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bookishpip's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
tombennett72's review against another edition
5.0
What a brilliantly written book. Such a fascinating story - to follow the journey of Sussex farmland back to wild land is just incredible. I learned an awful lot along the way - much of it hopeful and optimistic for the future, some things about modern farming which are just depressing.
jimmy_ready2read's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
fairyfluffcake's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Utterly compelling argument for a complete rethink of current land management practices. I thought this might be a superficial romantic memoir but it wasn't. It is extremely well researched and gives detailed reasons for decisions that might seem arbitrary. Huge respect for the work at Knepp Estate and gives me hope that other landowners and decision makers will see the immeasurable benefits of this approach.
salttank's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Very interesting new way to look at saving the planet by changing one farm at a time . Highly recommended and it’s also a good yarn
gabe_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.75
This was such an inspiring and important book. I loved it. Each chapter explored a different aspect of the Wilding project at Knepp Estate, moving roughly in chronological order. Chapters on the quality of the soil and speed of worm regeneration; about the initial reintroduction of large grazers such as deer, cattle, and pigs; and about rewilding the river and other flood prevention schemes were some of my favourites. In each she talks about what they've done, what amazing effects they've seen, and the science and history surrounding each topic. I thought each thing she talked about was incredibly interesting, and felt very focused on the subject, rather than just being a self-reflective memoir.
I enjoyed the constant critiques and critical evaluation not just of the mainstream farming culture, but also of modern conservationism. It's hampered by a focus on goals and single species. Species who we assume are best suited to the habitats that they have been pushed into by human activity. The repeated finding that species no one thought would emerge at Knepp were thriving showed the limited scope of current environmentalism. And the whole idea of bringing back land to "a time before humans", which is impossible in any practical sense in today's world. At Knepp they follow the Vera school of European palaeoecology, focusing on large grazing animals and minimal intervention.
The thing that prevents it being 5* was that I felt it lacked discussion of their privileged position. They hold massive amounts of land, are able to stop farming even without clear prospects of funding ahead. I got this feeling too when she laments that more people don't get out in nature more and know more about the world in the way our grandparents did. She did talk a huge amount about the money side of it but little side-comments about polo on the lawns makes it feel far less like something anyone could do. I did love the feeling of escaping from capitalism and modernity, but as I am not a part of the landed gentry this is less of a clear prospect for me.
I would love for more of this kind of work to go on in the UK and Europe, I think they're incredibly exciting prospects.
I enjoyed the constant critiques and critical evaluation not just of the mainstream farming culture, but also of modern conservationism. It's hampered by a focus on goals and single species. Species who we assume are best suited to the habitats that they have been pushed into by human activity. The repeated finding that species no one thought would emerge at Knepp were thriving showed the limited scope of current environmentalism. And the whole idea of bringing back land to "a time before humans", which is impossible in any practical sense in today's world. At Knepp they follow the Vera school of European palaeoecology, focusing on large grazing animals and minimal intervention.
The thing that prevents it being 5* was that I felt it lacked discussion of their privileged position. They hold massive amounts of land, are able to stop farming even without clear prospects of funding ahead. I got this feeling too when she laments that more people don't get out in nature more and know more about the world in the way our grandparents did. She did talk a huge amount about the money side of it but little side-comments about polo on the lawns makes it feel far less like something anyone could do. I did love the feeling of escaping from capitalism and modernity, but as I am not a part of the landed gentry this is less of a clear prospect for me.
I would love for more of this kind of work to go on in the UK and Europe, I think they're incredibly exciting prospects.
emcatbee's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This is such a wonderful book - informative but also really engaging and beautifully written.