Complete hope, real life work of allowing the natural process to show us the way back and the potential to save nature and the planet. Legends !

Wonderful project! I wish there would be more of this sort, all over the world. Great talk, too. Thanks a lot for the upload!

So excited by your project...thank you, thank you, thank you! I watch the field behind my house being miss-managed every year, with the soil washing off into the stream, the lapwings trying to protect their nests from ploughs, constant spraying with chemicals. Imagine how thrilled I was to see my first Turtle dove on my little bird feeder a few weeks ago. I so hope it was on it's way to Knepp!

thats amazing! Love to see our landscapes renaturated and connected in that manner! So beautiful :)

Utterly amazing thank you.

Wonderful stuff, let this vision come to life, halfway through Isabella's book and I feel I've learned more form than that than if I had completed a degree in sustainability!

This is incredible and ought to be replicated EVERYWHERE.

Bringing back a circle of life. 10/10 Great work. Hope people follow suit.

I am so grateful for the job!!! for the words !!! for the animals and nature !!! Much much love!

I love what you are doing. We were planning a safari trip in Africa, but would much rather visit you now.

Very interesting and exciting. A greater appreciation/incorporation of animal ethics is necessary but still hugely important and wonderful work.

I am so inspired and impressed by your wonderful, clever and necessary achievements. I've just got to the part in your book where you talk about soil restoration and it gives me optimism and hope in these rather bleak times. All power to you Isabella, Charlie and your team.

An hour well spent of anyone's time. And it has to be watched to the end as there's so much interesting information and things to think about. Both informative and uplifting.

@CitizenofGallifrey

2 жыл бұрын

Except that Horsham council is currently voting on whether or not to allow 3500 houses to be built on Buck Barns, thus making the creation of a wildlife corridor impossible. The Conservatives have a majority holding of the council and Thakeham homes have donated £500,000 to the Conservatives this year alone. So far it has passed through council checks, checks that ignored environmental impact studies.

amazing work! amazing recovery of nature! The things still missing are beavers and lynxes....the second to control the deer....

this is so lovely...... such hope here.

Isabella has the ability to speak so that she makes sense to everyone and anyone. Its quite a skill!

Absolutely love this. Can't wait to read the book and those recommended.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ love this so much! Such a great example of good stewardship

It is fascinating to imagine what the British landscape would look like if people had never arrived. There was much talk in my profession about what 'native' and 'natural' really means in practical terms for tree/land management. This project and several studies show us what the answer may look like. I will definitely visit Knepp this year and see for myself.

@edchapman4538

2 жыл бұрын

We have had rewilding in Wales. It's called Forestry Commission. NO food production. Forests full of predators to bordering farms. Sterile water runoff. No community, people displaced. More midges.

Amazing, you made a middle ages man cry twice at this, gives me hope. Please come on our podcast and chat about this!

Amazing video! Someone please translate this video to portuguese, spanish and french? We are doing all wrong and this is the way!!!

This woman is a genius, and if we'd all listen to her, it could save the world.

The Netherlands is doing well with their nature bridges and connecting it's splintered natural landscape,as far as possible in such an urbanised country. Where we 'failed'* however was with our big wilding area, Oostvaardersplassen. Some 5600 hectare, of which 2000 ha dry, had Heck cattle, deer and wildened horses released into. After much discussion the powers that be decided to let their numbers flow naturally, so after their numbers climbed to 5230 big animals in October 2017, they crashed down by half the following spring due to widespread starvation/over-grazing. Now after a LOT of discussion, the provincial government is culling them, while animal rights activists try feeding them illegally. The Knepp estate is doing it right imho. *: when I say failed, I meant we experimented, and learned that it didn't work out.

@cshaffrey3438

2 жыл бұрын

Which bit do you think failed? It seems to me like large die offs of grazers are a very natural part of the system, and we need to get used to the fact that's what animal lives should be like.

@boomshankaman

2 жыл бұрын

@@cshaffrey3438 no, usually there is a predator to take out the old or weak. Predators also control population size, and keep herds moving so the land isn’t grazed for too long a period. This maintains soil quality, biodiversity, plant species and health etc

Amazingly inspiring. Thankyou.

Great idea in principle, it’s a pity though that the result is a system requiring human intervention. Scotland is in a similar one with deer, unable to introduce a natural predator, the Lotka-Volterra (predator-prey) balance can’t be maintained purely by culling them. Indeed, I believe, culling is less effective and requires more killing than the predators would do because they keep the deer on the run more often eg away from flowering grasslands. So not entirely convinced, but it is a brilliant start. Britain did have wolves at one point also, and I believe they should be brought back.

@williammcduff6531

2 жыл бұрын

Murph, It might be a compromise, however, it's way better to cull the herbivors than set loose predator wolves, linx, etc....with uncertain results.

