The Knepp Wildland Project

The Knepp Wildland Project

Knepp in 15 min

• Past - The roller-coaster ride of farming

• Present - The Zen-like art of letting go

• Future – Creators of disturbance

Knepp Estate3,500 Acres

Past - The roller-coaster ride of farming

• 3500 acre of marginal land – heavy bolder clay• intensive farming – 600 dairy cows; 2000 acres

arable• 20 years of ups and downs

….then along comes the Countryside

Stewardship Scheme

Present

• 1400 acres in a Countryside Stewardship Scheme in a park restoration project

Present

• The vision involves the re-introduction of large grazing and browsing herbivores, either as wild animals, or domestic analogues

Old English Longhorns and Exmoor Ponies

Tamworth Pigs

Fallow Deer

Present

• Surprisingly rapid recovery of wildlife

• Enormous psychological benefits

Creators of Disturbance

Zen-like art of letting go

Future

• Ring fence 8000 acres• Take out most internal fences• Tunnels/Land Bridges

Future

Holistic report sponsored by ‘Natural England’ (Countryside Agency, English Nature and

Defra)

Wildland Experience