Ep. 043: From Loss to Life - Ben Goldsmith & Natural Capital

28 Aug

In this episode of the Wilder Podcast, we sit down with Ben Goldsmith, financier, conservationist, and passionate rewilding advocate, to explore the deeply personal and global dimensions of nature restoration.

Ben shares how the tragic loss of his daughter, Iris, became the catalyst for rewilding his Somerset farm, transforming grief into a living love letter to her wild spirit. We also explore his belief in the healing power of nature, both for individuals and for landscapes, and why reconnecting young people with the natural world is one of the greatest challenges of our time.

From there, we broaden the lens to global rewilding projects and the emerging role of nature credits, from carbon and biodiversity credits to water quality markets, in funding large-scale ecological recovery. Ben explains the opportunities, risks, and integrity challenges of these markets, and why, despite their imperfections, they may be one of the most powerful tools available to scale restoration at speed.

Key Takeaways

How the loss of Ben’s daughter Iris inspired his family’s rewilding journey.
The healing role of nature in times of deep grief.
Why rewilding can happen on any scale, from a window box to thousands of acres.
The promise and pitfalls of nature credits, from carbon markets to biodiversity net gain.
Why reconnecting young people with nature is essential for our collective future.
How hope, optimism, and pragmatic financing can fuel a wilder world.

Timestamps

00:00 – Weather, drought, and the Grange Project’s changing landscape
09:30 – Introducing Ben Goldsmith and his lifelong passion for nature
16:00 – Rewilding in memory of Iris: grief, love, and transformation
27:00 – Nature connection, childhood, and ecological identity
33:00 – The return of beavers and winning hearts for rewilding
36:00 – Nature credits explained: carbon, water, biodiversity
46:00 – Risks, integrity, and scepticism in new nature markets
52:00 – The future of Welsh farming and policy courage
01:00:00 – Reflections on accountability, funding gaps, and next steps

Guest Bio – Ben Goldsmith

Ben Goldsmith is an environmentalist, investor, and writer. He chairs the Conservative Environment Network and is the founder of Rewilding the World, a podcast sharing stories of global restoration. His memoir, God is an Octopus, documents his journey through grief and the solace he found in rewilding his Somerset farm after the tragic loss of his daughter Iris. Ben has also worked extensively in green investment, particularly in natural capital and renewable energy, seeking ways to channel finance into large-scale ecological recovery.

Hosts

Tom & Chloe Constable are the founders of the Grange Project, an 80-acre rewilding initiative in Monmouthshire, Wales. Through the Wilder Podcast, they document their journey in restoring nature, raising a young family, and exploring the wider rewilding movement with leading voices from around the world.

The Wilder Podcast

The Wilder Podcast explores the people, ideas, and projects driving the rewilding movement. From family farms to global landscapes, we share honest conversations about restoring nature, finding hope, and building a wilder future.