Rewilding ACTION

On the short walk down to the off-grid boathouse, I count over a dozen marbled white butterflies crisscrossing the path, fluttering in the gentle summer breeze. There are other butterflies too: Essex skippers, meadow browns, and ringlets. At one point, by the settling pond of an enormous reed water purification system, I spot a clump of ragwort with orange and black striped cinnabar moth caterpillars clinging to their stems. There are bees buzzing all around in the warm summer sun and birds chirping – the place has the feel of a nature reserve.

As I walk round the corner of an ancient oak and ash forest, I reach the exquisite hexagonal boathouse. It’s set in splendid isolation in front of a pontoon leading down to a long lake that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s a wild swimmer’s dream.

I’ve come to Sheepdrove Farm, a 2,000acre (810-ha) organic farm in the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The boathouse has been converted into a basic hideaway for two, with a double

KEN HILL ESTATE, NORFOLK

One of the filming locations for BBC’s Springwatch programme, this estate’s rewilding project is as much about regenerative agriculture as it is about nature recovery, demonstrating that land can be used to tackle climate change as well as improve air and water quality. Join guided tours of the farm and the extensive rewilding area and learn about vital grazing of the Exmoor ponies, Tamworth pigs and Red Poll cattle, as well as the variety of wildlife, including beavers. wildkenhill.co.uk

DUNDREGGAN REWILDING CENTRE, INVERNESS

Based at its own 10,000acre (4,000-ha) estate at Dundreggan in the Scottish Highlands, Trees for Life is working to restore ancient Caledonia forest from the last remains of this original wild forest, especially around Glen Affric and Glenmoriston. Visit the centre for the day or stay overnight in one of its 20 new ensuite rooms. treesforlife.org.uk

BROUGHTON SANCTUARY, YORKSHIRE

Stay in a range of self-catering holiday homes on this 3,000acre (1,200-ha) estate, home to the Broughton Sanctuary Nature Recovery Programme. broughtonhall.co.uk bedroom, a small kitchen, shower, plenty of natural light and large bifold doors through which you can gaze out over the lake.

It is heated by an air source heat pump; all the energy it draws on is generated onsite through two wind turbines and solar panels (there are 900 across the farm), and all waste water is treated through the reedbed water filtration system. The boathouse’s eco credentials alone are impressive, but it’s the scale and diversity of environmentally sustainable projects throughout the farm that creates the feeling you’re staying somewhere special. There’s an eco conference centre, a natural burial wood, a wedding venue, and a former farm building that sleeps up to 18. While I was there, the staff were getting busy for a photo shoot to launch a new electric car.

For over 25 years, Sheepdrove has been at the forefront of sustainable, regenerative and organic farming across its green pastures, wildflower meadows, ancient woodland and fields of heritage grains on chalk downland. It is now one of an increasing number of farms and rural estates that are using the income and profile of nature-based tourism to help fund and publicise rewilding projects, restoring large-scale ecosystems to help repair damaged habitats, regenerate

KINGSDALE HEAD, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Check into the Cottage in this 1,500-acre (600-ha) upland farm near the village of Ingleton, just below Whernside, the highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales, for the best view of nature in action. The owners are working to restore the natural hydrology of the wet heathland and grassland habitats, enabling it to hold more water and store more carbon by using a small herd of cattle to change the impact of grazing, while reintroducing more native shrubs and trees. Set next to the main farmhouse, from its door you can explore the farm’s sheltered woodland and waterfalls, and venture further to the Forest of Bowland. kingsdalehead.com

FRITTON LAKE, NORFOLK

A family-run outdoor members club among a 1,000-acre (405ha) rewilding project near the Broads, Fritton Lake is part of the Somerleyton Estate. Members and non members can stay in the smart clubhouse rooms, in designer woodland cabins or in traditional estate farm cottages. There’s a wonderful 2-mile (3.2-km) long lake where you can swim, paddleboard, kayak or just soak up the sounds of nature from the floating sauna. The rewilding project here is part of the Wild East initiative, which is aiming to return over 600,000 acres (250,000ha) of East Anglia to nature. At Fritton, they are restoring one-fifth of the land, reintroducing deer, water buffalo and ponies, as well as lots of bird and plant life. frittonlake.co.uk

REWILDING ESCAPES, SCOTLAND

Join a week-long, organised holiday for small groups in some of the wilder areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and the Knoydart Peninsula. scotlandbigpicture.com

ALLADALE WILDERNESS RESERVE, SUTHERLAND

Owner Paul Lister has for many years been one of the most vocal advocates of rewilding. His 23,000- acre (9,300-ha) reserve includes extensive native tree planting, peatland restoration, outdoor learning for teenagers and multiple wildlife conservation projects. Stay in fully catered lodges (for groups of up to 30) or go self-catering 7 miles (11.3km) away at the off-grid Deanich Lodge, which sleeps 10. alladale.com

KNEPP CASTLE ESTATE, WEST SUSSEX

Camp in a meadow or stay in one of the glampsites (treehouses, tents, yurts and shepherd’s huts), and go on safari around one of the largest and best-known rewilding estates in lowland Britain. You’ll see herds of wild ponies, cattle, deer and pigs as they roam across 3,500 acres (1,400ha) of Sussex, driving the forces of habitat regeneration. The co-owner, Isabella Tree, is the author of the seminal book Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm, which charts how she and her husband transformed their lossmaking farm in lowland Britain into a ground-breaking rewilding project. Keep up to date with this evolving project by watching Kneppflix on its website – snapshot videos of the latest happenings. kneppsafaris.co.uk

COOMBESHEAD, DEVON

Camp in a small meadow or stay in one of several shepherd’s huts at the edge of a 150-acre (61-ha) rewilding project close to Dartmoor. rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk