A Wild Night at The Crown and Sceptre with Prof Alastair Driver and Ben Goldsmith
Come and join us to hear the remarkable story of rewilding so far, from two of the driving forces at the forefront of this visionary movement, both here in the UK and across the world.
In his myth-busting presentation, from 18.45, Prof Alastair Driver will take us on a wild horse gallop through the world of rewilding from the astonishing, massive-scale efforts of dedicated individuals and organisations overseas, through more modest but hugely transformational initiatives in the UK and finishing with a few beaver chips of inspiration for what we can do in our own back yard. He illustrates this “think global to act local” journey with images of pioneering projects in which he has been involved and compelling data he has collected over the years. This will demonstrate exactly why rewilding is such a critically important and affordable tool in the toolbox for nature recovery and climate change mitigation – and why it is thus such a shining beacon of hope for the future well-being of Planet Earth.
In his presentation, Ben Goldsmith will describe the amazing transformation of his land at Cannwood in Somerset to arguably the most nature-rich farm in the entire country. He will weave in his personal rewilding journey following the tragic loss of his daughter, so beautifully and heart-wrenchingly described in his book God is an Octopus. He shares how nature provided him with solace and strength, thus highlighting the healing power of reconnecting people with the natural world - both for the individuals concerned and for the landscape itself.
Summary biographies:
Prof Alastair Driver is one of the UK’s best-known conservationists and is cited in “Who’s Who” for influence and distinction in the field of environmental conservation. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career for nearly 50 years, including serving as national Head of Conservation for the Environment Agency for 15 years and Director of Rewilding Britain for 8 years. He is now the Senior Advisor for the Global Rewilding Alliance and a specialist consultant in rewilding and nature recovery, which includes acting as a Specialist Advisor for Heal Rewilding and for Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire. He is a former recipient of the International Riverprize on behalf of the Thames in 2010 and a co-winner of Best in Show and a Gold Medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022.
Ben Goldsmith is a financier, philanthropist, and lifelong nature lover who has been at the forefront of rewilding campaigns across Britain, Europe, and beyond. He founded and chairs The Conservation Collective, a leading nature restoration charity supporting 21 locally-focused foundations around the world from Devon to Sri Lanka. Ben is the Chief Executive Officer of Menhaden, a London-listed, sustainability-themed investment company, and also a Trustee of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), one of the world’s largest climate change-focused philanthropic funds. Ben served from 2018 until 2022 as a Non-Executive Director of the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In May 2023, Ben published his memoir, “God Is An Octopus: Loss, Love and A Calling to Nature” (Bloomsbury Publishing). The book explores how, struggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter Iris, Ben found solace, meaning, and hope in the dramatic rebounding of nature on his Somerset farm.