1.Participatory approaches are linked to landscape restoration (LR) success, but not all participatory approaches are created equal. Engagement approaches that invest in transformative stakeholder and governance processes can create the right conditions for long-term LR commitment.2.A large-scale LR initiative in Spain, namely AlVelAl, illustrates how collective action can be activated through inspiration, trust and hope, which, in turn, can be cultivated through the application of social schemes designed to support inclusive stakeholder engagement processes and programmes.3.Collective agency and inspiration matter for activating and sustaining LR actions and outcomes. Multi-stakeholder partnerships that speak to human agency, inclusivity and trust between actors can help create a deeper shared meaning, a place-based sense of belonging that encourages cohesive landscape stewardship.