Across the UK, rewilding projects are proving that when nature is given the space to recover, ecosystems can rebound in remarkable ways. Here are three examples of the kinds of projects that Bumboo customers are helping support.

nightingale

The Knepp Estate in Sussex is one of the most famous rewilding projects in the UK- and one of the most successful.

Two decades ago, the 3,500-acre estate stopped intensive farming and allowed natural processes to shape the landscape again. Instead of crops and fertilisers, grazing animals such as cattle, pigs and ponies now roam freely, mimicking the ecological roles once played by ancient wild herbivores.

The results have been extraordinary.

A 20-year ecological review at Knepp revealed:

  • 900% increase in breeding birds
  • 500% rise in nightingales
  • Significant increases in butterflies, dragonflies and many other species

Rare and declining species, including turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies, have returned in numbers not seen for decades.

Knepp has become a powerful example of what can happen when land is allowed to recover naturally. Instead of carefully managing every detail, the project focuses on restoring natural processes and letting ecosystems rebuild themselves.

beaver making dam

Beavers were once widespread across Britain but were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago. Today, they are returning , transforming landscapes in the process.

At the Holnicote Estate on Exmoor, the National Trust has released a family and pair of Eurasian beavers into the wild as part of a wider reintroduction programme.

Beavers are often called “ecosystem engineers” because of the way they reshape landscapes.

When beavers build dams, they:

  • Slow down the flow of water in rivers
  • Create wetlands that support birds, amphibians and insects
  • Improve water quality by trapping sediment
  • Reduce downstream flooding by storing water naturally

The wetlands created by beavers quickly become biodiversity hotspots, supporting species that struggle in more engineered river systems.

Projects like this are helping restore natural river processes that disappeared centuries ago.

cow eating leaves

Rewilding isn’t only happening in rural landscapes, it’s also taking place in cities.

At Wild Tolworth in London, a 42-hectare former golf course has been transformed into a rewilding site where nature is being allowed to reclaim the landscape.

For the first time in over 50 years, cattle have returned to the site. Three Sussex cows now roam the reserve, grazing naturally and shaping the habitat.

These cattle act as proxies for aurochs, the extinct wild ancestors of modern cattle.

Their grazing behaviour helps:

  • Prevent one plant species from dominating
  • Create a mix of grassland, scrub and woodland
  • Support insects, birds and small mammals
  • Maintain a diverse and dynamic ecosystem

Urban rewilding projects like Wild Tolworth demonstrate that nature recovery doesn’t have to happen far from cities. Even within dense urban environments, ecosystems can recover and wildlife can return.

Together, projects like these show what’s possible when nature is given the chance to recover.

Through the support of Bumboo customers, over £26,000 has already been raised for rewilding initiatives that restore habitats and support biodiversity across the UK.

It’s proof that everyday choices, even something as simple as buying toilet paper, can help give nature a second chance

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