The Knepp Estate in West Sussex has become an inspiring example of how nature can rebound when given space and freedom. A recent review of the estate’s rewilding project shows dramatic increases in wildlife numbers since rewilding began more than two decades ago.
One of the most striking figures is the 900% increase in breeding birds recorded on the estate, showing how quickly bird life can return when habitats are restored and protected. Notable species that have benefited include nightingales (up 511%) and turtle doves (up 600%), both of which have suffered severe declines elsewhere in the UK.
The variety of wildlife has expanded too. Butterfly species richness has more than doubled in parts of Knepp, while dragonflies and damselflies have surged by nearly 900%, highlighting the health of wetland and grassland habitats.
Conservationists now count 27 bird species of conservation concern breeding at Knepp, including 12 that are red-listed, underlining the estate’s growing importance as a wildlife stronghold.
Knepp’s transformation from unproductive farmland into a mosaic of scrub, woodland, rivers and wild pasture demonstrates the potential of rewilding not just to support nature, but to reverse long-term ecological decline. As project leaders say, these results show what is possible when natural processes are allowed to shape the landscape, offering a hopeful model for nature recovery elsewhere in the UK.
