Knepp Estate

Wednesday 21st July 2021

We listened to a talk by Ivan de Klee (Wilding consultant at the Knepp estate Home — Knepp Wildland) tonight. I am re reading the book Wilding by Isabella Tree at the moment so it was very pertinent. Good presentation giving the history of why they started on rewilding (farming doesn't make money!) and what they have done in the last 20 years (increase biodiversity enormously). On reading the book again it made much more sense to me because of my new knowledge, loads of good information in there as well that I might be able to make use of next year at university! Ivan did share a rough overview of where the money comes from now - a huge amount from their camping/visitor side of the business plus large amounts from the rental of farm properties that they have turned into business units on the site. Diversification is the key as I have mentioned before.

We have been camping at Knepp twice before - and are going again in September this year. It is a magical place with great walks and you never know what wildlife you will run into (long horn cattle, tamworth pigs, exmoor ponies!). I do worry that it is getting too popular and commercial - lets see what its like this time! Facilities are basic but beautiful!

Thing don't always work out - they released two beavers in late 2020 and even though they spent £45000 on fencing and enclosures they both managed to escape pretty quickly. Unfortunately one of them died, so they relocated the other somewhere else while they work out what to do next!