Black Sofa London

Steve Buss 9th Jun 2022

It’s Garden Wildlife Week! And to celebrate, At Black Sofa we’re talking about rewilding, and some really great landscape rewilding projects we think you should visit…

For most of modern history the conversation around human impact on the planet has mostly revolved around climate warming, melting ice caps and rising sea levels. Yet it was rarely mentioned that the ground under our feet is an equally important resource that failing to protect, could affect humanity at an even quicker rate than climate change. The latest prediction from agrologists is that continuing current agricultural practices would lead to completely infertile grounds globally in the next 40-50 years. Meaning if we dont change our ways, we may only have 40 harvests left!

–

So where did the term originate and what is its purpose?

–

The principles of “Rewilding” have been around for many years, but have perhaps been brought to most people’s attention through the brilliant documentary “kiss the ground” on netflix a few years ago. The premise of which is agriculture; which has been evolving for thousands of years. With each iteration becoming more intensive and reliant on chemicals and fertilizers. The earlier methods of farming involved leaving fields fallow (unused) after a few years of produce so as to let the earth replenish its nutrients.

With populations having exploded since the industrial revolution – we are now adding an extra billion to the global population every 13 years, so it’s clear that with less available land in which to grow the crops, the pressure to increase harvest yields are at an all time peak. However with the more intensive farming practices and reliance on fertilizers and chemicals we are rinsing the earth of all its natural nutrients and also killing vast swathes of the insect and animal populations. If you factor in the fact that the bee population has more than halved since 1950, you realise that we are facing a crisis of our own making

–

So what can we do to help?

–

This is where rewilding comes in. In the simplest terms: We need to give the earth a rest periodically to allow it to replenish its nutrients. The soils nutrients are essentially the “fuel” for plants and crops to grow. This is mostly done by allowing an area to return to the wild and grow naturally. This not only allows the soil to replenish but also provides a natural environment for all sorts of insects and animals including Bee’s, which are so vital to our survival.

As Jeremy Clarkson (of all people) recently opined, that during the 80’s and 90’s driving down the motorway, the windscreen would inevitably be covered in splattered bugs and insects due to the sheer numbers of them. Now you are lucky (or unlucky for the bugs) if you see one bug on your windscreen. Whilst wasps, midges and flies don’t get the best rep for constantly swimming in your drink at the pub, they do also provide an invaluable service to the planet and our future on it.

–

Where can I go to see some rewilding projects and what effects can they have on local habitat’s?

–

River Otter, Devon
Beavers and otters, which are ‘keystone species’ that can positively impact biodiversity and water quality, were reintroduced to the UK in 2009 after an absence of around 500 years, in the Knapdale Forest, Argyll, and into an enclosed area of East Devon’s River Otter. Since then, more have appeared elsewhere on the river, altering the natural environment and providing new habitats for other species to thrive.

Blean Woods, Kent
Partnering with the Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust will import and release European bison at a former pine wood plantation near Canterbury. Like beavers, this keystone species is an ecosystem engineer that helps rewild woodlands. The bison will be introduced to their new home in spring 2022, and after settling into a fenced area, the site will open to the public.

–

What effects can this have on the local environment?

–

For thousands of years upto the bronze age, Britain was covered in woodland (which was subsequently cleared for agriculture during the bronze and iron ages) and were inhabited by bears, wolves, bison, otters and beavers. Further back Britain was even connected to mainland Europe through the ‘doggerland’ passage in Norfolk, ironically allowing free movement of animals across Europe.

–

So rewilding habitats with original animals can have some incredible effects on the local flora, fauna and environment as outlined by the famous Yellowstone Park Wolves Video.

–

Find out more about Garden Wildlife Week here – https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/garden-wildlife-week-2022/

–

Written by Kerry Brown

Welcome

About us

Hot Jobs

Stay in Touch

Pop in and see us

News

GARDEN WILDLIFE WEEK