space where nature and sustainability thrive in harmony. Once dominated by a monoculture of pine trees, this land is undergoing a remarkable transition into a diverse, resilient ecosystem. Through careful observation and strategic intervention, we’ve witnessed firsthand the rapid restoration of human-impacted landscapes.
After a significant shift when a nematode disease caused the pine monoculture to die off, we saw a natural rebirth. Sections of the land were cleared, allowing dormant native species such as oak, chestnut, and alder buckthorn to flourish at an accelerated pace. The ecosystem began to restore itself, enhanced by our deliberate planting efforts to further increase biodiversity.
Our approach combines regenerative land management practices such as composting, green manuring, mulching, and the implementation of water retention strategies like swales. Over time, this has led to a thriving environment filled with a rich diversity of wildflowers, plants, insects, and pollinators. Birds, bees, and butterflies have returned, and we’ve even had the privilege of watching hoopoes raise their young and witnessing bats breed on the land.
A central focus of our work is the health of honey bees. These keystone insect pollinators have made our land their home by naturally swarming here, and we’ve experimented with various hive types—log hives, double-insulated top bars, and Langstroth hives—to create optimal conditions for them, reducing the energy they need to maintain temperature stability.
Additionally, we’ve explored regenerative grazing through collaboration with neighboring farms, introducing horses onto the land. This natural process has enriched our soil, fostering the growth of mushrooms and insects, while the manure nourishes the earth.
Our commitment to sustainability extends to our food systems, as we expand our vegetable and herb gardens year after year. We share our harvest with the local community and prioritize sourcing our food from nearby producers, strengthening our connection to the land and the people around us.
In addition to these ecological achievements, we’ve restored two historic granite buildings—one as a home, the other as an intimate space designed for purposeful, systemic work.
We invite you to join us on this inspiring journey of regeneration and growth, where nature and human ingenuity combine to create a place of learning, collaboration, and connection. Come stay with us for time out, have a constellation session, a massage or experience the magic of this evolving land as a volunteer. Be part of a commitment to making a positive impact on the environment and the world. Together through conection, we can cultivate a future that’s not only sustainable but thriving.