Rewild and Rewiggle: Nature recovery in action

“We got abit carried away!” says Henry Rossiter on a tour of his family’s 400-acre nature restoration project.

“But nature needs scale.”

Nature, it seems, would agree. At this south Bristol wildlife haven in-the-making, 1331 different plant and animal species are thriving in their rewilding project, increasing by 165 – and counting –  in just the last year. Bird species have risen from 22 to 83, while beetles are at 228 and moths have hit a whopping 390 different species.

Azure damselflies spotted on the river at Belmont Estate, where the team are restoring biodiversity at scale

Belmont Estate in Wraxall is a ‘redefined and reimagined country estate on a mission to regenerate land, reverse biodiversity loss and reconnect communities to nature.’

100 years older than neighbouring Tyntesfield, it sits in grade two listed parkland and so “we would need planning permission just to plant a tree,” says Henry.

The Rossiters, Belmont’s owners since 2012, were intent on restoring the landscape for nature. So in 2019 they purchased nearby Watercress Farm.

It took three years of persistent efforts to gain planning permission, involving 14 statutory bodies including Bristol Airport who posed a last-minute challenge. But they persevered, and eventually permission was granted to embark on a rewilding mission proper.

Under the eye of estate manager Gil Martin they halted ploughing and mowing, removed all internal fences and introduced Red Devon cattle, Dartmoor ponies and Tamworth pigs which roam free, surviving on grass and forage.

The estate’s Red Devon cattle are allowed to roam free as part of their regenerative agriculture rotational grazing approach

It was a leap in the dark, says Henry: “Gil said, we have no idea what will happen – it will do it by itself, at the rate that it chooses.” But the effect on both animals and land has been remarkable.

The cattle health records are better than any previous herds the family has owned, Henry reports, with far fewer vet visits for at least the last four years.

Letting the land lie has encouraged anthills, resulting in a return in force of green woodpeckers.

The pigs rooting in the soil has encouraged brambles to return. Normally a gardener’s menace, these serve as natural tree guards to the small whips that would otherwise be eaten by deer, naturally restoring trees to previously 70% intensive farmland.

And the soil, lacking fertility when the project began due to its agricultural history, is now showing signs of life.

One field initially ignored by the pigs due to a lack of interesting forage now boasts 57 different plant species.

The wetlands project at Watercress Farm, seen here during construction, has involved rewiggling a river across a floodplain

Belmont’s recently completed rewetting project reconnects a natural flood plain to the nearby Land Yeo river.

The river can fill up to 12 feet in two hours.

The usual ditching and dredging approach favoured by the Environment Agency, intended to get the water out as quickly as possible, creates bottlenecks which cause surges, flooding of nearby villages and towns, soil erosion and water course contamination.

Belmont has chosen to rewiggle across the degraded former wheat field and encourage tree growth to organically slow the flow. They also embrace elements such as seasonal flooding, in harmony with the nature of the landscape.

The UK has lost 90% of its wetland habitats over the last 100 years. Belmont’s newly recreated floodplain will alleviate pressure on the system by retaining water on the landscape, providing a unique habitat that will encourage diverse wildlife while improving air and water quality.

The estate team are delighted to see their influence spreading. Though sceptical at first, neighbouring farms are beginning to make nature-friendly changes to their land.

Belmont run free nature-based learning sessions, with 3000 children visiting the estate in 2022. “Schools are desperate to get kids out into nature,” says Henry.

Local community volunteer programmes are popular, and the team host work days for their corporate partners.

Belmont run free nature-based learning sessions for school children

The Rossiters’ goals are admirably ambitious. The team have recently taken on a largescale nature restoration project in Scotland, and have their sights set on further land holdings and communities ‘to ensure we can have the biggest impact possible on both people and planet.’

Plans afoot at Belmont include not-for-profit communal meals from locally grown produce, bringing people together round a table to share food and conversation.

“We can’t just look at one aspect of climate change,” says Henry. “We have to do it all.”

All photos: Belmont Estate.

This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership. 

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