creating a wild space
for nature in Lincolnshire
In 2019 Hannah and Jack made the decision to cease commercial food production on their arable farm in Lincolnshire. The land is low lying, standing wet for much of the winter and baking hard in the summer. Despite best efforts, they struggled to farm profitably and felt that the unproductive soils could be put to better use for the benefit of nature.
The vision is to transform their unproductive ex-arable farmland in Lincolnshire into a thriving, self-sustaining landscape where nature can recover and flourish.
By working with the land's natural potential and restoring natural processes, the aim is to increase biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and improve soil and water health.
Part of this vision is the reintroduction of species that can drive ecological change. Beavers will shape wetlands that store water, reduce flood risk, and create homes for aquatic life. Native wildflower meadows will provide vital resources for pollinators, while birds of prey and other wildlife will return as food chains are rebuilt. The long-term goal is a diverse, resilient landscape that offers benefits for wildlife, the climate, and the local community alike.
THE STORY SO FAR...
NATURAL REGENERATION
Natural regeneration is transforming land that was sterile and unproductive into a dynamic, self-sustaining landscape. Without planting or seeding, native vegetation is reclaiming the land with young trees like birch, willow, oak, dog rose and hawthorn taking root alongside wild grasses and flowers.
Natural regeneration is crucial because it allows biodiversity to flourish while rebuilding degraded soils and enhancing carbon storage. It fosters a balanced habitat that supports pollinators, birds, and small mammals, which are becoming part of restored natural processes and becoming increasingly self-sustaining.
The re-emergence of scrub is crucially important habitat that is largely missing from our countryside, and supports a huge range of species. We are already seeing many species return to the farm that have been missing for many years.
BIODIVERSITY
Surveying is a key part of our work in order to measure the changes occurring on the land. As well as insect and plant monitoring, we are using bioacoustics survey techniques to measure bird and bat abundance and diversity as well as undertaking year round bird surveys.
We are already seeing some huge increases in biodiversity on the farm in the short space of time that the farm has been returned to nature.
To date 94 species of birds have been recorded on the farm with 50 species breeding last season across 456 nesting sites. Many red listed species such as skylark, grey partridge, lapwing, yellowhammers and linnets are successfully breeding on the farm.
24 species of butterfly have been recorded on the farm, a significant increase on the 14 species we had prior to rewilding.
BEAVER REINTRODUCTION
In 2023 we reintroduced the first pair of beavers back to Lincolnshire for 400 years in a 70 acre enclosure on the farm.
Beavers are keystone species and play a vital role in creating dynamic, biodiverse environments. They are a native species that were hunted to extinction in Britain by humans. By building dams and digging channels, they slow water flow, reduce the risk of flooding downstream, and create diverse wetland habitats. These wetlands provide shelter and food for a wide range of species, from amphibians and fish to birds and insects. Additionally, their activities enhance water quality and promote carbon sequestration in the surrounding soil.
The return of beavers is a key part of our commitment to working with nature to restore balance and resilience. By allowing them to shape the land in their unique way, we're fostering a richer, more biodiverse ecosystem that benefits both wildlife and people.
WETLAND CREATION
Our farm would once have been part of a vast wetland before it was drained in the 17th century (the UK has lost 90% of its wetland habitat). Restoring a more natural hydrology, allowing natural processes to drive change and creating new wetland habitat across the farm are key priorities for us.
Disrupting drainage is helping areas of wetland to reappear and with it we are seeing more wetland species such as large numbers of snipe and jack snipe overwintering.
We have also excavated around 5 acres of ponds so far and with our clay foundations they hold water all year round and are already brimming with life. 19 species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recorded on the ponds including lesser emperor and willow emerald, recent arrivals to Lincolnshire.
find out a little more...
'Wild Wrendale' is rewilding project set up by Hannah and Jack Dale pushing boundaries to bring back lost species and habitats on their farm in rural Lincolnshire. Watch the video to discover more.
