Wildly inspiring!
Take a look behind the scenes at a unique Norfolk farming estate
Back in October, we settled down to watch the first episode of BBC Autumnwatch with an extra frisson of excitement. “I recognise that patch of water!” I cried excitedly as the programme started with the incredible footage of an encounter between a female Buzzard and a male Goshawk. Not happy neighbours, as a Goshawk will take on a Buzzard but, making herself as large as possible, the Buzzard seized the initiative and drove the Goshawk away. It was hard to believe that only a week before, we had been standing by that very stream and hearing about this intimidating resident raptor.
For us, it started with probably the best garlic mushrooms in the world, at a café in Hunstanton we always visited whenever we were birdwatching in Norfolk. Here, over good food and birding discussions, we became friends with Andrew Waddison, little knowing that a few years later he’d be kind enough to take us on a private tour of Wild Ken Hill. For the whole afternoon, Andrew showed us around this unique farming estate, his infectious enthusiasm making it one of the most uplifting afternoons I have ever spent.
Wild Ken Hill has been farmed by the same family for about 150 years, albeit always with conservation in mind, but it was when Dominic Buscall took over the reins in 2018, that the emphasis on rewilding and regenerative farming here really came to the fore. The positive changes that have been brought about in only a few years are staggering. It was a sunny afternoon as Andrew led us out onto the farm, the trees glinting autumnal gold and the hedgerows bursting with fattening berries.
We’d barely left the farmyard but already we were surrounded by wildlife. The distinctive ‘yaffle’ of a Green Woodpecker echoed from the rough grassland, bees buzzed, while a Red Admiral butterfly sunbathed on a dense thatch of Ivy, and mixed flocks of Goldfinches and Linnets swirled over the rich soil.
The farm is still worked commercially, but using regenerative practices; in other words, they focus on working the land with a no-till/ low-till approach as just one of the techniques used to improve soil health and overall biodiversity. Each field is surrounded by a wide, untouched border and, with no use of artificial fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides, this is a riot of wildflowers in spring and home for natural pest predators. This approach works well.
The fields are home to plentiful Grey Partridges, and we really enjoyed fantastic telescope views of a handsomely-marked Wood Lark pottering among the sods of earth, along with Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Brown Hares were everywhere, and we stopped counting them after reaching double-figures.
We then entered the rewilding areas, firstly an expanse of woodland which hosted breeding Buzzards and Red Kites, all Springwatch regulars, and also Goshawk, so you can understand our excitement at seeing the Autumnwatch footage. Here nature has been left alone to do its thing, along with the help of the habitat management team of Tamworth pigs and Exmoor ponies. The difference these animals have created is staggering,