Wild Somerleyton
At a glance
Location
Suffolk
Area
820 hectares
Start date
2016
Scale
Large
Habitats
Lowland, Mixed woodland, Lakes and ponds, Grassland and meadow and Heathlands and shrub
Key species
Exmoor ponies, Welsh black cattle, Large black pigs, Mouflon and Water buffalo
Rewilding actions
Extensive grazing and Natural regeneration
Engaging people
Volunteering, Education programme and Wellness programme
Wild Somerleyton took the decision to move away from sheep grazing and traditional management to a rewilding approach using extensive low density cattle grazing. Since 2016, they have introduced a range of grazing species to encourage natural habitat succession and dynamics across the project area.
NATURE BASED ENTERPRISE
The proposals have created new nature based enterprise including high quality meat production, events and weddings, ecotourism (holiday log cabins, camping, glamping, safaris), education activities, and a health and wellbeing programme.
This project is part of the wider Wild East project, aimed to promote nature recovery across the region and return 20% of land to nature. This ambitious campaign is about raising awareness and inspiring how our countryside could look in the future for wildlife and people.
KICK-STARTING REWILDING
A reduction in sheep grazing was needed to allow natural processes more free reign on the site. More diverse, functional grazing animals were introduced to the project area to create species diversity and wood pasture habitats. In addition, some manual removal of non-native invasive species and fences was required.
Images: Wild Somerleyton & Alastair Driver
Gallery


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Future Plans
- 1 Continue monitoring wildlife in partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and RSPB
- 2 Promote rewilding and nature friendly farming to local communities through the Wild East project