Wilding, Isabella Tree
Wilding, Isabella Tree
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Wilding
The Return of Nature to a British Farm

Author: Isabella Tree

Narrator: Isabella Tree

Unabridged: 12 hr 22 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/17/2020

Synopsis

An inspiring story about what happens when 3,500 acres of land, farmed for centuries, is left to return to the wild, and about the wilder, richer future a natural landscape can bringFor years Charlie Burrell and his wife, Isabella Tree, farmed Knepp Castle Estate and struggled to turn a profit. By 2000, with the farm facing bankruptcy, they decided to try something radical. They would restore Knepp’s 3,500 acres to the wild. Using herds of free-roaming animals to mimic the actions of the megafauna of the past, they hoped to bring nature back to their depleted land. But what would the neighbors say, in the manicured countryside of modern England where a blade of grass out of place is considered an affront?In the face of considerable opposition the couple persisted with their experiment and soon witnessed an extraordinary change. New life flooded into Knepp, now a breeding hot spot for rare and threatened species like turtle doves, peregrine falcons, and purple emperor butterflies.The fabled English nightingale sings again.At a time of looming environmental disaster, Wilding is an inspiring story of a farm, a couple, and a community transformed. Isabella Tree’s wonderful book brings together science, natural history, a fair bit of drama, and—ultimately—hope.

About Isabella Tree

Isabella Tree is an award-winning author and travel writer, and the manager of the Knepp Wildland Project, along with her husband, Charlie. She has contributed to National Geographic, Granta, the Sunday Times, and The Observer, and her articles have been chosen for The Best American Travel Writing and Reader’s Digest Today’s Best Nonfiction. Tree is the author of several books, including The Living Goddess and The Bird Man. She lives in England.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kirsten on January 04, 2019

This is probably the first book I've ever read where I consider it an honour that it exists for me to read. The rewilding of Knepp Castle Estate should be a blueprint for every council, government, municipality, environmental organisation, livestock owner, farmer, consumer. The words Isabella Tree use......more

Goodreads review by Adam on July 04, 2019

Rewilding and ecological restoration narratives are still a very tiny genre of nonfiction, so I'm always excited to see a new one. Most of the reasons I love them are probably obvious: they're stories about nature that aren't just positive, but also proactive, progressive, and full of tantalizing hi......more

Quotes

“By bringing human emotionality to the forefront, Wilding shines a probing light on our relationship with the outdoors.” Wall Street Journal

“A hugely important addition to the literature of what can be done to restore soil and soul.” The Guardian (London)

“This wonderfully readable book, which is partly a memoir and partly a plan of action, is an inspirational guide for how to ‘rewild’ a landscape…Honest, thoroughly researched, and deeply hopeful.” Forbes

“Both a timely and important book.” New York Review of Books

“A book about ecosystem building, about imagining a more beautiful abundance, more life in our lives. It’s a book about the fact that it’s still possible to heal what’s barren or polluted and that maybe it would be richer, more joyful, and more possible than we imagine.” CNN

“A fine work of environmental literature that demands a tolerance for detail and should inspire others to follow suit.” Kirkus Reviews

“Isabella Tree’s uplifting story of discovering respect and trust in Nature so she can be helped to reflourish is the paradigm shift needed to begin to rewild the planet.” David Suzuki, author of The Sacred Balance

“Moved me to tears several times…It is quite simply one of the best books I’ve ever read.” Jeff VanderMeer, author of The Strange Bird

“The remarkable story of an astounding transformation.” George Monbiot, author of Feral

“Wilding is one of the most exhilarating books I know. Knepp Castle is a modern marvel, a wild ancient landscape in a modern domestic country, a place filled with birds and animals leading their own independent and remarkable lives. Isabella Tree, who lives there, tells the rich, complicated story of Knepp. As a writer, Tree is both elegant and deeply informed, and the story is full of poetic awareness and scientific foundations. This story will delight anyone who’s interested in nature, wildlife, and hope.” Roxana Robinson, author of Sweetwater

Awards

  • Forbes Magazine Pick
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