Rewilding is as much about an internal journey as it is about the impact we have on the world around us. When we talk about rewilding we are typically talking about restoring natural cycles and natural function within a landscape. But rewilding can also refer to the process of finding our own inner connection to the wilder, natural world. 

In a garden, we can do both. We can plan and plant in such a way that wildlife is welcomed, and we are working with nature rather than fighting it. 

We can also find ways within ourselves to feel our connection to the world around us. We can get back in touch with our true selves, embracing our nature as animals and as part of the connected whole.

Spend More Time Outdoors

Spending more time out in our gardens, or in other outdoor spaces can profoundly change the way we feel about and view the world around us.

In any project, whether it is a journey to explore ways to live better and have a positive impact on the ecosystems we inhabit, or a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, it can take time. 

The more time you spend outdoors, the more connected you can feel to the natural world. And the better equipped you will be to take on projects to improve things with plants and wildlife in your area.

Observe and Interact

Of course, while spending time outdoors, you can also learn huge amounts about and from the natural world around you. Looking, listening, smelling, tasting, touching... you can begin to truly understand the area where you live – perhaps in new and different ways. 

Observation is a crucial step in understanding the most effective course for landscape rewilding too. It helps us gather the information relating to sunlight, shade, wind, water and soil that we require to develop the best designs and strategies for our gardens, wherever we live. 

Sometimes, rewilding can involve active strategies. For example we might build earthworks to manage water on a property, create a wildlife pond, plant native trees or make a diverse hedgerow or meadow planting scheme... 

But sometimes, thoughtful observation and just sitting back and letting nature take its course can be the right way to go. Often, in rewilding, less is more.

Grow and Eat With the Seasons

The modern world can often leave us feeling somewhat disconnected from the natural flow of the year, and the seasons where we live. 

But growing your own in your garden, however small, can help you to recognise the feel the little and large seasonal changes and daily rhythms. And return to a 'wilder' way where you live and eat according to the changes through the year, becoming more in tune with your own body and mind, and feeling their connection to the wider, wilder world around you.