Lowther Estate

At a glance

Location

Cumbria

Area

5,000 acres

Start date

2019

Scale

Large

Habitats

Upland, Mixed woodland, Rivers and streams, Lakes and ponds and Grassland and meadow

Key species

Eurasian beaver, Red Deer, Tamworth pigs, Long-horn cattle and Ponies

Rewilding actions

Extensive grazing, Habitat restoration, Tree Planting, Species reintroduction and Natural regeneration

Engaging people

Volunteering, Tourism and Education programme

The Lowther Estate is located in the Lake District. Its ambitious strategy aims to allow natural processes to return and for wildlife to flourish. Through reducing increasing the diversity of herbivores on the estate, including longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, red deer, ponies and beavers, wildlife has returned in abundance. These ecosystem engineers are being used in low densities to create a diverse range of habitats, from wetlands and wildflower meadows to woodlands and scrub.

Access and education are central to the agenda for the estate. Part of the estate is open to walkers and cyclists, and recreation within its wilding landscapes is encouraged. Around 4,000 acres of the rewilding area is closed to access to allow wildlife to thrive with minimal disturbance.

A volunteer programme is implemented on the estate, encouraging local communities to get involved with maintenance tasks. This also includes leading on the ‘Learning from the Land’ education programme, where school groups encouraged to learn about wilding and regenerative agriculture across the estate.

NATURE BASED ENTERPRISE

Nature based enterprises are established on the estate. These includes high quality meat production, honey production from the estate’s 320 bee hives, and tourism including glamping and camping. Nature based enterprises aim to support employment across the estate alongside supporting nature recovery.

KICK-STARTING REWILDING

A reduction in sheep grazing was the main intervention on the site. Sheep were replaced with low number of grazing animals including longhorn cattle, ponies, Tamworth pigs and red deer. An increase in herbivore diversity has encouraged a mosaic of habitat types across the wilding area.

Active habitat restoration has also been implemented on the estate, including river restoration, wetland creation and the removal of fencing to allow extensive grazing. Natural regeneration has been encouraged, with supplementary tree planting in some areas as appropriate.

Beavers were released into a 27 acre enclosure in October 2020. As part of a five year study, their presence will restore natural processes to this section of the river. They will also create new wetlands, deadwood habitats, and provide a range of opportunities for wildlife.

Images: Lowther Estate

Future Plans