MY RATING:
Synopsis:
Forced to accept that intensive farming on the heavy clay of their land at Knepp in West Sussex was economically unsustainable, Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell made a spectacular leap of faith: they decided to step back and let nature take over. Thanks to the introduction of free-roaming cattle, ponies, pigs and deer – proxies of the large animals that once roamed
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Britain – the 3,500 acre project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife numbers and diversity in little over a decade.
Once-common species, including turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons, lesser spotted woodpeckers and purple emperor butterflies, are now breeding at Knepp, and populations of other species are rocketing. The Burrells’ degraded agricultural land has become a functioning ecosystem again, heaving with life – all by itself.
This recovery has taken place against a backdrop of catastrophic loss elsewhere. According to the 2016 ‘State of Nature’ report, the UK is ranked 29th in the world for biodiversity loss: 56% of species in the UK are in decline and 15% are threatened with extinction. We are living in a desert, compared with our gloriously wild past.
In Wilding, Isabella Tree tells the story of the ‘Knepp experiment’ and what it reveals of the ways in which we might regain that wilder, richer country. It shows how rewilding works across Europe; that it has multiple benefits for the land; that it can generate economic activity and employment; how it can benefit both nature and us – and that all of this can happen astonishingly quickly. Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope.
- Pages: 384
- Genre: Nonfiction, Nature
- Publication date: May 3, 2018 by Picador
- Format: Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
- Source: Owned
PURCHASE LINKS:
AMAZON
KOBO
REVIEW:
As I have mentioned before, I aspire to read more nonfiction, especially about nature and the environment. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a great book club that focused mainly on that! Rewild Your Shelf is a great place to be if you are interested in this genre and connecting with like-minded people. That said, Wilding was the book pick for April, and I am one month behind, but it was also the first book I read for this club. And I am so happy I did.
Wilding was such an eye-opener on so many levels. As someone who knows nothing about farming, rewilding, ecological restoration, or the native species and their habitats in the UK, I really realised how deeply humans affect not only the fauna but also the flora, thanks to our industrialisation and overconsumption. Some parts honestly made my skin crawl and made me rethink some of my views on nature today, as well as the impact I may be having on the environment without even realising it.
The author’s writing style is engaging, informative, and also urges you to stop and reflect on what we as a superior species are doing or rather not doing! Her tone is kind and full of love, understanding and aching for the animals, and the nature that we are slowly but surely destroying.
I loved reading about all the statistics, the stories about the nightingale were so interesting, the turtle dove, the butterflies, especially the purple emperor. This book is inspiring, motivating and most importantly, gives hope for a better future if only we unite and work together for the greater good.
There is so much I could say about the topics and the insights of this book, but I want to encourage you to pick it up and read it for yourself. I cannot recommend Wilding enough!
“The great concerns of our time – climate change, natural resources, food production, water control and conservation, and human health – all boil down to the condition of the soil.”
Overall, a lovely read, full 5 stars!
Lin's Perspective 
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