Burrell and Tree are in good company, as previous winners include; Jane Goodall, Richard Dawkins, and Alastair Fothergill.

The Knepp Castle Estate is a pioneering rewilding project that’s turned failing farm land into a profitable site of wildlife abundance. Since the project began, Knepp has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife where rare species such as turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons and purple emperor butterflies are now breeding. Populations of more common species are expanding rapidly.

Knepp is interesting as it demonstrates that low-cost methods of ecological restoration can be highly effective, producing dramatic and profitable results for failing or abandoned farmland. Furthermore, that rewilding projects can support established nature reserves and wildlife sites by providing an expansion of habitats and wildlife that will one day connect up on a landscape scale. Knepp aslo supports new nature based enterprises, such as high quality meat, camping and business rentals to create a resilient rural economy amongst the local pubs, shops & B&Bs.

Photo by Anthony Cullen.