Catch Nick on Do Radio: It’s Not About Trees with John Lunn 2nd - 8th March 2026.

Nick Hounsfield is a British surfer, social entrepreneur and visionary behind The Wave, one of the world’s first inland surfing destinations near Bristol, United Kingdom. He is widely recognised for his work in blue health — the intersection of water, wellbeing and community — and for championing inclusive access to outdoor environments that support physical and mental health.

Nick’s journey began with a lifelong connection to water and movement. Introduced to surfing as a child by his father, an osteopath and sailor, Nick’s early experiences in the sea shaped his understanding of the benefits of nature, play and embodied connection. He trained as an osteopath and spent years helping people with manual therapy before realising that the root causes of poor health often lay in lifestyle, isolation and disconnection from the natural world — not just physical symptoms.

This realisation became a catalyst for something bigger: a decade-long effort to bring consistent, high-quality surfing waves inland, not just as a leisure activity, but as a health and community asset. In 2019, after raising significant investment and navigating planning and construction challenges, The Wave opened on a 70-acre site, powered by sustainable energy and designed to be inclusive for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Alongside his work with The Wave, Nick has been a director with Surfing England and a member of the UK Sport International Leadership Programme. He has also been recognised for his entrepreneurial impact in the UK, including being named among the country’s most disruptive entrepreneurs by The Daily Telegraph.