| Feature
Sir Charles Burrell to share insights on rewilding
his estate
Sir Charles ‘Charlie’ Burrell will discuss the rewilding project that transformed his family’s Knepp Castle estate, when
he joins experts at a conference dedicated to this new form of conservation.
he 10th Baronet, an alumnus of
the Royal Agricultural University
(RAU) will speak alongside
Professor Alastair Driver,
Specialist Advisor for Rewilding
Britain and DEFRA’s Nick
Barter at the event organized by the RAU and
Cirencester Sixth Form College.
The one-day conference on 20 November,
hosted at the RAU in Cirencester, will bring
together rewilding and land management
experts to share their experiences and plans for
the future.
Delegates will have the opportunity to hear
about the latest thinking and applications from
key professionals in rewilding conservation –
the principle of reinstating natural processes
and, where appropriate, missing species.
Charlie Burrell will describe the pioneering
Knepp Wildland Project at his 3,500 acre estate
in West Sussex, which has become a flagship
experiment for farmland restoration.
Prof Driver, who is also the former National
Conservation Manager for the Environment
Agency will discuss ways of harnessing
rewilding opportunities across the UK.
Nick Barter, DEFRA’s Deputy Director of
Natural Environment Strategy will be speaking
about the 25 Year Environment Plan – setting
out ways to improve the environment within a
generation.
Charlie said of his project on his estate near
T
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
Horsham: “Once intensively farmed for arable
and dairy, Knepp Estate was given over to the
pioneering rewilding project in 2000. Using
free-roaming grazing animals as the drivers,
and with the restoration of natural water
courses, we’ve seen extraordinary increases in
wildlife – including some incredibly rare
species.
“The Knepp Wildland Project is not driven by
specific goals or target species. Instead,
management is kept to a minimum and nature
is allowed as much freedom as possible. This
‘process-led’ approach is proving to be a highly
effective, low-cost method of ecological
restoration and is providing vital ecosystem
services like soil restoration, water purification
and carbon sequestration.
“The Estate is still farming, albeit far more
extensively, producing 75 tonnes of low-input,
organic, pasture-fed meat per annum from its
free-roaming herds. Wildlife tourism provides
another significant income stream.”
Organiser Stephanie Masefield, lecturer in
Earth and Animal Sciences at Cirencester
College said: “Rewilding is an emerging branch
of conservation that will become part of the
UK’s wider strategy to protect and enhance the
environment.
“Bringing the topic to the land managers of
today and tomorrow through the Royal
Agricultural University and Cirencester College
will generate innovative and fruitful new
dialogues and opportunities.
“We’re really excited to be bringing together
such a wealth of experience and knowledge to
share with our students and the wider public.”
Other experts are set to focus on the
challenges and opportunities re-introducing
animals such as lynx to habitats and a panel
discussion is also scheduled.
For more information and to register for
updates on ticket sales please visit our website
http://www.rewilding-perspectives-and-
applications.co.uk/
June 2018 | Farming Monthly | 33