Knepp Wilding Project

On 06 April 2021 we visited Knepp Wildland in West Sussex, to observe the results which may be achieved by the Wilding approach to land management, and record bird species. 

Birds

A total of 46 bird species were recorded, which are provided in the table at the end of this post along with the species counts and highest levels of breeding evidence. More breeding bird species will likely be recorded with May and June visits, with many of the summer visitors yet to arrive. 

The ornithological highlights included a maximum count of seven white storks, nine male blackcaps in song, 17 chiffchaffs, three nuthatches, two ravens, 12 swallows, four buzzards, five linnets, and a great crested grebe eating a fish. Photographs of some of these are provided below.

White stork building nest

White stork in flight

Great crested grebe eating a fish

Tree cavity visited by a pair of jackdaws; probable nest site

Wilding

The Wilding approach adopted at Knepp is an example of stepping back and letting natural ecological processes create and manage the habitat. Free-roaming grazing animals are present within stock-proof perimeter fencing and include longhorn cattle, exmoor ponies, tamworth pigs and fallow deer. Grazing, rootling and ground-trampling by these animals helps maintain areas of open grassland. Particular breeds have been chosen to make it safe for the visiting public. The grazed grassland in many areas is accompanied by veteran trees providing a parkland habitat mosaic. 

Areas of scrub have developed in many areas with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. and gorse Ulex europaeus present, and this provides ideal habitat for many declining animal species. 

Established woodland is present, for example near to Knepp Pond, which includes numerous ancient woodland indicator species as ground flora, such as carpets of bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta along with ramsons Allium ursinum and hart's-tongue Phyllitis scolopendrium. Many more ancient woodland indicators are likely to be present including species in the tree and shrub layer. 

As well as Knepp Lane, smaller ponds are also present, providing water for animals and also breeding habitat for a range of species such as amphibians and dragonflies.

The presence of these habitats, and ongoing habitat management by the animal herds, provides a habitat mosaic which is suitable for many rare, scarce, or declining species. It also helps join up nature reserves in the surrounding area at the landscape scale, and prevent habitat fragmentation. 

Fallow deer grazing close to Knepp Lake

Part of a group of c. 15 fallow deer running across our view

Exmoor ponies; key in habitat management

Stock-proof fencing around the site perimeter

Example of the mosaic of grassland and scrub present

The Knepp Wilding Project is not the first of its kind in Europe, but appears to have set a new precedent in Britain. The upward trends recorded from ongoing monitoring of many threatened species groups, detailed in Isabella Tree's Wilding book, and continuing to be recorded by many species-study groups, demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in restoring biodiversity. The simple, cost-effective approach of wilding provides an exciting opportunity for land owners, conservationists, ecologists as well as policy and decision makers to preserve and restore biodiversity across the UK. The number of visitors present at Knepp indicates that Wilding has the potential to be a financially viable option, and could be a key part of the Green Revolution, particularly on unproductive agricultural land and publicly accessible open space.

Bird species recorded along with species counts and highest level of breeding evidence (1)

1: Footnotes

-Weather conditions: Sunny, clear visibility, temperature 7°C, wind ranging between 2 to 4 on the Beaufort scale.

-Breeding status values of: 0 indicate non-breeders, 1-2 indicate possible breeders, 3-9 indicate probable breeders and 10-16 indicate confirmed breeders, in accordance with the BTO breeding status codes. 

-Table extracted from BTO BirdTrack.

-More visits would be required to identify the full bird assemblage.