We opened a Rewilding Visitor Centre – and it really was wild!
For one evening only in March, the People’s Park for Nature opened a pop-up Rewilding Visitors Centre in Newhaven to explore what a hub dedicated to local nature restoration could be like. Dylan Walker reports on what happened next – and how to help if you’d like make the centre a reality.
We’re still in shock at the overwhelming interest in our Rewilding Visitor Centre pop-up event on 19 March. In just a few hours, nearly 300 of you came together in Newhaven to imagine what nature’s recovery could look like in the Lower Ouse Valley, travelling from as far away as Wales, Lancashire, London, and more! It was a joy to meet many of you there and to share our collective vision for a wilder future!
Watch the 2-min film of the evening:
Your rewilded future
We asked all attendees to draw their rewilded future on a map and pin Monopoly money to the ideas they liked the most! These are the top three results:
- It was a noisy ‘Yes’ to beavers returning to the Ouse Valley! Beavers were drawn three times up and down the river and smothered with bank notes each time. If we had the dosh, we’d be doing it tomorrow.
- A combined bird sanctuary and children’s adventure playground drew interest from investors young and old.
- Attendees drew a Visitor Centre close to the river and surrounded by saltmarsh, with bison, beaver, and butterflies nearby, then sprinkled cash all over it!
From ideas to action
What we created together felt like the beginning of something bigger. A permanent, free to visit Rewilding Visitor Centre could become a place where people connect, learn, and take part in restoring nature. It could be a place supporting local jobs, inspiring projects across the valley and beyond, and welcoming children and adult visitors from near and far.
If you can help bring this dream to life – by providing a space, offering initial funding, or connecting us with people who could make this happen – we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch at