Lyn Hughes | 11 December 2021
4 inspirational rewilding projects across the UK
From Scottish safaris to Europe's largest nature reserve, take an exciting trip to one of the UK's top rewilding hotspots
From Scottish safaris to Europe's largest nature reserve, take an exciting trip to one of the UK's top rewilding hotspots
Shockingly, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.
Fortunately, this is being addressed by numerous organisations and individuals throughout the country. There are now a growing number of projects aiming to "rewild" by restoring nature to how it should be, planting trees, creating wetlands and reintroducing native wildlife. You can visit or even stay at some of them. Here we highlight just a few of the most inspirational.
This ‘wilderness centre’ on an upland farm on Bodmin Moor is home to an ancient oak forest and has ambitious plans to reforest much of the rest of its 300 acres. Beavers have been successfully reintroduced and you can take a guided walk to look for Sigourney Beaver, her mate Jean-Claude Van Dam, and their kits. Cabilla is also an official native dark honey bee reserve to help conserve the Cornish Black Bee.
Join a retreat, or simply stay as an individual in one of its luxurious bell tents or its cottage. Wooden cabins are being introduced for 2022.
Beavers have been reintroduced at Cabilla, Cornwall (Shutterstock)
A people-led movement and the UK's most ambitious rewilding project, WildEast is working to return 250,000 hectares back to nature, thus creating Europe’s biggest nature reserve. It's doing this through individuals, farms and organisations are pledging up to 20% of their land towards nature recovery.
Stay at Fritton Lake, a private holiday club in Norfolk where 1,000 acres of grassland, heath and wooded pasture have been set aside for rewilding, grazed by free roaming highland cattle, water buffalo, deer, pigs and Exmoor ponies. Wild swim in the 3.5km lake or take a walking, water or Jeep nature safari.
WildEast is working to create Europe's biggest nature reserve (Shutterstock)
A former hunting reserve, Alladale in the Scottish Highlands, was bought in 2003 and has been undergoing rewilding ever since, with around million trees planted to date. Visionary owner Paul Lister has often made news headlines by calling for the return of the wolf to Scotland. Red squirrels have been successfully reintroduced and there is a wild cat breeding programme.
Alladale currently has four beautiful properties for exclusive use, and activities include ranger-guided 4WD safaris and hikes. Various courses and retreats are held here and some tour companies offer small group stays.
Deanich Lodge Valley (Pete Helme, Alladale)
Perhaps the United Kingdom’s best-known rewilding project thanks to Isabelle Tree's best selling book Wilding, Knepp has been a trailblazer in showing what can be done to restore nature. Isabelle's husband, Charlie Burrell, had taken over the family farm from his grandparents. After struggling to make it profitable, they turned to conservation instead and have inspired countless rewilding and regeneration projects since.
Stay overnight in a wide range of accommodation or explore its 3,500 acres on a guided half-day safari. Stroll among free-ranging herbivores and look for the reintroduced white storks.
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