Away from the world, healing in nature: 48 hours in 2 nature havens

Earlier this month, I had the chance to take part in the Grow Wilder Youth Leadership Group (YLG) residential at Heal Somerset – a weekend packed full of nature, learning, healing, and connection. Organised by Action for Conservation and Avon Wildlife Trust, the residential brought together young people that are passionate about the environment for two exciting days full of immersive outdoor experiences, hands on conservation activities, and meaningful reflection. From cooking over open fires to exploring beaver dams to checking moth traps and discovering the whole nature reserve, every moment offered something special, something new and inspiring.

From the moment I arrived at Grow Wilder, smiles were visible on people’s faces, smiles of joy, smiles of excitement and being in nature. We kicked off the day by playing little games to break the ice with everyone and introducing ourselves, got briefed by the staff the timeline of the whole journey, and quickly got active by going outside to see what the grow wilder project was like. We caught some insects and identified them, set night camera traps for animals that try to go unseen, and saw some goats. This brought the whole group together, created a bond and a sense of connection just by being in nature.

We arrived at Heal Somerset later that day, and already the weekend was packed with hands-on activities and real connection, both with each other and the natural world around us. We kicked things off with the group sharing information about Heal and Grow Wilder, then it was game time! We started with a fun fast-paced scavenger hunt before setting up our tents and cooking curry over an open fire, which instantly brought a strong sense of teamwork and community. As the sun set, we took part in a night walk, which gave us a whole new perspective on the land we were staying on. Did I forget to add we had hot marshmallows? There's no camp without hot burning marshmallows on sticks. It was then bedtime and I slept like a baby!

The following day was full of discovery. We started early by checking moth traps and feeding the pigs before heading out to explore the beaver dam and carry out a reptile survey. One of the most eye-opening moments was watching footage from the camera traps – a reminder of how much life goes on unseen when we're not looking. I also learned that there’s a lizard that looks like a snake called slow worm, I even carried one, I felt so good. We ended the trip with a creative tapestry-making session and space for quiet reflection, rounding off a weekend that was as inspiring as it was grounding.

In just 48 hours, I felt more connected to nature, to others, and to myself than I had in a long time. The weekend reminded me how powerful slowing down, being outdoors, and working together can be. It was inspiring, grounding, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. I even made a new best friend. A weekend reminisce.

Thank you for reading my blog!

David