Rewilding, Regenerative Farming & Imagination with Nick Viney | Ep 29 Live Free Ride Free

Live Free Ride Free with Rupert Isaacson

Artist, regenerative grazier, and rewilding facilitator Nick Viney joins Rupert Isaacson for an expansive conversation from the wilds of Dartmoor to the edges of imagination. With boots-on-the-ground wisdom from 20 years of land restoration, livestock management, and community-building, Nick makes a compelling case for restoring ecosystems through play, art, and radical listening. This episode is a masterclass in how to bring trees back, slow the water, and let the wild shape us.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The forgotten role of imagination in restoring landscapes (Starts at [00:03:00])
• How regenerative grazing works and why it's not “just moving cows” (Starts at [00:12:36])
• A real-world experiment: 40 years of non-grazed land on Dartmoor (Starts at [00:31:16])
• The critical role of beavers and why they’re returning to the UK (Starts at [00:47:00])
• Why reintroducing wolves might be inevitable — and good for everyone (Starts at [01:13:00])
• How art can spark environmental change and communicate complexity (Starts at [01:27:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• How she revived her artistic self after years of working for others ([00:02:00])
• Nick describes the joy of animals grazing fresh pasture every day — "It's pristine every single day" ([00:12:36])
• Rupert and Nick debate whether Britain is still a forest landscape or not ([00:19:25])
• What a bramble patch teaches us about songbirds and tree nurseries ([00:32:00])
• The haunting power of glow worms and how they reflect land recovery ([01:45:00])

📚 Books, Films, Causes & Contact:

Websites:

• Nick Viney Art & Projects: https://nickviney.co.uk
• Glamping & Land Connection: https://rewildingfutures.co.uk
• Beaver Watching & Rewilding Coombeshead: https://rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk

Other Rewilders Mentioned:

• Róisín Campbell-Palmer
• Gerhard Schwab (Bavaria)
• Derek Gow (UK)

Books:

• Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree – https://amzn.to/43j3Dbj

Conferences:

• "If Not Now, When: See Beyond" (July 25–27, 2025) – Rewilding Coombeshead
• Rewilding Coombeshead Conference by Derek Gow (July 26–27) – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/keep-it-wild/t-kraexje

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

• Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

📲 Follow Us:

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• Facebook: https://facebook.com/longridehome.lrh
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/longridehome_lrh
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@longridehome

New Trails Learning Systems:

• Website: https://ntls.co
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• Instagram: https://instagram.com/horseboyworld
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/newtrailslearningsystems

💡 Affiliate Disclosure:

• Links to books and products may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This does not affect the price you pay and helps support the podcast.