The saying ‘build it and they will come’ takes on new meaning in this month's episode of The Knepp Wilding Podcast.

Across the UK, there are places where people have stepped back and let nature take the lead, giving wildlife and habitats the chance to recover.

The clacking of white storks, galloping Exmoor ponies, the roar of red stags and the hooting of owls. Seeing the creatures here is only half the joy. The sound they bring to the landscape is magical to take in. There's nothing quite like hearing the chorus in person. Visit us this October.

The British public values nature more highly than the UK Government does, according to new research published by The Wildlife Trusts.

Our lead ecologist Matt Phelps featured this week in The Guardian, talking about this summer's extraordinary wave of new insect arrivals to the UK.

We have seen an astonishing resurgence of the lovely amber-winged wall brown butterfly at Knepp. Before 2025, there'd been just one record of this rare butterfly in the Wildland this century. It gets its name from its habit of basking on walls and rocks, where it opens its wings to soak up the sun.

We're delighted that Knepp owner Charlie Burrell has been named the Royal Agricultural University's 2026 Alumnus of the Year!

Wildfires have devastated Europe this summer, hitting even areas once thought fire resilient. With forecasts suggesting 40% of Europe could burn by the century's end, something needs to change, yet far more funding goes to reacting to wildfires than preventing them.

Bridget Nicholls founded Pestival in 2006 to educate people about how essential insects are to the living world. Since then, Pestival has engaged tens of thousands of people with the importance of insects, working alongside the Wellcome Trust, ZSL London Zoo and the Natural History Museum.

What is the future of sheep farming in Britain? Upland sheep farms cover 20% of agricultural land in the UK but provide only 3% of our food.

We can see no greater evidence of the benefits of rewilding in the face of climate change and extreme heat than what The Guardian has revealed in these aerial images from the Holnicote estate in Somerset.

Since taking office, Andy Burnham has barely mentioned the climate crisis. The lack of focus on the crisis that is facing us all is desperately serious: The Guardian has found that just 20 of Defra's 6,613 staff work on climate adaptation.

Every year, the UK rears over 1 billion chickens, producing 3.5 million tonnes of manure. In many catchments, there is already more waste than the land can absorb.

Revealed: just 20 out of of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation, as UK burns in fifth heatwave of this summer - FOI request by me @andyburnham.bsky.social needs to level with the country about the climate crisis & set out radical plan to tackle it 🧵 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires

Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves

theguardian.com

Have you heard the new episode of the Knepp Wilding Podcast? There is something utterfly wonderful about watching a creature return to a landscape that was once its home.

Rare crimson underwings found in vast numbers at Knepp 🦋 Butterfly expert Neil Hulme has reported that these stunning nocturnal moths – both dark and light crimson underwings - haven't been seen in these numbers in Sussex since the mid-19th century. Knepp seems to be their favourite spot.

Andy Burnham has asked for 10 years to fix Britain. Will he recognise that nature isn't a blocker to growth, it's one of our most underused economic assets?

Have you heard the latest episode of The Knepp Wilding Podcast? Isabella Tree catches up with Carl Sayer, Professor of Limnology & Freshwater Ecology at University College London, to discuss the mystery of the elusive eel. knepp.co.uk/2026/07/slip...

Episode 50: Slippery Slope: The Secret Life of Eels - Knepp

Isabella Tree catches up with Carl Sayer, Professor of Limnology & Freshwater Ecology at University College London - aka the Eel Man - as he prepares for this year’s survey of Knepp’s eels.

knepp.co.uk

Rewilding isn't just happening at Knepp. Nattergal's Boothyby Wildland is proving the model can scale. www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ju...

‘It makes your heart sing’: can a pioneering project show that rewilding really works?

The long read: Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting nat...

theguardian.com

Have you heard the new episode of the Knepp Wilding Podcast? This time, Isabella Tree speaks with two reptile experts running surveys at Knepp, including an incredible 17 year old who seems to have a sixth sense for finding snakes and lizards. Listen: knepp.co.uk/2026/06/epis...

BBC Springwatch is with us this week, broadcasting live from the Wildland. The very kind Iolo Williams took a few minutes earlier to tell us what to expect in tonight's episode. The crew have been beavering away all day getting ready... Watch it on BBC 2 at 8pm, or catch up on BBC i Player.

If you signed up to take part and haven't heard from us please DM me - we are missing an email address from one participant!

Did you hear Isabella Tree on BBC Radio 4 yesterday? She was doing 'Tweet of the Day' about nightingales. Listen here... Visit Knepp: knepp.co.uk/visit-knepp/...

Congratulations on a new publication day to our good friend, Dave Goulson, from @sussex.ac.uk 📕 🌿 🍎 We're very excited that Dave will be coming to Knepp on Thursday 4 June for an author supper. Book: knepp.co.uk/view/events/...

What is the effect of being in a rewilded landscape? A new study by @sussex.ac.uk is trying to find out... They're looking for participants. Could you help? @aliceeldridge.bsky.social www.ruralex.eu/knepp.html 📷Charlie Burrell, Charlie Harpur, David Oldham

Goodnight from @kneppwilding.bsky.social campsite 🏕️💚😊

It’s National Gardening Week and we’re celebrating curiosity! 🍃💡 Visit the garden: knepp.co.uk/garden-visits/ 📽️Charlie Harpur #curiosity #nationalgardeningweek

Isabella Tree, author and co-owner of Knepp, has responded to the story by Adam Vaughan in the Times about the UK government quietly opposing the return of lynx. 🐾 Read the thread to see what she has said: www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

Labour accused of greenwashing after quietly opposing lynx return

The environment secretary’s rejection of ambitious nature recovery schemes raises questions about pledges to revive lost species

thetimes.com

🐾Who doesn't love wild cats? But their survival is clinging by a claw. On 21 April, it's the London premiere of 'Clinging By A Claw’, a new documentary about the endangered Scottish Wildcat, brought to you by Saving Wildcats. Book your ticket: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/clinging-b...

We are SO lucky to have Erica McAlister of @nhm.org coming to Knepp on 11 April to lead an insect safari around the Rewilded Walled Garden.🐞🦗🪲 Erica is one of the UK's leading insect experts and she's also great fun. This is not to be missed! Book: knepp.co.uk/view/garden-...