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Over the past two decades, a pioneering rewilding effort in England has demonstrated the remarkable potential for nature to flourish when allowed to regenerate freely. The Knepp Estate in Sussex, once described as “depleted, polluted, dysfunctional” by Isabella Tree, one of the project’s key figures, has seen an extraordinary resurgence in wildlife. A recent twenty-year ecological review highlights a 900% rise in breeding bird populations across the 3,500-acre site.
This rebound includes threatened species such as the turtle dove and nightingale, which have suffered steep declines throughout much of the UK. At Knepp, turtle doves increased by 600%, while nightingale numbers rose by 511%, defying national trends. The review also reports a dramatic recovery in other wildlife—numbers of butterflies have doubled in certain areas, and dragonflies and damselflies have surged by nearly 900%. According to Knepp ecologist Fleur Dobner, “The trend is strongly positive and still increasing year on year.”
Originally an unprofitable farm, Knepp was transformed into a biodiversity stronghold largely through a hands-off, nature-led approach. In her acclaimed book *Wilding*, Isabella Tree explains how fencing was removed and free-roaming animals like English longhorn cattle were introduced to fulfill ecological roles left vacant by extinct species. This reintroduction of grazers and a reduced human footprint have helped recreate vital habitats and foster a thriving natural environment.
Reflecting on these dramatic changes, Tree remarked, “We have gone from a depleted, polluted, dysfunctional farmland to one of the most significant biodiversity hotspots in the UK. The uplift in biodiversity shows how much life the land can hold.” She views Knepp as a model for what is achievable across the UK, a country often regarded as one of the most nature-depleted in the world. With the UK committed to restoring 30% of its land to nature by 2030, Tree urges greater ambition and speed in implementing rewilding projects, calling it “a powerful tool to get nature back.”
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