In recent years the idea of rewilding has gained momentum across the world and our own backyard is no exception. With the growing urgency of climate change, biodiversity loss and habitat destruction, rewilding presents and innovative and holistic approach to restoring ecosystems. So, what exactly is rewilding? And why is it becoming such a focal point in Britain’s conservation efforts?
In this article, we will explore the concept of rewilding, its relevant in the UK and the inspiring work of Rewilding Britain. A movement that aims to bring back lost specifies, revive damaged landscapes and restore ecological balance.
What is Rewilding?
Rewilding put simply is the process of allowing nature to take back control. Giving nature the platform to recover by reducing human intervention and allowing ecosystems to regenerate naturally. The main goal is to restore landscapes and habitats enabling them to support a richer biodiversity and more resilient ecosystem.
This will often involve reintroducing species that have been lost due to human activity and promoting natural processes like flooding, forest growth and predator – prey dynamics. Unlike more traditional methods of conservation, which put more focus on protecting specific species or preserving small, isolated patches of land, rewilding embraces a large scale, hands-off approach. It focuses on the entire ecosystem and how interactions between plants, animals and the physical process can naturally maintain the environment.
The Rewilding Movement in Britain
Here in the UK, where agricultural and industrial practices have shaped the landscape for centuries, rewilding is seen as a way to reverse some of that damage. From deforestation to the draining of natural wetlands, large areas of Britain have lost their natural habitats with devastating consequences for wildlife. Species like lynxes, beavers and wolves that once roamed the British Isles have long since disappeared and others are still under serious threat.
This is where Rewilding Britain comes in.
Who are Rewilding Britain?
As an organisation Rewilding Britain was founded in 2015. Their goal? To rewild 30% of Britain’s land and sea by 2030.
Their mission is to restore wildlife abundance, repair ecosystems and tackle climate change by promoting large scale rewilding projects across the UK. Their core belief is that by giving nature the freedom to recover, we can help reverse the damage caused. As such creating a healthier, more sustain environment for both wildlife and humans. Rewilding Britain supports key projects across the UK that seek to restore natural habitats, reintroduce key species and allow ecosystems to function as they were intended.
Their work is not only focused on remote areas for also on lowland farms, rivers and even urban areas. By reconnecting fragmented habitats and creating larger self-sustaining ecosystems they will make Britain a wilder more vibrant place.
Key Rewilding Projects in Britain
You know what they do and what their mission is, now let’s take a look into some of the projects currently underway. Here are just a few noteworthy examples:
1. Knepp Estate, Sussex
The Knepp Estate is one of the most famous rewilding projects in the UK. Once an intensive arable and dairy farm, the 3,500-acre estate is now a haven for wildlife. By allowing natural processes like grazing, regeneration of trees, and waterway restoration to occur, Knepp has seen the return of species such as nightingales, turtle doves, and even free-roaming large herbivores like deer and wild ponies. The estate has become a symbol of what can happen when land is left to rewild.
2. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Cairngorms Connect is a large-scale project that aims to restore 600 square kilometers of the Scottish Highlands. The project includes restoring peatlands, replanting native forests, and protecting wildlife, such as red squirrels and capercaillie birds. In addition to ecological restoration, Cairngorms Connect is exploring the potential to reintroduce species like lynx, which could help control deer populations and restore balance to the ecosystem.
3. Beaver Reintroduction Projects
Once native to Britain, beavers were hunted to extinction in the 16th century. However, they are now making a comeback through rewilding efforts. Beavers are known as “ecosystem engineers” because they build dams that create wetlands, which in turn support a wide variety of wildlife. Successful beaver reintroduction projects in Scotland, Devon, and Kent have shown how these animals can help improve water quality, reduce flooding, and boost biodiversity.
The Benefits of Rewilding
Now you know what rewilding is and the idea behind it, lets look into the benefits. Why its not only wildlife that benefits but also people and the planet. Here are some of the key advantages:
1. Restoring Biodiversity
One of the primary goals of rewilding is to restore biodiversity by creating habitats where a diverse range of species can thrive. This includes the reintroduction of keystone species—animals that have a significant impact on the ecosystem. Such as beavers, wolves, or apex predators like lynx. A more diverse ecosystem is better able to withstand environmental challenges, such as disease or climate change.
2. Carbon Sequestration
Rewilding can play a crucial role in tackling climate change. By restoring natural habitats like forests, wetlands, and peatlands, rewilding helps to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, locking it away in trees, soils, and vegetation. In fact, peatlands are some of the most effective carbon sinks in the world.
3. Reducing Flood Risk
Rewilding projects that involve the restoration of wetlands, rivers, and floodplains can help reduce the risk of flooding. By allowing rivers to flow more naturally and wetlands to absorb excess water, rewilding can mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. Floods in the UK seem to be more common every year, what’s better than a natural way to combat this.
4. Improving Human Wellbeing
Rewilding also has social and economic benefits. There is no argument access to wild, natural spaces can improve mental and physical wellbeing, providing people with opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and a deeper connection with nature. Additionally, rewilding can create jobs in ecotourism, conservation, and land management, benefiting local economies.
Challenges and Criticisms
Like everything despite its obvious benefits, rewilding does come with its own challenges as well. Critics argue that reintroducing large predators and letting nature take its course could have unintended consequences, particularly heavily populated areas.
Farmers for example have raised concerns about the impact predators like wolves or Lynx would have to their livestock. These are extreme examples of rewilding but finding the balance between the needs of wildlife with those of human communities is one of the key challenges being faced by the rewilding movement.
Not only the physical but also the mental, rewilding requires a big shift in mindset. Throughout our lives and centuries beyond humans have controlled the land. From farming, development and resource extraction. Letting go of that ‘control’ and trusting nature can be a difficult concept for some to embrace, especially those motivated by money.
The Future of Rewilding in Britain
Rewilding is still in its early stages here in the UK but the movement is growing and its growing quick! With the support of organisations like Rewilding Britain and an increasing awareness of the urgent need to restore balance to our wildlife and ecosystem the future is promising. Whilst there isn’t a full commitment the UK government seem to be acknowledging the role nature-based solutions like rewilding can play in meeting their environmental goal.
Rewilding offers an exciting vision for the future of conservation in Britain. By embracing nature’s ability to heal itself, we can help restore balance to ecosystems that have been damaged by centuries of human activity. With organizations like Rewilding Britain leading the charge, the movement is gaining momentum and providing hope in the face of the environmental challenges we face today.
Whether it’s the return of beavers to British rivers or the possibility of seeing wolves roam the Highlands once again, rewilding offers a path forward where nature and humans can coexist more harmoniously.
