Groundswell was a fantastic opportunity to connect with a wide range of people from all sorts of backgrounds and areas within the regenerative farming community. From farmers and ecologists to soil scientists and those simply passionate about nature recovery, it was inspiring to be surrounded by such a diversity of voices all working towards the same goal.

The festival provided space for meaningful conversations, the sharing of ideas and the chance to learn from others’ experiences. The variety and quality of talks were outstanding and offered fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the regenerative farming movement. It was refreshing and motivating to meet so many like-minded people who are committed to improving farming for the benefit of people, nature and climate.

Weald to Waves Project Lead Gareth Williams participating in the panel discussion on Landscape Approaches: stories, challenges and successes.

For the Weald to Waves team, Groundswell has given us a revitalised sense of mission. It reinforced the importance of our work in facilitating connections, not only across the landscape but between the people and communities who care for it. One of the strongest themes that came through was the idea of being a ‘lighthouse’ within your community, project or region: to be visible, to inspire others and to attract people towards positive change. Whether it is those already aligned with your intentions or those who may not yet know much about the movement but share a desire to make a difference, it is clear that visibility and collaboration are key to building momentum.

Groundswell has reminded us that change does not happen in isolation. It happens through building relationships, learning from each other and creating spaces where people feel empowered to take action. We have come away with new contacts, fresh ideas and renewed energy to continue our work, helping to create a connected landscape and a connected community for nature recovery in the Weald to Waves corridor.