Artist, regenerative grazier, and rewilding facilitator Nick Viney joins Rupert Isaacson for an expansive conversation from the wilds of Dartmoor to the edges of imagination. With boots-on-the-ground wisdom from 20 years of land restoration, livestock management, and community-building, Nick makes a compelling case for restoring ecosystems through play, art, and radical listening. This episode is a masterclass in how to bring trees back, slow the water, and let the wild shape us.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The forgotten role of imagination in restoring landscapes (Starts at [00:03:00 ])
• How regenerative grazing works and why it's not “just moving cows” (Starts at [00:12:36 ])
• A real-world experiment: 40 years of non-grazed land on Dartmoor (Starts at [00:31:16 ])
• The critical role of beavers and why they’re returning to the UK (Starts at [00:47:00 ])
• Why reintroducing wolves might be inevitable — and good for everyone (Starts at [01:13:00 ])
• How art can spark environmental change and communicate complexity (Starts at [01:27:00 ])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• How she revived her artistic self after years of working for others ([00:02:00 ])
• Nick describes the joy of animals grazing fresh pasture every day — "It's pristine every single day" ([00:12:36 ])
• Rupert and Nick debate whether Britain is still a forest landscape or not ([00:19:25 ])
• What a bramble patch teaches us about songbirds and tree nurseries ([00:32:00 ])
• The haunting power of glow worms and how they reflect land recovery ([01:45:00 ])

📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

Websites:

• Nick Viney Art & Projects: https://nickviney.co.uk
• Glamping & Land Connection: https://rewildingfutures.co.uk
• Beaver Watching & Rewilding Coombeshead: https://rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk

Other Rewilders Mentioned:

• Róisín Campbell-Palmer
• Gerhard Schwab (Bavaria)
• Derek Gow (UK)

Books:

• Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree – https://amzn.to/43j3Dbj

Conferences:

• "If Not Now, When: See Beyond" (July 25–27, 2025) – Rewilding Coombeshead
• Rewilding Coombeshead Conference by Derek Gow (July 26–27) – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/keep-it-wild/t-kraexje

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

• Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure:

• Links to books and products may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This does not affect the price you pay and helps support the podcast.