Charity Questions Podcast 3x04 | Healing Through Nature: Conservation, Counselling and Community

What happens when a career in conservation meets a calling in counselling? This week on the Charity Questions Podcast, George sits down with Mike Winstanley, Head of South and West Yorkshire at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, to explore the powerful intersections of ecology, eco-therapy and empathy.Mike reflects on his journey from birdwatching with his brother as a teenager to restoring rivers and now leading wildlife recovery efforts across Yorkshire. With anecdotes from decades in the field, including the monumental "Unlocking the Severn" project and the life-changing "MyPlace" eco-therapy programme, Mike shares how nature can heal both land and lives.They delve into rewilding (and its real UK limitations), the deep biodiversity losses we face, and why volunteering in nature could be the best thing for your wellbeing and your CV. From seabirds to shad, from policy to personal resilience, this is a rich, heart-filled conversation on why conservation isn't just about saving species. It's about saving ourselves.Join us for a thoughtful, honest and gently provocative episode full of passion, purpose and practical insights. And yes, the beavers get a mention too.