Helen Neave

Helen, a retired consultant surgeon, has always been passionate about nature. In 2010, she and her husband Chris, bought 26 acres as a family project to ‘give back to nature’.

They planted thousands of trees, sowed wild flower seeds, dug ponds, and installed habitat boxes. The resulting explosion in biodiversity was stunning and inspired the couple to set up their business ‘Make it Wild’ in 2017. With the mission statement “It’s not our aim to protect nature, it’s our purpose” the business exists to support biodiversity.
Make it Wild now looks after nine sites in North Yorkshire, UK, totalling over 400 acres, all managed entirely for nature. They’ve planted 75,000 trees, restored wildflower meadows and wetland, protected ancient woodland, and rewilded upland, helped by their conservation grazing team of Belted Galloway cows and Exmoor ponies.

They offer a range of nature sponsorship and dedication opportunities to businesses and individuals; carbon offsetting through tree planting; woodland wellbeing activities, and an eco-friendly holiday cottage.

In September 2023 Helen and Chris were proud and excited to win a BBC Make a Difference Award for their work with Make it Wild.