The Knepp Wildland project

摘要

Encompassing over 1400 ha in West Sussex, Knepp Castle Estate (www.knepp.co.uk) is the UK's largest lowland rewilding project. Begun in 2001, it has produced astonishing results in terms of recovering habitats and biodiversity, and is now a nationally important breeding site for rare species such as nightingales, turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies. The project demonstrates how a 'process-led' approach can be a highly effective, low-cost method of ecological restoration - particularly suitable for failing or abandoned farmland - that can provide vital ecosystem services, as well as support established nature reserves and wildlife sites, helping provide the webbing to connect them together on a landscape scale.