Knepps Wilding

The first thing to say is that we were very fortunate to be hosted by friends Ann and John in Ashtead. We enjoyed their company, garden and the ancient common at the back. I was also able to meet my cousin Keith and Australian wife Petrea there and enjoy a walk(cleverly navigated by Petrea to a nice pub for lunch.

A few years ago I read 'Wilding' by conservationist  Isabella Tree (Is a bell a tree?). It is about the successful conversion in 2001 of the W. Sussex 3,500 acre Knepp estate of Sir Charles Burrell and his wife Isabella, from dairy farming to a wild condition.  Wikipedia ref

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knepp_Wildland

The recovery of insects- ground as well as flying- aquatic life, mammals and reptiles as well as many bird species was stunning. They also received exotic migratory birds not seen for decades, if not centuries. They added longhorn cattle, bulls, certain pigs and two deer species and Exmoor ponies. All completely feral.

Culling provides organic meat for their restaurant and for sale to the public. There is a thriving vegetable garden. The model has been copied many times over now, outside the UK as well.

It is self sustaining ecologically as well as financially.

I never thought I'd get there but we discovered it's an hour's drive from our friends Ann and John  at Ashtead, who also had never been there.

Today we saw the ponies, deer and saw and heard nesting storks and many storks in the sky and enjoyed lunch there. (Stork picture a painting behind glass) . Final pics of restaurant and my ploughman's lunch. Mary had their 'Longhorn burgher'