What do ecologists do on a rewilding retreat? Let’s spill the dirt

18 Jun 2025

What happens when you get a team of ecologists together on an 18th century country estate for team building, learning and a bit of fun?

Just before survey season, our busiest time of the year, our ecologists took some time out of their schedules to come together in person for our annual ecology team day.

It took place at the beautiful Belmont Estate in Somerset, the perfect setting for some important connection, collaboration and bonding.

“We always try to find somewhere relevant to what we do. Somewhere inspiring but grounded in ecology. Belmont was the perfect choice. Their rewilding work mirrors so much of what we care about.”

Ecologists, assemble!

Our offices are spread out across the country, so it’s rare that we can all get together in person. Our time together at Belmont was balanced between:

Strategic updates

Inter-disciplinary collaboration

Inspiring guest speakers

A long (and very rewarding) guided tour through the Estate itself

Our Regional Ecology Director and the organiser of the day, Rachel Chatting, tells us more.

And it’s a particularly significant site for our Tribe. We have supported the Belmont’s rewilding project from the very beginning, and it’s one that we plan to return to as often as we can. When the project is fully established, we’re going back to visit to help maintain biodiversity in the area and care for the natural habitats that have been created.

“Bringing in our other disciplines meant people could see how we all fit together, how we can work even more seamlessly for our clients.”

Learning from each other

Our ecology team day was about building bonds. Not only between our ecologists but also with our other disciplines at Tyler Grange. One of the main objectives of the day was to promote better collaboration between everyone in the Tribe. As Rachel says, “We want to make sure that offices don’t work in silos. That means bringing everyone together as much as we can, through numerous team days across all disciplines, or getting the whole Tribe together.”

There’s a strong educational component, too. A presentation from Nature Space, covering district licensing and great crested newt planning processes, helped the team better understand our client needs. Talks from Tyler Grange’s Landscape Architecture, Arboriculture and Green and Blue Infrastructure teams also helped with inter-disciplinary collaboration.

The day’s learning can be summarised into three main areas.

Face-to-face connection matters. Seeing colleagues in person, not just on screens, helps us bond and feel part of something bigger.

Education fuels impact. Learning directly from experts both internally and externally, means we can advise clients with more clarity and confidence.

Collaboration is crucial. Inviting our other disciplines to the day strengthened our Tribe and improved how we work together.

Remembering what’s important to all of us

Our values are at the root of all our relationships. While it’s not easy to get everyone together in person, it’s worth the effort. Not only for our Tribe, but for our clients too. When we spend time learning, building trust and improving communication, that translates into better service, clearer advice and stronger collaboration.

Perhaps the most important part of the day was the site tour with one of Belmont Estate’s managers, Henry Rossiter. We were shown the Belmont’s numerous rewilding initiatives:

Pond creation

Hedgerow management

Soil regeneration

River restoration

The Belmont team also shared insights on the work they’re doing within the local community. They invite schools to the Estate, running sessions that help children understand and appreciate the nature around them. The team also talked about the crucial volunteer network they have that helps in the upkeep of the Estate.

It was an immersive reminder of the ecological principles we work with every day, and a chance to see some of the important parts of what we do as ecologists at Tyler Grange, through someone else’s eyes.

“The team day is something people value deeply. It gives us a solid foundation to build on and try new things next time.”

Connecting with purpose

For us, it’s never just about ticking a team-building box. It’s about cultivating a sense of shared purpose. These moments give our Tribe a break from project deadlines and a chance to really explore the “why” behind our work.

Team days at Tyler Grange happen every year, and the success of this one has given us an even stronger framework for future events. It also highlighted the value of getting outside and reconnecting with nature on a personal level, not just professionally.

After a fantastic day at Belmont Estate, we’re ready to hit the ground running this survey season. Curious about what we do and why we do it? Keep learning!

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