I didn’t expect the first week of graduate school to involve waking up in the early hours of the morning to the sound of torrential rain on the roof of my tent, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. A group of about two dozen eager master’s students studying ecology and evolution subjects at Sussex, along with PhD students and lecturers, kicked off the first week of term with an immersive experience in rewilding at Knepp Estate. Here, we learned about how nature can recover and thrive, with a process known as rewilding.
A century ago, Knepp was covered in a diverse array of native flora and fauna. Following the revolution of industrial farming and the “Dig for Victory” campaign during World War II, Knepp had been intensely farmed. When it came into the hands of Charlie Burrell, who inherited the land in 1987, the farm was modernised, leading to an increase in production, but not profitability. In 2000, the livestock and farming equipment were sold and, in 2001, Knepp was granted Countryside Stewardship funding so that it could be restored to its former natural glory.
A Species Sanctuary
Today, Knepp is England’s most famous example of “rewilding,” a nature-led approach where humans let nature recover using its own tools. While some species have been reintroduced to Knepp, such as white storks in 2016, the beauty of Knepp is that it allows nature to create the conditions for wildlife to return, and then simply plays the waiting game, putting faith in the resilience of nature. This largely hands-off approach has been a grand success, with Knepp becoming a sanctuary for species such as turtle doves, nightingales, and the country’s largest population of purple emperor butterflies.
On our first day, we pitched our tents and prepared for our first walk around the estate. Later that afternoon, we had the opportunity to set up camera traps, motion detection cameras which can be used to view animals without human interference. This was an interesting way to see what animals come out of the woodwork and how they behave when they are not in the presence of humans. We were able to take pictures and videos of cows, foxes, and even badgers! Throughout the trip, we learned a variety of different fieldwork skills, such as vegetation surveying and species identification.
Ecoacoustics
During a rainy evening on the last day of the trip, we learned about ecoacoustics with Sussex Professor Alice Eldridge. Ecoacoustics is a cutting-edge field that uses sound to understand nature. We used microphones to listen to the soil, the trees, and a nearby wild swimming pond, all the while hearing the pitter patter of the rain through our headphones.
Having the opportunity to get out in the field with my new peers during the very first week of term was intimidating, but ultimately fundamental in my understanding of rewilding and the part that students can play in conservation.
On our final morning at Knepp, a small group of us embarked on our final dawn walk. Still sleepy from the stormy night, we set off into the sunrise. Walking amongst the regrown shrubs and the ancient oak trees, I was filled with a sense of hope. Although humans have done a great deal of damage to nature, the Earth is a lot stronger than we give it credit for. If we invest in rewilding, put efforts towards responsible land stewardship, and work with farmers and communities to create a food production system which works for everyone, biodiversity can be restored.