Building on the successful pledge to return 20% of East Anglia to nature, conservation charity WildEast, founded in 2020 by three ‘eco-anxious’ farmers – Hugh Somerleyton, Argus Hardy and Olly Birkbeck – today throw down the gauntlet to the other regions of the UK to collaborate in creating a truly Wild Kingdom.
Inspired by the great American Prairie Reserves, which sought to involve entire communities from the ground up, WildEast pioneered a truly democratic approach to nature recovery. What began in East Anglia as an appeal to farmers to return land to nature along their shared and historic hedgerow network (known as WildEdges), soon proliferated into a collective conservation movement involving people, farms, schools and communities. Now, WildEast evolves to a national scale, with the mission of rewilding the UK, one pledge at a time.
“Nature recovery has been about too few people in too few places for far too long. WildKingdom and its ‘Map of Dreams’ offer a simple, engaging way to share planet-saving stories that connect and inspire others - creating lasting societal change at this time of great climate and nature crisis. WildKingdom is about what people can do as a collective - every person can become involved with, and chart and celebrate their contribution to nature restoration.”
Hugh Somerleyton, Conservationist, WildEast Co-Founder and Somerleyton Farm Owner
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With the climate and nature crises deepening, government protections being rolled back and climate anxiety rising,the real revolution is coming from the ground up. WildKingdom invites everyone to take part through its interactive, ‘Map of Dreams,’ a living, evolving record of digital ‘witness statements’ to nature recovery. To date, the ‘Map of Dreams,’ has inspired thousands of pledges, connecting councils, community groups, farmers, schools and gardeners in a shared mission to return wildlife to the land. WildKingdom takes this local success global in scale and human in spirit, encouraging people to record their contributions in real time - turning individual acts of stewardship into a collective story of national restoration. These are micro actions at a macro scale.
Participation in WildKingdom is open to everyone, from larger projects to individuals with a gardener window box. Through the Map of Dreams, people can record their pledge and commit whatever space they can spare - ideally 20%, or even a small patch of ground - to the recovery of nature. Each contribution is logged and connected to others nearby, building a picture of collective restoration across Britain. WildKingdom aims to share best practice through people’s own efforts, offering guidance, inspiration and routes to community support. From restoring hedgerows and ponds to planting wildflower verges, rethinking gardens, or backing local wildlife projects - every pledge, however small, helps rebuild the fabric of wild Britain.
“We didn’t want to be the last generation to hear a turtle dove, a nightingale - like those before us who unknowingly heard the last lynx. WildEast and the Map of Dreams were about inspiring action, getting the ball rolling. WildKingdom is the reaction — seeing where the pins are popping up. We like to think it’s not going viral, it’s going fungal: a mycorrhizal network of farms, schools and back gardens growing real change from the ground up. The Map shows the change people are already making together — we want WildKingdom to become a place to share ideas and hope.”
Argus Hardy, Co-Founder of WildEast
The 20% benchmark is rooted in ecological research* showing that species and ecosystems need at least this proportion of space to survive and thrive. Studies suggest that once a landscape restores around a fifth of its area to nature, biodiversity, resilience and connectivity begin to recover dramatically. It’s an achievable yet powerful threshold and a point where local action starts to make a measurable difference. For WildKingdom, 20% isn’t a limit, but a rallying call.
WildKingdom’s roots are grounded in real success. Over twenty years of regeneration at Somerleyton Estate and five years of rewilding at Fritton Lake have transformed 5,000 acres of farmland into a thriving landscape of food, biodiversity and wellbeing.
- 25% of the estate is now managed primarily for biodiversity alongside food production.
- Carbon-negative wheat (–52.78kg CO₂ per ton) and faba beans sequestering 400kg CO₂ per ton.
- Nitrogen fertiliser use was cut by 13% and fuel consumption sharply reduced. ● 350 cattle, 350 sheep, Exmoor ponies and black pigs grazing naturally to restore soils.
- 904 moth species, 33 Red List birds, and 6 priority amphibians now recorded across the estate.
“We haven’t sacrificed farming for nature; we’ve made the land work for both. From carbon-negative crops to thriving wetlands, we’re proving that food, biodiversity and business can coexist.”
Rob Raven, Somerleyton Farm Manager
“Wild Kingdom is the next great leap - one map to bind us all. It isn’t about one person or place, it’s about thousands of acts of care and imagination - from all people doing extraordinary things for nature. Fritton Lake has shown what’s possible when rewilding takes root; now we want that magic to spread across the country.”
Hugh Somerleyton, Conservationist, WildEast Co-Founder and Somerleyton Farm Owner
Wild Kingdom celebrates the best of Britain’s rewilding heroes - great and small. Together, they’re building a living map of hope for future generations.
