Bean Research partnered with Heal Rewilding to explore and articulate the social impact of its pioneering rewilding work at its flagship Somerset site. As an organisation focused on restoring nature at scale, Heal was keen to better understand and evidence how its activities also contribute to community wellbeing, inclusion, and public connection with land and nature.
We began with an in-depth consultation phase, engaging with a range of experts in rewilding, social impact, and community engagement. This included one-to-one interviews and a review of academic literature to understand emerging evidence around the social outcomes associated with spending time in rewilded environments.
Drawing on these insights, we co-developed a theory of change that maps how Heal’s rewilding activities support a range of social outcomes – from improved mental wellbeing and environmental awareness to feelings of belonging. From this, we created a tailored, nested social impact framework aligned to different visitor groups, including those new to rewilding and existing rewilding advocates.
To support future data collection, we designed a ‘golden questions’ indicator bank and provided strategic advice on embedding these into existing visitor touchpoints. This ensures that Heal can gather meaningful feedback in ways that are light-touch, inclusive, and do not disrupt the immersive, reflective experiences that are central to the site.
The resulting framework equips Heal with the tools to measure, communicate, and strengthen the social value of its work – both for supporters and wider audiences – as its rewilding vision continues to grow.
“Bean Research took time to understand our ambitions and requirements, resulting in the project outcomes being relevant and meaningful to us. I particularly liked the collaborative approach that Bean took, it felt like we were guided through the process together rather than being ‘told’ what to do and this resulted in the outcomes being fully embedded across our entire team. Arani and Charlotte were kind, professional and a joy to work with!”
Sarah Winchester, Director, Heal Rewilding
