Knepp Castle Estate
Pioneering rewilding project that’s turned failing farm land into a profitable site of wildlife abundance
Dorset
8,231 acres
1999
Large
Lowland, Broadleaved woodland, Pinewood, Wetlands (including peatlands and marsh), Heathlands and shrub and Intertidal marine (including salt marsh, mud flats)
Long-horn cattle, Horses, North Devon Cattle and Mangalica pig
Extensive grazing, Habitat restoration and Species reintroduction
Volunteering, Recreation, Local business gains and Stakeholder coordination
Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve is one of the most wildlife rich places in the UK.
The aim of the project is to enhance natural processes across the reserve, making it more resilient to climate change and other pressures. It wants to create a better experience for people enjoying the heathland, while protecting sensitive areas. Nature based enterprises have become established, to include high quality meat production, camping, ecotourism and educational activities.
STRONG PARTNERSHIP
The Wild Purbeck partnership is led by Dorset AONB. The land managers collaborating to establish and manage the Purbeck Heaths NNR are:
KICK-STARTING REWILDING
A rewilding strategy was agreed between stakeholders to allow extensive grazing across landholdings using horses, North Devon and Longhorn cattle and Mangalica pigs grazing. This was achieved through the removal of fencing and a formal agreement.
Conifer plantations have been restored back to heathland, and osprey have been reintroduced as well as the ladybird spider. River restoration and managed realignment is planned to restore natural wetland processes to parts of the landscape.
Images: Alastair Driver
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