We work to restore habitats, support biodiversity and help people reconnect with the natural world. That means getting our hands dirty, caring for land over the long term, and making decisions with wildlife firmly in mind.
It started with one field…
Make It Wild began in 2010 when Helen and Christopher Neave were worried about struggling hedgehogs, bees and butterflies. They had worried for too long … it was time to act!
They bought 26 acres of rough grazing land in North Yorkshire and set out to give it back to nature. With family and friends, they planted 20,000 trees, sowed wildflowers, dug ponds and created space for wildlife to return.
“We’d always loved nature, but it reached a point where that love turned into concern. Wildlife was being squeezed out of its own rightful place, and we couldn’t just stand by and watch.”
Over time, the land changed. Insects arrived. Then birds. Then mammals. What began as a field slowly became a functioning habitat.
“At first it didn’t look like much, just small trees in guards. But once the flowers came, everything followed. Sitting down after a morning’s work, it was obvious something special had happened here.”
That moment led to Make It Wild, with a simple belief at its heart, if you give nature the space and care it needs, it responds.
Supporting nature isn’t our aim.
It’s our purpose.
Everything we do starts with supporting biodiversity through habitat creation and
restoration. Trees, wetlands, meadows and woodland edges are all part of a wider
picture, creating resilient ecosystems where wildlife can thrive.
Alongside this, we want more people to experience nature directly. To spend time
outdoors, understand the land, and feel part of its recovery. People protect what they
experience.
The people behind
Make It Wild
Make It Wild began as a family project and has grown into a dedicated team of
conservation staff, project managers, partnership leads and volunteers who look after
our sites and the work that happens on them. Some spend most of their time
outdoors. Others focus on the planning, coordination and relationships that make the
work possible.
If you love nature and enjoy practical, meaningful work, volunteering with Make It Wild is a great way to get involved.
Features and Awards
We’ve been featured by organisations including the BBC, The Times, Yorkshire Life, The Yorkshire Post and The Woodland Trust, and have received a number of business and environmental awards for our habitat restoration work.
Protecting nature globally
While our day-to-day work focuses on UK landscapes, we recognise the
global nature of the biodiversity crisis.
In 2024, Make It Wild became a corporate member of Rainforest Trust UK’s
Conservation Circle, supporting the protection of vital rainforest corridors
for orangutans in Indonesia. This reflects a lifelong commitment from our founders to
protecting nature wherever it is most at risk.
In the Journal
Fresh updates from our reserves, our team and the wildlife we’re working hard to support.
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We were delighted to acquire our 111 acre (45 ha) site at Bank Woods, just outside Summerbridge, near Harrogate, in 2017. It is now our ‘flag ship’ site, home to our largest rewilding project, and our barn.
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We were delighted to acquire our 111 acre (45 ha) site at Bank Woods, just outside Summerbridge, near Harrogate, in 2017. It is now our ‘flag ship’ site, home to our largest rewilding project, and our barn.
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