Rewilding for the Future: Our Journey Towards a Living Legacy

At Simms, sustainability is more than a checkbox; it is a long-term promise to future generations. Our commitment to nature, people and purpose has taken root in the fields of Kent, where rewilding is transforming agricultural land into a thriving natural habitat. This is not just about the environment. It is about community, history and the legacy we leave behind.

A New Beginning for the Land

In 2022, we took the first step by purchasing 30 acres of land near Canterbury. Two years later, in 2024, we added another 30 acres directly beside it. Once the last crop was harvested in August 2024, the land was left to nature, allowing habitats to stabilise and soils to recover.

Even in these early stages, the difference is striking. While neighbouring fields remain in crop production, our land is beginning to show the first signs of rewilding. Kestrels, owls, badgers, foxes, woodpeckers and even a leucistic pheasant have been spotted. It is a glimpse of what is possible when nature is given space to heal.

A 30-Year Vision for Nature

Working closely with the Kent Wildlife Trust, we are building a 30-year Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) to guide this project. The plan sets out clear ecological goals:

• Woodlands: Supporting native trees and shrubs.
• Grasslands: Restoring species-rich meadows with at least nine native grassland species.
• Wetlands: Encouraging ponds with year-round water retention.
• Wildlife: Tracking the return of species such as skylarks, hedgehogs, bats, harvest mice, butterflies and bees.
• Ecology: Improving soil health, rebalancing nutrients, capturing carbon and creating wildlife corridors that connect habitats.

Although benchmarking is still being finalised, bird monitoring has already begun as a first step in ensuring measurable biodiversity gains.

History Beneath Our Feet

The land has also revealed a story far older than ours. During early exploration, our Industrial Account Director, Brendan, visited the site in December 2024 with a friend and their metal detectors. Together they uncovered a remarkable Bronze Age hoard. Nearly 90 artefacts were unearthed, including axe heads, spearheads, sword and knife blades, ingots and rings. Alongside finds from as recent as the Second World War, this discovery connects our project not just to the future but to 3,500 years of history. 

As Andrew, our CEO, reflected: “We thought the land might hold some history, but to uncover something from 1400 BCE is extraordinary. It is a reminder that the choices we make today will be part of the story we leave for tomorrow.”

Community and Legacy

For now, the land is left to recover naturally, with plans for schools, clubs and colleagues to engage in the future. Andrew often encourages Simms employees to spend time there, to walk, reflect and reconnect with nature.

As he shared, the drive behind this project is simple: to leave a legacy beyond Simms International. It is about creating a living landscape that benefits people, wildlife and the planet.

Looking Ahead with Hope

The next stage of the project will be defined as we finalise the HMMP with our partners. 

This is a long journey, not measured in months but in decades. Yet every kestrel spotted, every wildflower returning, is a sign of hope.

At Simms, we believe business has the power to restore, not just consume. This rewilding project is proof of that belief in action. It is a reminder that with patience, care and collective purpose, we can help heal our corner of the planet.

If you would like to hear more, Andrew and Brendan shared their reflections on this journey, their 30-year career anniversary and the historic discoveries from the field in a special episode of our Making IT Happen series.

We invite you to follow our journey, share our vision and be part of the change. Together, we can make rewilding not just a project but a movement.