Heal Rewilding, the national nature recovery charity, has announced a new partnership with Stitch Surveying, a company that supports nature recovery through data-driven storytelling, to create an interactive digital mapping system and drone tour of its Heal Somerset site. The virtual tour, which is now live on the Heal Somerset website, allows supporters and visitors from around the world to explore the rewilding project firsthand.
Heal Rewilding, which has thousands of supporters from across the UK and 98 countries around the world, acquired its first rewilding site, Heal Somerset, in December 2022. However, the charity recognizes that many of its supporters are unable to physically visit the site for various reasons. This new virtual tour aims to bridge that gap and provide an immersive experience for all.
Chris Stitchman, founder of Stitch Surveying Ltd, generously donated his company’s advanced drone mapping technology to create an interactive digital map and drone footage of the land. This technology allows visitors to explore the full expanse of the Heal Somerset site, view variations in tree and plant species, and even follow a mapped circular walk digitally.
“The interactive map is a fantastic way for us to showcase the progress of our rewilding project at Heal Somerset,” said a spokesperson for Heal Rewilding. “Not only does it provide an immersive experience for our supporters, but it also serves as meaningful evidence of the effectiveness of rewilding. We are grateful to Chris and Stitch Surveying for their generous donation and support of our cause.”
The charity plans to update the imagery on an annual basis to give virtual visitors an insight into how the landscape transforms when left to rewild. This data will also supplement the regular habitat and species surveys conducted by the Heal Somerset team, providing valuable evidence of the project’s success.
To explore Heal Somerset virtually, visit https://www.healsomerset.org.uk/visit-virtually. The virtual tour is now live and available for free access to the public 50 weeks a year.
Heal Rewilding is a registered charity working to raise funds, buy land in England, and rewild it to support nature recovery, climate action, and wellbeing. Through the rebuilding of wildlife populations, community involvement, and storytelling, Heal aims to reconnect people with nature and help tackle the climate and ecological crises. For more information, visit https://www.healrewilding.org.uk/.
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