Summary

As a natural flood management advisor for the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) in Somerset, I supported Heal Rewilding to restore their waterways from constrained ditch systems back into the natural valley floodplains in the headwaters of the river Frome. The concepts were initially identified by Dr Peter Stone and I supported Heal to take these from ideas into reality. I connected with natural flood management funding through the Somerset Rivers Authority and supported Heal with the funding proposition, designs, navigate the beavers moving on site, permissions and worked delivery contractor, Josh Ashbee of Exmoor & Quantock countryside services. It was exciting to work with all the skilled people involved in this project and I look forward to speaking about this on stage at Heal’s ‘Into the Light’ annual summer event in 2026, which has a water theme.

“Tom came to us, interested in our project, and was instantly taken by the potential we had for significant wetland restoration. His enthusiasm and bright smile along with his technical knowledge was a killer combo and we quickly developed a relationship which allowed us to access funding to complete the works we were proposing. Working with Tom was very easy; he listened to our needs and requests and worked efficiently to get our project over the line, even making sure things were tied over for us before he left his role to pursue another job. We need more Tom’s in the world!”

- Dan Hill, Heal Rewilding