About

Make It Wild

Make It Wild is a UK nature restoration organisation, created to take practical action for nature.

What We Do

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.

Our Story

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.

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Our Purpose

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.

Our Team

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.

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What do you do for Make It Wild?

I set up Make it Wild with my husband, Christopher. I manage our website, products, events, social media and the creative side of things.

Why is the work of Make it Wild important to you?

Make it Wild was set up with one fundamental aim – to address biodiversity loss. We couldn’t stand by, we had to do something. Alongside this, it is crucial for us to spread our passion and enthusiasm for nature. We are delighted that so many volunteers get involved in our work, and people enjoy our woodland experiences.

Nature
Our Most Important Team Member
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What do you do for Make It Wild?

I set up Make it Wild with my husband, Christopher. I manage our website, products, events, social media and the creative side of things.

Why is the work of Make it Wild important to you?

Make it Wild was set up with one fundamental aim – to address biodiversity loss. We couldn’t stand by, we had to do something. Alongside this, it is crucial for us to spread our passion and enthusiasm for nature. We are delighted that so many volunteers get involved in our work, and people enjoy our woodland experiences.

Christopher Neave
Co-founder and Director
helen-neave

What do you do for Make It Wild?

I set up Make it Wild with my husband, Christopher. I manage our website, products, events, social media and the creative side of things.

Why is the work of Make it Wild important to you?

Make it Wild was set up with one fundamental aim – to address biodiversity loss. We couldn’t stand by, we had to do something. Alongside this, it is crucial for us to spread our passion and enthusiasm for nature. We are delighted that so many volunteers get involved in our work, and people enjoy our woodland experiences.

Helen Neave
Co-founder and Director
man-with-son-in-a-river

What do you do for Make It Wild?

I set up Make it Wild with my husband, Christopher. I manage our website, products, events, social media and the creative side of things.

Why is the work of Make it Wild important to you?

Make it Wild was set up with one fundamental aim – to address biodiversity loss. We couldn’t stand by, we had to do something. Alongside this, it is crucial for us to spread our passion and enthusiasm for nature. We are delighted that so many volunteers get involved in our work, and people enjoy our woodland experiences.

John Burgess
Partnership Manager
lesley-coleman

I am Projects Manager for Make it Wild with my main role being the co-ordination of the volunteer programme. I also manage the certification of our carbon offsetting through tree planting, as well as performing other tasks as they arise.

Make it Wild inspires others to take action. Everyone is aware of the impact of humans on nature and to be part of a company which is actually making a difference is an honour. On a personal level, since being involved with the company I have become more aware of the process of rewilding and have gained many practical skills.

Lesley Coleman
Projects Manager
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Amy completed her apprenticeship with flying colours, supported by The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, and by Craven College. She has now joined us as a full member of the team.

Amy Cockerill
Conservation Assistant
cecilia-neave

Growing up I always had a passion for nature and protecting it. I studied Environment and Business at university, further deepening my understanding of sustainability. As Make it Wild grew from a family project into a thriving business, I helped with social media, writing blogs, and volunteering on the nature reserves.

Cecilia has her own business, Green Arcana, through which she provides rural craft workshops for Make it Wild and other organisations.

Cecilia Neave
Rural Craft Facilitator
lydia-neave

I used to manage the various Make it Wild dedications. As my ‘real’ job has got busier, I have been unable to continue this role – but I still enjoy getting my hands dirty on volunteer days, and offer behind the scenes support to the family business.

Why is the work of Make it Wild important to you?

Make it Wild’s purpose is to protect the natural environment. One of the things that brings me the most joy in life is nature, and one of my biggest passions is sustainability and environmentalism.

Lydia Neave Frost
Former Dedications Exec (P/T)
Volunteer

If you love nature and enjoy practical, meaningful work, volunteering with Make It Wild is a great way to get involved.

Publicity

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.

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International Conservation

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.

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Blog Journal

In the Journal

Fresh updates from our reserves, our team and the wildlife we’re working hard to support.

3 mins

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Talks for Businesses and Groups

Helen and Christopher Neave, our co-founders, and Hannah and Alex Fraser, doctors and now first-generation farmers, who own one of our partner sites, Fraser Farms are all experienced and engaging public speakers for community groups and businesses.

Read Resource

2 mins

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Volunteering with Make it Wild

We have lots of interesting tasks on our nature reserves! People often ask if they can come and help – and of course, the answer is “Yes”!

Read Resource

3 mins

International Carbon Offsetting

Make it Wild are delighted to work with a trusted partner to plant mangrove trees by the thousand, in Kenya.

Read Resource

2 mins

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Tree Planting in Numbers

Total so far: 108,897 trees by 10th April 2025

Read Resource

3 mins

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Business Woodland Sponsorship

Would you like to be able to share your ‘green’ credentials as part of your marketing strategy?

Read Resource

7 mins

Nest Boxes – our experience

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4 mins

Nature Connectedness

Throughout history, humans have been undeniably entwined with nature. Our relationship with nature is crucial, as without nature, there is no ‘us’. We depend on it for everything, from the air we breathe to the water we drink.

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5 mins

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Bats at Bank Woods

During the Summer of 2023, we have been fortunate enough to have high tech bat detectors placed and monitored by local bat expert, David Watkins. These were placed in two locations at Bank Woods.

Read Resource

4 mins

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Become a Land-Owner Partner

Are you a landowner with a passion for the natural world? Do you dream of transforming your land into a haven for nature? Look no further!

Read Resource

3 mins

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Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a new important element in the development of sites for housing or commercial purposes. It ensures that habitats for wildlife are demonstrably improved as a result of the development.

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