About Us

Using the skills of our ancestors to nurture a deeper a relationship with the natural world and a sense of belonging to communities past and present

Wild in the City was founded in 2013 and became a non profit CIC in 2016. We are a national organisation supporting well-being through relationship with nature.  We work from natural settings offering experiences in hiking, woodland living skills, natural history and ecotherapy. We lead national conversations about people of colour’s relationships with nature and attitudes that can lead to people feeling that they don’t belong.

Nature Relationship

We are passionate about helping people to reconnect with nature and to experience nature’s ability to support health.  We promote bushcraft and nature awareness as skills which help us to ‘live’ in a fast paced, urbanised, tech driven world.

We’re building a bridge back into the oral tradition for learning about nature

We offer a range of nature experiences designed to inspire you to spend more time outdoors and help make nature a meaningful part of your everyday life; sharing knowledge about how to look after yourself in nature, wildlife habitats, names and uses of wild plants, animal behaviour, cultural customs, traditional crafts and folklore.

Thought leadership

Our ethnographic research has influenced conversations within the environmental sector, introducing people of colours’ perspectives about our relationship with the natural world.

We provide consultancy to leading environmental NGO’s, funders and government bodies on issues of access and engagement in the environmental field, including Natural England, Woodland Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Friends of the Earth, PM SPAD on Environment.  We have helped film makers develop their narratives in telling the story of people of colour’s relationship with nature and experiences of racism in the environmental field and the countryside, including BBC Countryfile.

Our aims

• Provide fun, informative and therapeutic immersion in nature
• Support the development of positive relationships in and with nature
• Promote and normalise contact with nature during work, rest and play
• Deepen connection with nature through the development of practical skills and exploration

We’re building a community of people who gather in nature to have fun, learn and feel good.

Our ethos

We are therapeutic in our approach and aim to help facilitate the development of positive relationships in and with nature. You can read more about our community values here and our social media policy here.

Many people in cities have lost contact with nature and what it can offer in terms of relaxation and recreation.  Increasingly urban lifestyles are indoor orientated, isolating, lack activity and can lead to poor quality relationships. Low incomes can limit options for healthy entertainment and recreation.  Wild in the City work to show how nature can provide free activities which are fun and support health, raising self-esteem and giving a sense of meaning and purpose in life.  Wild in the City inspire people with ideas and skills they can apply independently.

Why choose us

In the field

We are driven by our own passion for spending time in the natural world and hope that you’ll enjoy being in the woods as much as we do.

We keep our group sizes small to allow intimacy with nature and among participants, rather than aiming for large numbers where the connection with people and nature can become diluted.  We are fully insured and DBS checked.

Research and consultancy

We have been at the fore of researching and documenting people of colours’ relationships with nature in the UK and the barriers experienced in accessing nature . Our ethnographic research centres a Black perspective and examines the white gaze, in contrast to the established view within the environmental sector that people of colour were not interested in nature or that engaging with nature was simply not part of our culture.  Drawing from therapeutically held reflective conversations, we have a large body of knowledge spanning the personal and community impact of loss of relationship with nature, the process of healing from the trauma of disenfranchisement, the development of cultures which shun nature, ancestral ways of being with nature, and the philosophies and cultural practices which bring joy in being part of the natural world.

Our analysis of the environmental sector and the barriers created to more diverse access to nature includes an examination of the historical legacy of racism within environnmental movements, white atttitudes towards Black presence in nature, processes for decolonising the environmental field and inspiring people of colour to find our place in nature and the British countryside.

Partnership

We are a non profit Community Interest Company. We welcome partners and sponsorship to help support our activities. If you are interested in supporting people to increase their connection to nature please contact us to discuss collaboration.