Planting thousands of trees is not only excellent news for the environment; it also makes perfect business sense for Yorkshire-based family enterprise Make It Wild.
The company was founded in 2011 by Helen and Christopher Neave, who have turned their passion for protecting nature into a thriving commercial venture. After creating the Sylvan Nature Reserve on rough pasture on the banks of the River Nidd near York as a family project, the Neaves have gone on to develop a business offering tree-planting carbon-offsetting opportunities and wellness retreats. There is also a retail arm selling an eco-friendly range of products including bamboo spoons and toothbrushes, vegan shampoo and beeswax food wraps.
The commercial model is based on acquiring low-productivity agricultural land and reclaiming it for nature by establishing new woodlands and allowing some land to become wild again. The company has so far planted more than 36,000 trees and created varied habitats such as wildflower meadows and wetlands to support biodiversity.
Following the initial success of the Sylvan Nature Reserve, the founders bought a 111-acre site at Bank Woods near Harrogate for a much larger habitat-creation project. It was designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation by the local authority in January 2020. The Neaves have also purchased a further 44 acres nearby to accommodate more tree planting, and a piece of land for a memorial woodland where families can plant a tree with their loved one’s ashes.
Make It Wild plans to plant 100,000 more trees over the next decade, including thousands as part of the Northern Forest Initiative. This scheme is supported by the Woodland Trust and has an ambitious target of adding an additional 50 million trees on land between Liverpool and Hull. “The business is growing because of the different revenue streams,” says Helen Neave. “We also have a popular eco-friendly holiday cottage with solar panels on the roof, air-source heating and upcycled furniture. Part of the garden has been left wild to encourage nature.”
She says the business is succeeding because it is reconnecting people with nature at a time when there is a climate crisis and wildlife is being lost at an alarming rate. “This disconnection is detrimental to individuals and society, and there is evidence that time spent in nature does improve people’s mental health,” she says.
With this insight, she plans to increase the number of wellness activities for 2021. These include Green Woodworking sessions, wherein anyone suffering with anxiety can spend time in the woods learning rural crafts and creating items such as fence posts or sculptures. The company also offers natural mindfulness walks at Sylvan Nature Reserve and other activities in which people can engage all their senses while strolling among the trees.
Despite its mixed portfolio of products, tree planting remains at the heart of everything Make It Wild does. This includes enabling businesses to sponsor woodland and invite staff to visit and help maintain the environment as part of a team-building exercise. Businesses can also offer a “Tree per Order” promotion to help their customers reconnect with nature. “Tree planting is recognised as a vital element to solve the environmental crisis, and carbon offsetting is being adopted by entire business sectors as a route to achieving sustainable growth,” says Helen.
The company has run a successful public-relations campaign and used Facebook advertising to generate significant interest, although many enquiries still come from word-of-mouth recommendations. The business has so far been funded solely by its owners, with top-ups from agricultural grants including government-backed countryside stewardship awards.
Make It Wild has built its business and reputation in Yorkshire – but it has not ruled out looking further afield as it expands. As Christopher says: “It is all about finding the right piece of land that is poor quality for agriculture but is at the right price to make it a haven for wildlife – so we can inspire others to love and respect the natural world.”
Connecting for Growth
We interviewed Helen and Christopher Neave, founders of Make It Wild, as part of the Connecting for Growth campaign, which is putting a spotlight on some of the world’s most promising business ideas. Look out for more insights from top entrepreneurs in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit makeitwild.co.uk
