What is the Knepp rewilding project?

Knepp is a rewilding project in West Sussex that transformed conventional farmland into a thriving ecosystem supporting diverse wildlife.

How much has wildlife increased at Knepp?

Bird numbers have increased tenfold, butterfly species have doubled, and dragonfly populations have surged by nearly 900% over two decades.

What animals are used in the Knepp rewilding project?

The project uses grazing animals like longhorn cattle, deer, Exmoor ponies, and pigs, alongside beavers and reintroduced white storks.

Home / Environment / Knepp Rewilding Explodes: Wildlife Soars Tenfold

Knepp Rewilding Explodes: Wildlife Soars Tenfold

12 Jan

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Summary

Bird numbers increased tenfold, with nightingale numbers rising dramatically.
Butterfly species doubled, and dragonfly numbers surged by nearly 900%.
Rewilding efforts transformed farmland into diverse habitats over two decades.

Knepp Rewilding Explodes: Wildlife Soars Tenfold

A flagship rewilding project at Knepp, West Sussex, has witnessed a dramatic surge in wildlife over the past twenty years. Ecological surveys reveal a tenfold increase in bird numbers, with species such as nightingales showing remarkable recovery. The diversity of butterflies has doubled on parts of the estate, and dragonfly and damselfly populations have grown by nearly 900%.

Since halting conventional farming in 2000, the estate has been rewilded using natural grazing by cattle, deer, and ponies, alongside beavers and reintroduced white storks. This approach has created a rich mosaic of habitats, including scrubland, wood pasture, and wetlands, fostering an explosion of biodiversity and becoming a model for rewilding across the UK.

The latest monitoring, comparing data from 2005-2007 to 2025, shows a 916% increase in breeding birds and a 132% rise in species richness. Even highly threatened species like turtle doves have seen significant increases, demonstrating the profound positive impact of rewilding on threatened species and overall ecological health.