THE RESILIENT REWILDER
Build hope and wellbeing as a positive change-maker
Join Jen Coates, founder of Wilder Hope, for a two-day masterclass designed to help you boost your mental wellbeing, strengthen your resilience and build a supportive network within the rewilding community. Through open discussion and practical tools, you’ll learn how to recognise and respond to eco-anxiety, manage the emotional challenges of working for change, and maintain the energy needed to drive Scotland’s rewilding movement forward.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Working in rewilding can be deeply rewarding – but also demanding. This practical, discussion-led course offers a reflective space to explore the psychological side of rewilding, learn strategies for maintaining balance, and share experiences with others who understand the pressures of the work. You’ll leave feeling re-energised, equipped with tools and practices to sustain your wellbeing and purpose for the long term.
The course is for you if you are:
- a member of a rewilding project team seeking tools to build personal resilience and navigate ecological grief
- a conservation or rewilding professional keen to link with peers and explore the emotional challenges of this work
- a student, graduate or career-changer looking to enter the rewilding or restoration sector with a healthy mindset and realistic expectations
- involved in potentially high-conflict projects or roles requiring strong communication and empathy
- a ranger, educator or facilitator supporting community conversations about change
- looking for space to reflect, recharge and find solutions within a supportive, informed group
During this course you will learn:
- how to identify your own motivators and triggers around eco-anxiety and ecological grief
- how others’ experiences and coping strategies can inform and strengthen your own resilience
- practical approaches to protecting your mental health and maintaining balance in challenging times
- how to build and nurture a support network that sustains you beyond the course
You’ll go away:
- re-energised, with a clearer understanding of both your strengths and needs
- armed with tools and practices to maintain resilience and good mental health
- confident that you are part of a strong, supportive community of rewilders
Meet the trainer:
Jen Coates runs Wilder Hope and has a passion for empowering people to reconnect with themselves and the natural world, finding their intrinsic part in rewilding our shared ecosystems. With a background in grief and bereavement support, Jenny has spent her career helping people find choice and meaning in times of uncertainty. She and her partner are rewilding a patch of land on the Isle of Mull.
DATES
| DATES | GUIDE | STATUS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DATES: 4-5 Sep 2026 | GUIDES: Jen Coates | STATUS: Open | BOOK NOW |
If you are interested in running this as a bespoke course for a private group, please get in touch.
PRICE
£495
PRICE INCLUDES
- Two full days of tuition
- 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
- Personal expenses
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Timings:
Arrival from 9.30am for a 10am start. Finish around 4pm each day. Sauchie Home Farm sits in a rural setting near Stirling, close to the headwaters of the Sauchie Burn.
How do I get there?
The farm is 10 minutes from the M9/M80 Stirling Services and 15 minutes from the train and bus station.
Driving directions are below:
From M80/M9 Stirling Services turnoff:
- Take the Whins of Milton exit.
- Take the first left just before The Brewers Fayre.
- At the T Junction turn left.
- Follow the road to Carron Bridge for two miles
- You’ll reach a windy, downhill section of road, where you’ll see a sign – Carron Bridge four miles – and a blue fence on your right.
- Turn right immediately at the blue fence.
- After one minute take first left up a rough track and continue up the track for three minutes.
- Go up the track for 3 minutes
- Sauchie Home Farm is first on the right.
From Stirling Railway Station
- Follow signs for St Ninians and Bannockburn.
- Continue towards St Ninians and follow signs for Battle of Bannockburn.
- Immediately after the Battle of Bannockburn Centre take first right, then first left towards Carron Bridge.
- Continue on this road for two miles.
- You’ll reach a windy, downhill section of road, where you’ll see a sign – Carron Bridge four miles – and a blue fence on your right.
- Turn right immediately at the blue fence.
- After one minute take the first left up a rough track and continue up the track for three minutes.
- Sauchie Home Farm is first on the right.
If arriving by train, it’s best to get a taxi to the farm. Please find contact details below:
- Sunny (who charges a flat rate of £10): 07880 858 353
- Rabs Taxis: 01786 812909
- Stirling Taxis: 01786 816 236
Where can I stay overnight?
There is a Permier Inn (Stirling South, M9, J9) that offers affordable private rooms.
What size are your groups?
This masterclass is for groups of up to 12 participants.
Read our FAQ's for more info
VENUE
The masterclass will be run from Sauchie Home Farm, near Stirling. The farm has 70 acres of land which has been given over to rewilding and tree planting as well as the growing of organic fruit and vegetables. There’s plenty of space to explore and enjoy, including the mature oak wood where you’ll find the Sauchie Burn (Willow Stream), a labyrinth for meditative walking and many other walks nearby.
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
