Rewilding in the heart of Somerset

Welcome to Wild Pinebeck: a rewilding haven nestled in the Mendip Hills, Somerset

A wildlife haven

Wild Pinebeck is a small rewilding project run by novelist and wildlife expert, Dr Sanjida O’Connell, and her husband, Jaimie Rogers. Situated in the heart of The Mendip Hills National Landscape, Jaimie and Sanjida began transforming the land in 2020, creating vibrant wildflower meadows, a flourishing orchard, and tranquil woodland areas.

Airbnb

Stay…

Relax in our serene guest suite, which offer tranquil views of our beautiful rewilding project. Located directly on the West Mendip Way, Wild Pinebeck is perfect for hiking, biking, horse riding, writing retreats, or simply unwinding amidst nature.

Just fifteen minutes from Bristol Airport, yet truly a world away from the everyday.

Airbnb

Wild Pinebeck is a gorgeous place to stay. It’s spotlessly clean, cosy and comfortable. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better location, overlooking the wilderness and with everything you could possibly need, from teas and filter coffee, homemade bread and jam, to slippers and torches - there’s even a pair of binoculars for spotting wildlife out of the window. And if you need a break, you can watch Netflix on the huge TV or read a book, including one of Sanjida’s many published novels.

Thank you for everything. I had a wonderful time at Wild Pinebeck. It was perfect, exactly what I needed. Thank you for your kindness - evident throughout your home, from the fresh bread to the real orchid.

Thank you to Sanjida and Jamie for another wonderful and relaxing stay at Wild Pinebeck - my 3rd visit now! I enjoyed every moment - exploring new walks, eating delicious breakfasts in the garden, stargazing at night, listening to birdsong... What a magical place!

We had a wonderful time staying here and would highly recommend it to others. Sanjida made us feel very welcome. The space is fantastic, clean and has everything you could need. It's also in a great countryside location with lots of options for walks, a local pub and a short drive from sights such as Cheddar Gorge. Certainly of the best Airbnbs we have stayed at.

Loved staying in Sanjida and Jaimie's place, such welcoming hosts! Loved the welcome box, and their kindness during our stay. The place is right in nature, which is perfect for some quite time in the countryside. Connected to the main house, but so private and peaceful. It was perfect.

Thank you so much for having us! We have a lovely stay - thank you for making us feel so welcome. If we are ever over your way again, we will be sure to stay!

Read…

Discover the journey behind Wild Pinebeck in Dr Sanjida O’Connell’s evocative nature memoir.

‘Wilderness is a brave and lyrical exploration of land, loss, and identity. Sanjida O’Connell’s search for belonging is intimate and unflinching. A beautiful, necessary book.’ Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, ‘The Black Farmer’

Growing up Irish-Bangladeshi in a white Irish family in rural England, Sanjida O’Connell always felt out of place. As a young woman, she uncovers a shocking family secret that fractures her already uncertain sense of identity. Years later, searching for a way forward, she turns to a forgotten fragment of land in the Mendip Hills. Together with her husband and daughter, she plants 1,500 trees, coaxes wildflowers back into the meadows and makes space for wildlife to return. As the land recovers, Sanjida traces her own tangled inheritance, finding in the natural world a way to begin healing old wounds.

Braiding personal history with the unfolding life of a landscape, Wilderness is an intimate and unflinching exploration of ancestry, identity and home. Ultimately, Wilderness asks whether belonging is something we inherit or something we can create for ourselves.

‘Enchanting … A tale of great bravery.’ Derek Gow

‘Moving and beautifully written.’ Isabella Tree

‘Important and poetic.’ Ben Goldsmith

Read the first chapter

Wilderness is a brave and lyrical exploration of land, loss, and identity. Sanjida O’Connell’s search for belonging is intimate and unflinching. A beautiful, necessary book.

Moving and beautifully written

Support us…

Ponds are among the most biodiverse habitats in the UK — home to frogs, newts, dragonflies and a rich variety of plant and insect life. They also provide vital water sources for birds and mammals, help store carbon, and boost the resilience of our landscape during droughts.

At Wild Pinebeck, we want to create a large, wildlife-friendly pond to support our growing ecosystem — but we need your help to make it happen.

If you’d like to support this next step in our rewilding journey, please consider donating via our Crowdfunder. Every contribution brings us closer to a thriving, wilder future!

Crowdfunder

Contact

Please book to stay through Airbnb

For enquiries about volunteering, please get in touch using the form below.