Excellent update even if you've read the book! Enjoy

Isobella, you are a complete nutter and I would like to join your club now! If we look after our land then the land will look after us. Nature allows us to take but it expects us to be responsible. We may "own" land but, in reality, we only ever have stewardship. One day that land will be our descendants - what are we going to leave them? This video is truly inspiring

54:55 I think it's important to broaden on this point - The South Downs (and North Downs) contain Chalk Downland habitat, which harbours some of the greatest biodiversity found in the world, often described as European rainforest. Up to 40 species of plant in a single square metre, which cascade benefits to other fauna. The UK itself has around 50% of the worlds Chalk Grasslands. Since the continuous settlement of humans in the UK, the vast swathes of Chalk Grasslands present for most of this time, were created and maintained as a man-made, waste product of people farming the land extensively with sheep. Sheep were introduced to the UK by humans and their grazing behaviours, as an alpine grazing animal, created an artificial alpine environment for species rich Chalk Downland. If biodiversity is the goal, this is why Isabella alludes to rewilding not being an appropriate approach for these areas

Isabella, you have 3000 acres to rewild. I'm farming a small 180 acre farm in North Devon. Would this be sufficient area to create a wilding? Would love to visit sometime.

@PortsladeBySea

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds an amazing project. On your farm you could then advertise eco camping, Dawn and Bat Safari etc. 🦊🦉🐝

@thetessellater9163

4 жыл бұрын

@@PortsladeBySea - Too many of these would not work, of course !

First class communicator... 75,000 miles of hedgerows and myriad orchards lost. Hopefully, the tide may be turning.

Thank goodness!! The penny is dropping at last. Money isn't the product we want; LIFE is what we want.

Splayed hooves integrate the subsurface zones that are broken through, hoof disturbance, does open the Grasslands perennial grasslands to nutrient exchange, gas exchange, potentially by fires, add potash, and other nutrient sources that drive the underlying forces of succession, primary production and maturation of Individuals, sexes, generations, and ongoing production or Life!

Try approaching of their young when calving, the mother or other Individuals of the herd are often very protective as a Species or inter-Species groups present.

In Africa some of the largest of these Mammals prefer remaining in freshwater like Hippopotami in the water, its primary production, its favored habitat, having therefore evolved their lifestyle that does not put them in those flies, and other Insects that may bother them on land.

How can I rewind my 400 acres in Australia?

Really interesting and, indeed, inspiring talk. Thank you. I just wondered if you could comment on what, to me, is an obvious omission from this debate: predators. How could predators such as wolves and lynx (and maybe even bear) fit into this type of landscape, and how would that impact meat harvests? I guess if we look forward, we should also think about the reintroduction of actual wild animals rather than proxies, e.g. boar, elk, bison. I see the Knepp estate as an inspiring intermediate step in the rewilding process. But how would people continue to make a living in a fully rewilded landscape? Thanks

@thetessellater9163

4 жыл бұрын

The climate in Britain now differs from when Elk and Bison may have roamed here. Because there is a need to make money from the meat sales - in order for all this to happen - introducing predators is not appropriate here. Regular culls to keep the numbers sustainable is needed, so the 'predators' are the marksmen, and the meat is used for food. It is not entirely re-creating a former ecosystem, but it is closer and better for all wildlife to go this far at least, surely? MrPaullyS : - If you have land in areas where wolves and lynx can roam, then go and put them there. This is still a farming business after all.

@heliospear

4 жыл бұрын

I guess most bigger predators have to have much bigger territories than Knepp estate provides. It would'nt work there. Maybe Linx or some Fox...in germany we actually have the discussion about a small population of wolves who are coming in and killing sheeps. It needs a changed mindset to accept them and accept that parts of the country become actually "wild" and not longer "suitable" for modern humans. Its quite a though topic in a dense populated country.

@The_Captain40k

3 жыл бұрын

@@thetessellater9163 This would work in larger areas such as the Cairngorms national park but Knepp is too small to introduce predators. I'm all for it in larger areas! Wolves and lynx, maybe bears too! Predators add a new dynamic to the ecosystem - they change the behaviour of prey animals in a way which humans can't, which also changes the landscape by allowing the growth of trees and development of wetlands.

@The_Captain40k

3 жыл бұрын

They would make money from ecotourism. I'd travel to Scotland in the hopes of seeing a wolf if they were reintroduced there. It's also about balance. Not rewilding everything, accepting that some areas are important for food production, others suitable for rewilding. Also, predators actually only kill a very small percentage of prey. Their main benefit is to keep prey animals moving throughout the landscape, so that they don't flatten all the vegetation. So you could continue to hunt and farm on the rewilded land.

