I hope some of you are aware of the current debate around ‘rewilding’ as echoed in the blog post I wrote here recently.

Even better, watch ‘Rewilding made simple’ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/video/2013/may/30/rewilding-animation-george-monbiot-video

I have been pondering where to go with this. I certainly can’t do anything on my own, and am very aware of my own lack of knowledge in this area.

Are there any other Transition members/sympathisers, especially people with conservation/ecology backgrounds, who would like to meet for a chat?

(1) Is there any rewilding project we would love to see happening locally?

(2) What could we do next to further those ideas?

(See below for a little more detail.)

Please click this link and indicate which days you could meet up, if you’re interested in talking further: http://doodle.com/g58b9y2gdawaf5mk

Personally, I’m sure rewilding is an idea whose time has come, and that we could give it a bit of a push.

Many thanks,

Jane (Ayres)

 

Miscellaneous ideas, in no particular order:

  • awareness-raising about the barren nature of our current hill areas – the dearth of anything growing or living, compared to their potential ecology
  • identify small pockets of land (which have suitable ownership) which could be left to nature &/or started on their way with some planting
  • fundraise for & plant native trees
  • identify existing schemes to publicise and join in with – e.g. replanting vegetation on National Trust land (but not if it’s just going to be eaten by sheep in due course?)
  • encourage the NT to keep the Kinder plateau sheep-free permanently (although it’s a pretty long-term project anyway) – perhaps assisting with publicising the reasons for doing this
  • encourage a wider Kinder area to be cleared of grazing animals, perhaps just to be left untended, rather than actively planted
  • identify suitable mammal/bird reintroductions, as a long-term target
  • participate in specific campaigns such as ‘Turn your back on grouse’ (aiming to put pressure on grouse shooting interests until the hen harrier has been allowed to return)
  • lobby those with influence, at whatever level, to swing the public mood behind the idea of rewilding (and against some effects of the CAP?)
  • hold a public meeting to highlight advantages and obstacles
  • hold a meeting with representatives of interested groups – water authorities, Natural History Society, Nat Trust, DCC, Peak Park, Ramblers, Wildlife Trust, RSPB….
  • have an identified group of local sympathisers ready for when a national campaign/charity is ready to launch

 

More links, if you’re interested in the concept:

http://www.cambrianwildwood.org/rewilding.php – a Cambrian hills project

http://www.rewildingeurope.com/ – Europe’s ambitious rewilding plans

http://treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.contents1.html – aiming to restore a huge area of the Caledonian forest, working with local landowners and buying suitable land