The Wilding film – based on the best-selling book written by Isabella Tree about the wilding of the Knepp Estate in Sussex – served as a launchpad for the Conference, screening at The Cut on Wednesday 25th September to a full house (200+ people). A true community event, with related books for sale in the foyer courtesy of the Halesworth Bookshop; great music from The Kitchen Band; delicious pre-film supper from Jemima; an introduction from Argus Gathorne-Hardy, co-founder of WildEast, and great conversation afterwards with local farmers, enabled by volunteers staying on to man the Bar! Telling the story of turning a nature-depleted 3,500 acre farming estate into a living natural environment over the space of 20 years – with turtle doves, nightingales, butterflies, dung beetles and much more, returning in droves – this inspirational film raised questions, gave hope, created lively conversation and brought people together to talk and explore the issues involved. Argus’s introduction drew in the whole audience, with a rallying cry to contribute even the smallest space to help create wildlife corridors and a tapestry of natural space for wildlife. The screening of Wilding built on the success of the Big Green Film Day, held in February 2024, with environmental films screening throughout the day. Film is proving to be a powerful tool to engage with a wider audience, and Six Inches of Soil is next, scheduled for 20th November at The Cut.