You’ll learn about the delight of factory-farmed cows discovering grass for the first time and the horrors of crushing debt. It is an honest and fascinating glimpse into the real lives behind the patchwork quilt of fields that shrouds our countryside, which shocks and delights with equal measure. This is a tale of agricultural awakening that will completely transport you to a farmer’s perspective. You might be surprised to find a farming book on this list, but regenerative agriculture and rewilding are two sides of the same coin, and Sarah does a beautiful job of telling us why. There are plenty of great characters, too – you can see why ‘Wilding’ became the book that really helped to popularise the rewilding movement. The book itself is deeply steeped in science, with plenty of interesting and useful insights into the ways in which wild landscapes function, from fungi to Oak trees. The Knepp Estate went from a relatively high yield, high intensity area of farmland which was going into the red, to an enterprise which had a 22% profit margin in 2021. But Isabella’s captivating storytelling, evoking the sounds and sights of her and her husband Charles’ journey towards restoration, do a lot to pull you into this great book.įor those in the farming community who are feeling skeptical about the benefits of rewilding farmland and the financial impact it might have, this book may be of interest. The Knepp project is probably the UK’s most famous rewilding site at this point, so, for those familiar with the site, you might imagine that you’ve heard it all before. The book can be poetic at times and some may struggle with the dense content – for those, I strongly recommend the Audible version, which is well-performed, and perhaps my favourite audiobook of them all! There’s no shortage of opinion in this book, but it’s always supported by facts and figures, and Ben is more inclusive in his suggestions for farming reform than other rewilders.

There’s obviously a focus on birds, given the title, but it’s tied in to the effects of wider restoration – there are almost no birds without insects, as he points out, and no insects without the plants and habitats they need to survive. It’s a book I always recommend to nature enthusiasts who want an introduction to rewilding.įor anyone unfamiliar with rewilding science, Rebirding is a great place to start, as the author gives a great outline of the key literature.

This is an inspiring read, though, with the final section giving a real sense of hope and building concrete ideas for the future.

With Ben’s history working in Natural History TV, there’s a strong sense of story here with some astonishing statistics thrown in to emphasise quite how badly we need a conservation rethink.

Rewilding book knepp