Community rewilding in Lindfield: connecting and learning with a purpose

With biodiversity plummeting, extreme weather intensifying, healthy soil and clean air and water still out of reach for many, action to rewild our towns and communities is desperately required — and it needs to be increased, rapid, high-impact, and scalable. But to rewild at the pace needed, we need to look at models beyond ecosystem-service payments, public spending, charity work and conservation.  

The collective action and distributed governance model demonstrated by this project in Lindfield could prove a viable solution. Beyond the socio-environmental benefits of rewilding — air quality, sound dampening, thermal regulation, water management, soil and water health and myriad other positive benefits of rewilding — this way of organising action has residents sharing skills, passions, and perhaps most importantly, each other’s company, especially in a time where public trust in institutions is eroding and polarisation is growing across the world. 

Global issues like clean air and water, climate mitigation and adaptation, and biodiversity loss are converging with rising concerns around loneliness, anxiety, human connection, and polarization of communities. At the same time, science is showing us that speaking to a neighbour, volunteerism, and the sounds, sights and smells of biodiversity are all key components to the wellbeing of individuals and communities.  

If more communities like Heathwood Park could tap into the human desires for connection, support and respect as a vehicle for sharing and building skills to make our neighborhoods safer and more pleasant, then we could see rewilding efforts or other community-based efforts truly take root. Furthermore, creating green corridors across local communities through rewilding also offers a solution to another important challenge: building social cohesion across disparate communities.