The Business of Nature - Rewilding Retreat - Understanding natural capital

THE BUSINESS OF NATURE

Understanding natural capital

Comrie Croft, Perthshire
£595
2 days
Fitness: Easy
Group Size: 15

Join Matthew Hay, Natural Capital Manager at leading nature restoration company Nattergal, for a two-day masterclass exploring how to make nature work for your business. You’ll unpack the jargon around natural capital and nature markets, discover how these concepts are reshaping the way we value nature, and learn how rewilding can deliver financial as well as ecological returns.

WHAT TO EXPECT

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture has been working with experts across the Northwoods Rewilding Network to explore how rewilding can be financially viable as well as ecologically restorative. This practical, discussion-led course will help you understand where your business or project could fit into the growing nature economy.

This course is for you if you are:

  • part of a business exploring natural capital or biodiversity opportunities
  • a conservation or rewilding professional keen to understand how nature markets can support long-term funding
  • a member of a rewilding project team, particularly if you’re involved in funding proposals or enterprise development
  • a civil servant or policy maker wanting to understand nature markets and how they can help countries to meet legally binding nature and climate targets
  • a student, graduate or career-changer looking to work in rewilding or nature restoration, with a passion for sustainability and innovation

During this course you will learn:

  • what all the jargon actually means: natural capital, nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, green finance and nature markets
  • how natural capital is being applied to land management and revenue generation
  • the role of green finance, biodiversity net gain, TNFD, stacking, and other key mechanisms
  • how rewilding projects can generate income while delivering measurable benefits for nature and people
  • what types of nature markets exist in the UK, who the buyers are, and how to access them
  • real-world examples - from across the country - of businesses that generate revenue from:
    • carbon credits 
    • biodiversity units 
    • CSR / ESG 
    • ecotourism
    • ‘wild’ products (e.g. venison)

Meet the trainer:

Matthew Hay is a natural capital specialist with expertise in ecosystem markets and integrated land management. Formerly a director of Reforesting Scotland and natural capital consultant at Bidwells, he champions nature recovery and integrated land use. Now working for Nattergal, he’s swapped bogs for fens to help drive nature recovery across England’s heartland, and brings practical insight into how natural capital can drive nature recovery at a variety of scales.

DATES

DATES GUIDE STATUS
DATES: 13-14 May 2026 GUIDES: Matthew Hay STATUS: Open BOOK NOW

If you are interested in running this as a bespoke course for a private group, please get in touch.

PRICE

£595

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Two full days of tuition with two site visits
  • Lunch on both days
  • Tea, coffee and biscuits on both days
  • Take-home resources, including our Northwoods Nine booklet and MeWilding ebook
  • Course completion certificate 
  • A complimentary digital copy of our landmark book, SCOTLAND: A Rewilding Journey

PRICE EXCLUDES

  • Travel to/from the course
  • Accommodation if required (we would highly recommend staying at Northwoods partner site Comrie Croft
  • Personal expenses

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Timings: 

Arrival from 9am for a 9.30am start. Finish around 5pm each day. Our venue is Northwoods partner site, Comrie Croft near Crieff. 

How do I get there?

Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Crieff, PH7 4JZ

GOOGLE MAPS

WHAT3WORDS: beaten.lighten.tall

Where can I stay overnight?

If accommodation is required, Comrie Croft has a selection of accommodation options that can be booked direct. 

What size are your groups?

Our Masterclasses are for groups of up to 15 participants. 

Read our FAQ's for more info

VENUE

The masterclass will be run from Comrie Croft in Perthshire. 

 

Meet the businesses involved in this masterclass:

Comrie Croft encompasses 12 collaborating nature-based micro-enterprises which employ over 40 local people (full-time equivalent) with combined revenues of over £2million. Five of these businesses are owner-managed. Comrie Croft Ltd – the mothership in the family – is a certified B-Corp owned by 50 local people, employees, family and friends.

During our time at Comrie Croft we’ll meet Andrew Donaldson who will share his insights into running such a multi-faceted venture and being part of the Northwoods Rewilding Network. 

 

Fordie Estate is a >2,000ha landholding in Highland Perthshire owned by Foresight Group. The estate is an example of integrated land management, producing timber, meat, carbon credits and biodiversity benefits.

Course participants will have the opportunity to spend a morning at Fordie with its manager. During our visit, we’ll discover how the estate team combines the property's enterprises to create and maintain wonderful habitats for a wide variety of native wildlife, and allows people – both local and visitors from further afield – to enjoy these beautiful places for both work and recreation. 

WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS THINK

"Fantastic course, the best I've been on. Really knowledgeable trainer, great location and a great group of like minded people."

Nicole, Training Participant, 2025 

MORE PARTICIPANT REVIEWS