Yesterday I went on a scouting mission to Knepp Castle Estate. It's an interesting place.
Founded in the time of King John, the remains of the castle keep are still there, but the rest of the hundred hectares is now the largest rewilded estate in England.
Previously as a farm based on intensive agriculture, Knepp was losing money. So they tore down the fences, got rid of the dairy herd and stopped growing wheat.
Instead they introduced large herbivores - free roaming cattle, deer, ponies and pigs - to change the habitat.
The Longhorn cattle create paths through scrub, spread seeds and create a browse line, while the Tamworth pigs rootle up the ground looking for food. Exmoor ponies and deer also browse the sallow and other tree species, particularly the young saplings and seedlings, and strip bark, especially when food is scarce in winter.
RSS Feed
