Download - 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