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Wilding is a new concept in modern farming, aimed at providing long-term sustainability for agricultural food production. It centres on achieving more diverse land management systems, incorporating the farming of woodlands with agroforestry. The integration of trees, grazing land and arable crops lies at the core of wilding projects. The concept was suggested in a recent report, Bigger Better Forests, by the influential UK think tank, the Policy Exchange. The organisation was considering the use of agricultural land across post-Brexit Britain when it would fall outside of the EU Common Agriculture Policy. The report discusses connecting multiple conservation sites across the UK with farmland, involving more than 6,200 sq. km of land, and containing more than 300 million trees. It suggests extra support should be provided for farmers who pursue more diverse land management approaches.   Is wilding just an experiment? Returning nature to our farms has been pioneered at sites in Europe, but on a limited basis. Still at an experimental stage, the concept has been described as a success to date. Two projects are up and running at Oostvaardersplassen and Kraansvlak, in the Netherlands. Isabella Tree, the award-winning author of Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm, describes the European version of wilding at length. She says having an appropriate number of the right species of grazing animals in the area can have an "exponential" effect on biodiversity, providing the initial impetus to kick-start the natural processes that will improve the local environment. On the Dutch coast, home of the Kraansvlak wilding project, a herd of bison has made an unexpected comeback to the dunes area. After being hunted to extinction on the continent 80 years ago, the bison has returned to a region where it has not been seen living wild for centuries. Three bison were reintroduced to Kraansvlak in 2007 as part of a project, but the reappearance in the wild of the largest land animal in Europe has sparked interest among Dutch researchers. Bison benefit the area because they graze on the vegetation that is overgrowing the dunes and hampering the region's natural filtration system. As the bison roam, they are grazing on the vegetation, opening up areas of previously dense growth, thus enabling other species to return.   Where is wilding happening in the UK? Based on her studies of the farms in the Netherlands; Tree and husband Charlie practice wilding on their own family farm and estate, the Knepp Estate, in Sussex. Their focus is more on managing the land in new ways, rather than specifically planting trees. This is a pioneering move for the Knepp Estate, where the conventional British way of farming and land management has been practiced for more than a millennium. With the estate dating back to the 12th century, the couple's decision to abandon conventional farming, in 2000, didn't go down well with their neighbours at first, despite acting on the advice of a team of experts. They decided to surrender their 3,500-acre estate to nature, in an experiment called the Knepp Wildland Project. Opponents feared the worst and speculated the landscape would return to a pre-civilised state. However, on the advice of ecologist Ken Thompson, Tree revealed they modified their original plans, as it was impossible to "turn the clock back" to a pre-human golden age. Instead, the focus is on making the most of their "new, invaded world", Tree explains. They opted for change when farming on the small scale of the estate was no longer sustainable - a problem that had worsened since the late 20th century. In what Tree described as a "leap of faith", they introduced species such as Old English Longhorn cattle, fallow deer, Tamworth sows and piglets, Exmoor ponies and Red deer to parts of the estate. Using a holistic management plan, they removed some existing fences and erected others in strategic places. They visited other European wilding experiments and engaged with a team of experts including farmers, ecologists, ornithologists, conservationists, foresters and scholars studying land management policies. They added them to an advisory board.   What has happened on the Knepp Estate? Tree described how the land had "healed" in the two decades since the project began. Long absent species had begun to return and flourish, such as rare purple Emperor butterflies and iconic birds like turtle doves and nightingales. Cuckoos, woodlarks, spotted flycatchers, fieldfares, skylarks, hobbies, lapwings, red kites, lesser spotted woodpeckers, yellowhammers, peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, five species of British owl and the first ravens in a century have also returned to the estate. The soil at Knepp has regenerated without the application of pesticides and fertilisers, as earthworms have returned to do their work. One setback was an invasion of thistles, which incurred the wrath of neighbours, who feared they would spread to their fields. Nature took over in a timely manner, thanks to a large influx of Painted Lady butterflies. Their larvae ate the thistles and got them back under control. This unexpected consequence of the experiment was a fine example of how nature took care of the land. Tens of thousands of the butterflies migrated to the UK from Morocco and laid their eggs on the creeping thistle. After more than 20 years’ running her experiment, Tree concludes farmers and conservationists must come together to develop the positive effects of wilding and spread the practice further. It was believed to be Tree's experiment and subsequent book that led to the Policy Exchange think tank carrying out its study on wilding.   Can wilding help prevent climate change? The current projects, including the one at Knepp, have demonstrated how farming and conservation can work hand in hand for the good of the environment. Farming's greatest ally could be handing over areas that aren't classed as prime agricultural land to nature. Benefits include stopping land degradation, providing insects for crop pollination and securing water resources. These services will aid the long-term sustainability of agriculture and food production. Knepp has demonstrated a complex selection of habitats, stimulated by the free roaming, grazing animals. When compared with traditional methods of conservation, it works out much cheaper. It also provides much of what the planet needs that is currently lacking in our landscape, offering resilience against climate change, while combating extreme weather in the long term. Improving biodiversity, it makes the most of conserving natural resources. Even better, the wilding method still produces high-quality food, such as pasture fed meat.   How can farmers get involved? The wilding project at Knepp offers many ideas for farmers who want to escape from the expenses of fertiliser and other costs. Looking into adapting their own land can benefit farmers financially, as well as ecologically. The key to successful wilding projects is allowing free roaming herbivores. In the right numbers, large herbivores can combat the emerging scrub and open up niches for other species. Their presence generates a dynamic, everchanging mixture of habitats, stimulating vegetation complexity - the fuel of biodiversity. It's all about allowing natural processes to re-establish themselves, trusting nature to do its own thing. Farmers can sell free roaming, organic, "ethical" meat and can even encourage eco-tourism, such as hosting camping in the wildflower meadow. Scientists have suggested at least 50% of Britain's conventional farmland should be transformed into natural habitat and woodlands. Prof Sir Ian Boyd, the government's former chief scientific adviser, is a supporter of wilding. He says it will create eco-systems where nature will take care of itself. When the Conservative Party was elected to government in December 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged £640 million for the new Nature for Climate Fund. The aim is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Although the fund is not specifically aimed at wilding, the government has also pledged to plant an additional 75,000 acres of trees by 2024. It has committed to creating new national parks and restoring peatland. While the National Farmers' Union supports planting more trees, leaders have not publicly committed to supporting wilding. The NFU believes British farmers are already "some of the most sustainable in the world" and that they are leading the way in producing "climate-friendly" food.