It’s a totally new way of thinking, very liberating. But we try never to respond with knee-jerk reactions. So, if we go too far in one direction, we simply – at some point – change the strategy. The only management we do at Knepp is controlling the number of animals – neither too few, or too many – so their influence maximises the potential for diversity and abundance of life.
Often these outcomes are completely unpredictable. It’s all about nature revealing itself, evolving in the way it wants to, anew. Nature itself takes over the driving seat. That’s a huge relief in terms of lifting the burden of responsibility from your shoulders. But then you’re stepping back and letting nature take over. Initially, you may need to put in some drivers (such as free-roaming grazing animals and restoring dynamic natural water systems) to kick-start natural processes again – especially if your land, like ours, has been ploughed and soaked in chemicals for decades. The wonderful thing about rewilding is that there isn’t a detailed management plan, no specific goals or targets. In relation to the first question, with the benefit of hindsight, are there things that you would have done differently, or were the challenges and potential mistakes a necessary part of the process? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people out there in the UK who will soon be inspired to make the leap into rewilding too. It may feel like you’re swimming against the current, but soon the tide will turn. And not to worry about the occasional Exocet missile from disgruntled neighbours or a Twitter storm. I would tell her that this is going to be the most exciting adventure of her life and rewards will come in spades. Looking back over your journey and knowing all the things that you know now, what would you say to the younger you who was just beginning on this path? The story of Knepp Estate and its transformation from a struggling farm to a prosperous and famous rewilding project is incredibly inspiring. We also discuss ways of coping with eco-anxiety and how we can all make a difference to the future of the planet, even if we aren’t large landowners or farmers.
In our recent conversation with Isabella, she talks about some of the things she has learned through her years managing Knepp alongside husband and co-author Charlie Burrell. Explaining in detail why rewilding is important and how we can all play a part, this inspiring book is packed with practical solutions for rewilding on a range of scales, from farms and estates to allotments and gardens.Ĭharlie and Isabella. In the hotly anticipated The Book of Wilding, Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell share some of the many lessons they have learned from their pioneering rewilding project at the Knepp Estate in Sussex.
0 kommentar(er)
