Considered Knepp?

I’ve just read the article on Cove Down (Bird Watching December) and I’m really pleased to see that you have featured this project: I think it is absolutely the only real way forward for nature conservation in the UK especially, where we have been devastating the countryside with intensive farming since we started indiscriminately ploughing up the land in order to “Dig for Victory”in WWII. Add to that the deluge of artificial fertilizers and pesticides since the 1970s and we have the disaster zone we are left with today. I’m sure you know about the wilding project at Knepp Farm Estate (found online at knepp.co.uk) which has been developing the wilding principle since about 1999, and is now a model on the international stage for how to nurture our natural heritage. I think it’s the only place in the UK where the Turtle Dove and Nightingale are on the increase. There are Nightjars, all manner of owls and raptors, and even a male Red-backed Shrike has been seen there: if he was joined by a female that would make birding history. I read the book Wilding by Isabella Tree (of Knepp) recently, and found it incredibly moving and informative. I’ve only been reading your magazine for the last two issues, (I was given a subscription as a birthday present) so you may have covered the Knepp project already; but if you haven’t, why don’t you do a feature on it, and at the same time do a review of the book? It’s probably one of the most important things that’s going on for the UK bird population at the moment, and needs all the coverage it can get. Apart from that, it would make a brilliant feature article.

Bob Hext

n The editor says: We ran a feature on Knepp in our April 2016 issue, and you can read the online version here: birdwatching.co.uk/knepp We’re always interested in revisiting areas for updates though and Knepp could well be one of those – so watch this space, Bob!