Spinning a tale of hope: Nature's healing and restoration

Sara King, the rewilding manager at Rewilding Britain, is a passionate advocate for restoring the nation's ecosystems. Her interest in rewilding was sparked by a visit to a beaver enclosure in Devon, an encounter that ignited a passion that continues to burn brightly.

King's role at Rewilding Britain involves supporting landowners and managers in their rewilding efforts. She believes that nature has the power to transform not only the environment but also human wellbeing. This belief is evident in the Knepp Estate in Sussex, where rewilding has resulted in the largest colony of purple emperor butterflies in the UK, challenging traditional wisdom about where these magnificent insects prefer to live.

Beavers, according to King, are particularly effective at restoring nature. She emphasises their ability to create dynamic landscapes through their engineering feats, such as damming rivers and creating wetlands. These changes not only benefit the local ecosystem but also promote natural regeneration of woodland.

King's work extends beyond Britain's shores. The Rewilding Network initiative she coordinates, supported by members of the WTR Network from various locations including the USA, Canada, and Europe, focuses on conservation efforts that move beyond protection to active restoration of ecosystems.

The rewilding movement in Britain is gaining momentum, with 83% of the British public now expressing support for rewilding, according to polling by YouGov. This optimism is shared by King, who sees the potential for 12% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions to be captured through the restoration and protection of native woodland, peatlands, heaths, and species-rich grasslands across 30% of Britain.

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For King, the benefits of rewilding extend beyond the environmental. She finds joy in witnessing the benefits of rewilding, even outside of work, such as observing elk in north-east Poland. It's a reminder of nature's resilience and the transformational power it holds for human wellbeing.

Visiting rewilding projects is one of the perks of King's job, allowing her to enjoy the abundance of wildlife that rewilding efforts bring. As the rewilding movement continues to grow, so too does our understanding of nature in Britain, offering unexpected discoveries and a brighter, more sustainable future.