@cds_video

3 жыл бұрын

It's not quite what you're suggesting but the 'Wilder Blean' project that's being done by the Wildwood Trust in Kent is looking to recreate Knepp, only using European Bison instead of the longhorn cattle. Bison graze and effect the landscape in a very different way, and being real wild animals they'll better replicate historical biodiversity. One issue Knepp faced is that they wanted to use Bison but the legislation wasn't in place at the time to allow it when it was being founded, so they used the cattle.

While sickly or seemingly weak young of the year, may even be challenged by members of their cohorts, and when too yielding, may be left or tested, meaning abandoned as not strong enough to move with the herd, is a calling card to predators in the prowl.

Wallowers, Larger ungulates, pigs, and other Species tend to wallow where they instinctively wallow as their ancestors, possibly, as fly bites, parasite loads, deer flies, and other Insects did pester these herding animals, can be disease vectors if blood/blood interface of Viral Vectors, so as in Africa with African trypanosomiasis, but exceedingly rare. Mud covers the skin, relieves pain or itch, is a suitable medium for healing by poultice like addition.

I am amazed that this re-wilding has not taken hold a lot sooner or a lot faster. I hope this all kicks off and gains momentum before I doff this mortal coil so the grandchildren of the future, have one!

@edchapman4538

2 жыл бұрын

If more of this is done rural people will have to move to towns to live and more Amazon rainforest flattened for food for UK.

This system causes a lot of problems. Time to leave the path of destruction. Great explanation how things are connected.

Great to see this going on here, but there are issues that need to be addressed. As in the Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) in the Netherlands, the problem is the fencing - or rather the fact that it is an enclosed area of land. When the populations of animals find less food, they will wander far and wide in search of better nutrition elsewhere. Because they cannot do this, thousands of animals died in the OVP, unfortunately attracting huge protests. We now know that because of the ringfencing, the numbers of grazers needs to be managed. Regular monitoring, and culling of numbers must be done, in order for this to be a success. If we were able to hand over the entire island of Britain (which might be forced on us in the future, when a disease takes all?), then nature will truly take over and we need not intervene.

@peterdeadman7888

4 жыл бұрын

I know that at Knepp they do cull, indeed the sale of meat is one of their major sources of income

@velvetindigonight

4 жыл бұрын

This is farming and the animals are the crop so they will be killed and sold for food. This makes good sense given the now revised attitudes to red meat and fats being far better than vegan and junk food diets for both people and the planet. Having read around the subject for some years I do believe this is one of the answers to food sustainabillity, food miles and providing space for biodiversity again.

@velvetindigonight

4 жыл бұрын

PS I agree what happened on the Oostvaardersplassen was and should always be unnaceptable. Very poor management given the animals suffering, wasted food sourceetc., I would hope lessens have been learnt?

Isabella Tree? Answers on a postcard please

Did not witness Species to Species of that age group stomp or even hurt cohort, yet Individual challenges of young of the year, may just be left to fend for itself.

Reading the book I cannot believe people who think they are country folk would be against such a brilliant experiment that is actually working shame on such thought and ignorance. The results over time is sure to prove in favour of rewilding .

Fascinating but how do you make money? I would subscribe to this all day long but will business buy into this ideology?

@The_Captain40k

3 жыл бұрын

Eco-tourism. They do wildlife safaris, glamping and camping, and sell their organic wild beef, pork, and venison. They do receive public funding, but then so do all farmers who currently receive EU subsidies. I really recommend a visit, and a stay in the camp site, it's spectacular.

@agnieszkastachura460

2 жыл бұрын

Knepp estate is a thriving business organising wildlife safaris, camping and huts, organic meat products

Witness calves interacting as young of year, they will play, butt heads, romp, and so deficiencies in these familiar situations may arise to what may not actually be indifference, just reluctance to yield to weakly sub-ordinates. This is frequent in wild, larger social groups of ungulates I have observed, leading to behavioral realities.

@ronward3949

Жыл бұрын

Native American Morning Doves, Zenaida macroura, mate in pairs where they can be successful with two or more clutches inn a given Spring-Fall season so different from now extinct Passenger pigeon, a colonial nester.

Just ordered the book by her. Excellent talk. Pity about the yelling and screaming kids. Can't these irresponsible parents get a child minder for a couple of hours?

why dont the people of australia listen to mr bill mollison, even though he is not with us in person anymore?

Bring back wolves link's bear use garding dogs likes alabi akbash Kafka's dogs use bear sprey.

Why not bring hippos in UK!?

This estate welcomes a fox hunt on it's land. The Crawley and Horsham hunt has been convicted for illegal hunting a number of times. Fox hunting and caring for wildlife don't go well together. Isabelle Tree and Charles Burrell remained silent on the matter.