Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm

In “Wilding,” Isabella Tree recounts the Knepp experiment, a pioneering rewilding project in West Sussex using free-roaming animals to create wildlife habitats. Forced to abandon intensive farming, Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell allowed nature to take over their land. Introducing cattle, ponies, pigs, and deer led to remarkable wildlife increases. Rare species like turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons, and purple emperor butterflies now thrive. The 3,500-acre project transformed degraded land into a vibrant ecosystem. “Wilding” is a personal, inspiring story of nature’s resilience.