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A sprawling former royal hunting ground spanning 509 acres is undergoing a remarkable transformation into a thriving nature reserve, thanks in large part to the involvement of three special pigs. Located in Waltham Abbey, Essex, Harold’s Park Wildland has struggled in the past as farmland and Christmas tree plantations but is now being revitalised with a new approach focused on natural processes.
Owned by the conservation group Nattergal, the site is being restored using what is known as “soft engineering”—a method that employs natural strategies to address environmental challenges and encourage biodiversity. Central to this initiative are three Iron Age pigs, a hybrid of wild boar and Tamworth breeds, which are helping to aerate and turn over the soil. In time, the introduction of cattle and ponies is planned to further balance the ecosystem and control the local deer population. Meanwhile, the estate’s former conifer plantations are being removed to give native saplings more room to grow, and new ponds will be created to slow water runoff and mitigate flooding beyond the reserve.
Historically, Harold’s Park was a royal hunting ground once used by King Harold Godwinson in 1066, and later housed a prominent stables supporting 96 horses. Today, Tom Moat, the site manager, is excited about the developments underway. Machinery has carved a broad, muddy pathway through the woodland, which Mr. Moat describes as “an artery of wildlife” destined to flourish with grass and wildflowers. He acknowledges that the landscape has suffered from the absence of large herbivores like beavers, bison, and wild boar, which has disrupted natural behaviors, particularly among the deer. “We are replacing that, and as a re-wilding company, we’re trying to do that as light touch as we can and letting nature do the rest,” he explained. The vision includes transforming some open fields into progressively diverse habitats including scrubland and wood pasture, benefiting rare species such as nightingales.
Dr. Simon Lyster, chairman of the Essex Local Nature Partnership, expresses optimism about the site’s potential to attract wildlife like nightingales and turtle doves. He also highlights the role Harold’s Park could play in easing visitor pressure on other natural sites in the region that are becoming overcrowded. “The soft engineering is very important and has been very successful elsewhere,” he said, noting that it protects vital scrub areas. Dr. Lyster pointed to the example of Hatfield Forest, which has seen a dramatic increase in visitors over two decades, creating challenges for conservation. Harold’s Park aims to provide an alternative destination to help alleviate the strain on such heavily frequented nature spots. According to Dr. Lyster, the pace of ecological recovery is “quite extraordinary.”
Earlier this year, Harold’s Park was designated a high priority within Essex’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy. The transformation has garnered attention from local officials, including Peter Schwier, the Conservative cabinet member responsible for the environment at Essex County Council, who visited the site last year. He remarked on the reserve’s value, saying, “It will be an opportunity for anyone interested in nature and re-wilding to benefit from learning a lot about it,” and predicted it would offer visitors a unique and engaging experience unlike many others currently available
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