The day began at The Garlic Farm, where Barnes Edwards, Director of The Garlic Farm (a B Corp business), led a tour showcasing how nature-positive farming sits at the heart of their business model. Attendees saw firsthand how mob grazing is being used to enhance soil health while producing high-quality food, and how garlic is now farmed in ways that work in harmony with the natural environment.

A highlight of the visit was viewing the farm’s innovative WET system - a nature-based solution to wastewater management. A field has been transformed into a living wetland filtration system, consisting of a series of shallow pools planted with diverse species of rushes, reeds, and aquatic plants. As water flows through, it’s naturally purified, eventually collecting in a reservoir used to irrigate nearby garlic fields.

From there, guests headed to Wilder Little Duxmore, the Trust’s flagship rewilding site, for further networking, panel discussions, and a guided tour.

The panel featured inspiring insights from Luke Maundrell, Fundraising Development Manager at the Trust, Nick Falkowski (Meaningful Planet), Xavier Baker (Isle of Wight Distillery), and Barnes Edwards (The Garlic Farm). Each spoke about how they have embedded nature into their business decisions and operations.

Jamie Marsh, Director of Wilder Wight, Solent & Seas, gave an overview of Wilder Little Duxmore, showing how restoring space for nature leads to thriving landscapes - for both people and wildlife.

The event concluded with a walk around Wilder Little Duxmore, where guests encountered the small herd of grazing Exmoor ponies, butterflies, birds, and flourishing flora - an ecosystem bouncing back from years of intensive agriculture.

Ian Wadley, Director of Marketing & Fundraising at the Trust, said:

“Companies have a critical role to play in nature’s recovery, and there are many ways they can support the Trust’s work.

We’re fortunate to have a strong network of corporate members and partners, and we urge more businesses to step up and help create a wilder, more resilient future.”