The Wilderness Foundation UK harnesses the power of the wilderness and nature to transform vulnerable lives and empowers people, in return, to conserve nature. We offer nature based outreach programmes, environmental education and nature therapy camps along with wilderness trails that enable adults and youth to explore unspoilt wild places in the UK, Europe and South Africa. Our aims include using the outdoors, nature and wilderness experiences to bring about measurable, positive change and improved mental health within disadvantaged and vulnerable young people and adults, enabling them to lead a healthy and active life and improve their personal sustainability, independence, belonging, self-esteem and resilience. We also work to preserve wild spaces and engender an enduring love of nature, through education and direct experience for everyone, with conservation volunteering experience, gaining practical tools and skills.

Explore our HISTORY, our THERAPY programmes, our TRAIL experiences for adults and youth, and our CORPORATE engagement. You can also check out our Facebook and Instagram pages or sign up to our newsletter for our latest activities and programmes.

If you feel, as we do, that wild nature must be preserved and more people deserve to experience the benefits of nature then you can help support us and become a Friend of the Foundation , Volunteer with one of our youth or conservation programmes or make a regular DONATION to help us to continue our work.

The Wilderness Foundation UK engages over 7,000 people per year with the benefits and enjoyment of wild nature. Programmes develop future sustainability leaders, build resilience in vulnerable teenagers with challenging lives and mental health issues, introduce rural employment to urban youth, and bring curriculum-based sciences to life in the outdoors. We switch off technology and switch on reality.

Our Chatham Green Project is a 400-acre living classroom engaging young people with nature based activities for Primary, Secondary and SEND Schools . Subjects are taught using immersive and creative outdoor education methods. The ‘Down to Earth’ Community Allotments help build connections for people to nature through volunteering, where people learn and develop new skills to benefit their mental and physical wellbeing.

TurnAround and Out There Academy support young people with complex needs through nature immersion. The programmes offer resilience training, personal development and therapy for youths battling family breakdown and mental health issues. Trained mentors offer one to one support to build aspiration and employability through wilderness therapy journeys.

Our Scottish programme Treun supports young people with mental health problems and complex lives. We build connections with nature and help young people build resilience coping strategies and skills for employment. Participants join wilderness trails, volunteering and employability training, whilst growing an understanding of their ecological heritage.

Since 1956, Wilderness Leadership Trails have nurtured environmentalists of the future in the most remote corners of South Africa, the UK and Europe. Immersion trails with skilled facilitation help develop deep connections to nature, building future leaders for a sustainable planet.

All programmes follow Leave No Trace Ethics and training.