In this first episode of Shaping Places, Dave Erasmus and Matt Mason meet Sean McCormack — the vet-turned-conservationist helping to rewild London. As founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group, he’s leading efforts to bring beavers back to the capital for the first time in 400 years, and showing how the places that shaped him now shape his work.

A self-confessed nature nerd and qualified vet, Sean shares his journey from treating animals in clinical settings to rewilding entire communities. What began as burnout from veterinary practice became a mission to reconnect people with nature on their doorstep — from reintroducing the UK’s smallest native rodent, the harvest mouse, to leading a thriving 8,000-strong community of wildlife enthusiasts.

Together, Dave, Matt, and Sean explore what it means to reshape our relationship with nature in the city, how local action can spark national change, and why storytelling might just be one of the most powerful conservation tools we have.

To discover more about Sean and the good work of the Ealing Wildlife Group, visit https://drseanmccormack.com, https://ealingwildlifegroup.com/ and https://theealingbeaverproject.com/ or check out his social media https://www.instagram.com/thatvetsean.

Episode ID: 1000735240380

GUID: tag:audioboom.com,2025-11-04:/posts/8800969

Release Date: 06/11/2025, 04:00:00