European Rewilding Network
ERN1407
Knepp Wildland
Rewilding in West Sussex
Knepp Wildlands
Feral cattle grazing at Knepp Wildland.
Exmoor ponies roaming at Knepp Wildland.
Knepp Wildlands
David Plummer
Knepp Wildlands
Knepp Wildland is a pioneering rewilding project spanning 1,400 ha of former arable and dairy farmland in Southeast England. Using free-roaming herds of ungulates to drive natural processes, the project has achieved a remarkable revival of biodiversity over 25 years.
Project:
Knepp Wildland
Region:
West Sussex, UK
Type of protection:
Privately owned land, no formal designation.
Habitat types:
Ancient woodland, wood pasture, emerging scrub and grassland, lakes, water meadows, and a restored stretch of the River Adur.
Keystone species:
English longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, Eurasian beaver, white stork.
Fauna (mega) species present:
Old English longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, red deer, fallow deer and roe deer
Aim and vision:
To monitor and study the effects of a non-goal-oriented rewilding approach—including those arising from an absence of apex predators—and provide a working model for conservation projects in both public and private hands.
Knepp also contributes to ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, clean water, and sustainable, ethical meat production, while offering an inspiring experience for visitors.
Uniqueness of the project:
Knepp is the first large-scale lowland rewilding project in England. Its five species of grazing megafauna have transformed the landscape, reinvigorating the UK conservation movement and inspiring numerous similar initiatives. Privately owned and free-willed, Knepp is in a strong position to influence landowners and NGOs alike.
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Recreational activities, Research, Sale of sustainable products
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
Re-establish wild Eurasian beaver populations in Sussex and continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration for large-scale, process-led nature recovery projects, including the Weald to Waves initiative.
Results so far:
The process-led approach has produced nationally significant populations of European turtle doves, nightingales, purple emperor butterflies, and many rare invertebrates and fungi—demonstrating a new model for mitigating habitat loss.
Inspirational value:
Knepp Wildland stands as a beacon of hope—bold, innovative, and successful. It shows what’s possible when nature is given space to recover, inspiring NGOs, landowners, and visitors alike. For those who experience it, Knepp is both thrilling and profoundly uplifting.
Experience you would like to share:
We are eager to share our story with anyone embarking on a rewilding journey. Over 25 years, we’ve gained deep insights into natural processes and the practical challenges of implementing a project of this scale.
Experience you would like to gain:
We aim to push rewilding boundaries in Southeast England—exploring possibilities like free-roaming bison, apex predators such as lynx, and reintroductions of lost species including red-backed shrike and black-veined white butterfly.
Country
UK, England
Start year
2000
Size (ha)
1400
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic
Natural process
Natural grazing
Flagship species
Feral cattle
Knepp Wildlands
Feral cattle grazing at Knepp Wildland.
Exmoor ponies roaming at Knepp Wildland.
Knepp Wildlands
David Plummer
Knepp Wildlands
Knepp Wildland is a pioneering rewilding project spanning 1,400 ha of former arable and dairy farmland in Southeast England. Using free-roaming herds of ungulates to drive natural processes, the project has achieved a remarkable revival of biodiversity over 25 years.
Country
UK, England
Start year
2000
Size (ha)
1400
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic
Natural process
Natural grazing
Flagship species
Feral cattle
Specification
Project:
Knepp Wildland
Region:
West Sussex, UK
Type of protection:
Privately owned land, no formal designation.
Habitat types:
Ancient woodland, wood pasture, emerging scrub and grassland, lakes, water meadows, and a restored stretch of the River Adur.
Keystone species:
English longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, Eurasian beaver, white stork.
Fauna (mega) species present:
Old English longhorn cattle, Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs, red deer, fallow deer and roe deer
Description
Aim and vision:
To monitor and study the effects of a non-goal-oriented rewilding approach—including those arising from an absence of apex predators—and provide a working model for conservation projects in both public and private hands.
Knepp also contributes to ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, clean water, and sustainable, ethical meat production, while offering an inspiring experience for visitors.
Uniqueness of the project:
Knepp is the first large-scale lowland rewilding project in England. Its five species of grazing megafauna have transformed the landscape, reinvigorating the UK conservation movement and inspiring numerous similar initiatives. Privately owned and free-willed, Knepp is in a strong position to influence landowners and NGOs alike.
Other activities:
Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Recreational activities, Research, Sale of sustainable products
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on:
Re-establish wild Eurasian beaver populations in Sussex and continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration for large-scale, process-led nature recovery projects, including the Weald to Waves initiative.
Results so far:
The process-led approach has produced nationally significant populations of European turtle doves, nightingales, purple emperor butterflies, and many rare invertebrates and fungi—demonstrating a new model for mitigating habitat loss.
Exchange
Inspirational value:
Knepp Wildland stands as a beacon of hope—bold, innovative, and successful. It shows what’s possible when nature is given space to recover, inspiring NGOs, landowners, and visitors alike. For those who experience it, Knepp is both thrilling and profoundly uplifting.
Experience you would like to share:
We are eager to share our story with anyone embarking on a rewilding journey. Over 25 years, we’ve gained deep insights into natural processes and the practical challenges of implementing a project of this scale.
Experience you would like to gain:
We aim to push rewilding boundaries in Southeast England—exploring possibilities like free-roaming bison, apex predators such as lynx, and reintroductions of lost species including red-backed shrike and black-veined white butterfly.