On Tuesday 3 February, 2026, Heal Rewilding announced that they have been awarded a significant grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This grant will provide vital support for the charity’s work in helping with nature recovery, climate action, and wellbeing. The funding will allow Heal to expand their impact across England, aiding in the recovery of degraded landscapes and strengthening the connection between people, wildlife, and place.
Heal is taking direct action in tackling the ongoing climate and ecological crises by aiding in the recovery of ecosystems and promoting thriving wildlife populations. Along with ecological gains, the grant will also support Heal’s work with local communities, aiming to improve people’s health and wellbeing through meaningful access to nature. The charity’s approach focuses on enabling people to connect with the natural world, learning, healing, sharing, and inspiring action on a local, national, and global level.
The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded grant-maker that supports charities in various sectors across the UK, making a positive difference within their communities. Established by W. Garfield Weston in 1958 through an endowment of shares in the family business, now known as Associated British Foods plc, the Foundation continues to be guided by the Weston Family. The Trustees, all direct descendants of the founder, actively participate in the Foundation’s work.
This successful model has allowed the Foundation’s charitable donations to grow alongside the businesses, resulting in almost £1.7 billion in grants since its establishment. In the most recent financial year of 2024-2025, the Foundation donated nearly £130 million to 2,967 charities.
The grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation marks a significant milestone in Heal Rewilding’s continued growth as they work towards establishing more rewilding sites across England. Each Heal site is designed to create a permanent haven for nature while also providing tangible benefits for local communities, such as job creation and inward investment. The charity’s second site will be located in the north of England.
Sarah Winchester, Director of Heal Rewilding, expressed her gratitude for the award, stating, “This generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation will enable us to build lasting momentum for nature recovery. We have already witnessed remarkable and heartening successes at our pilot site, Heal Somerset, both in terms of biodiversity and community engagement, and this funding will help us to advance our mission further. We are incredibly grateful for the confidence and belief that the Foundation has shown in Heal.”
