Abandoned Farmland Revived with Wetlands, Grazing Animals, and Rewilding Efforts

As of October 13th, 2025, a pioneering project in Lincolnshire is transforming over 600 hectares of former farmland into a wilder, more natural landscape. The Boothby Wildland project is using a combination of rewilding techniques, including the introduction of beavers, cattle, pigs, and ponies, to restore the land.

The project, which is the first large-scale implementation of the government's "landscape recovery" program, aims to be an "exemplar" of how private finance can be used to drive nature restoration. By creating new wetland habitats and allowing vegetation to flourish, the team behind Boothby Wildland plans to generate carbon and biodiversity credits that can be sold to support the ongoing work.

Over the next couple of years, the team will continue to introduce heritage breeds of grazing animals to help maintain the mosaic of grassland, scrub, and wood pasture habitats. They have also re-wiggled the river and destroyed field drains to slow the flow of water, reducing the risk of flooding for the nearby village. Meanwhile, wildlife such as small birds, birds of prey, and protected great crested newts are already starting to colonize the revitalized landscape.

The Boothby Wildland project is a pioneering example of how private investment can be harnessed to drive large-scale nature restoration, providing benefits for both the environment and the local community.