My safari at the Knepp Wildland
I visited this trailblazing estate back in April and I was interested to see how it compared to this end of the season. Of course, spring is all about breeding birds, babies and new growth so I was curious about the feel of the landscape now we are definitely into autumn. It’s been dry and mild for the last couple of weeks following an array of low pressure bands flowing over the country, giving a series of much-needed and lengthy deluges to top up reservoirs and revive the plants, and the autumn colours were amazing in the low golden sunlight.
I stayed the night before at the Crown Inn – located right next to the Estate – meaning I could enjoy an evening walk along the footpaths, watching rabbits and birds; a tiny Goldcrest hopped around in a blackthorn hedge, picking off tiny morsels as it hopped among the spiky tangle.
The next morning, I mooched down to the Cow Barn and hung out with the other Safari-ees until it was time to head off. Ryan was our leader this time, and he works at Knepp as one of their education people (I think) but he’s been at Knepp for 10 years so he had some great insights on how the farm has changed since the owners took their pioneering decision to allow the land to revert back to a nature-led environment from intensive agriculture.
The end of September is shoulder season for wildlife: a bit early for the deer rut and winter migrant birds; a bit late for summer migratory and breeding species. It did mean, however, that we could go into the beaver enclosure as the family wouldn’t be disturbed now that the kits are a few months old.
The beaver pen is 2 acres in size, and there’s an other-worldly feel to it, being quiet and still, with shallow pools and fallen trees dotted throughout. Teal love it, and as we skirted the edge by the fence, a few of these tiny ducks shot straight up out of the reeds in their inimitable style. Beavers are nocturnal so they were cosy and warm in their lodge while we looked around the magical landscape they’ve created. During the summer, there were some escapees and although the holes in the perimeter have been mended, there still seems to be damming activity on streams across other parts of the estate…
We saw White Storks, resplendent atop their massive nests high up in the canopies of veteran oak trees, and Ryan explained that these nests also serve as habitats for songbird nests as well as for countless invertebrates. The returning Turtle Doves – Knepp is now a UK stronghold for this threatened species – also choose to site their nests near the storks, perhaps benefiting from the lack of predation afforded by staying close to these powerful birds.
We also saw a fallow buck with enormous antlers grazing quietly, feeding up before the exertions of the rut. The hedges were laden with berries, and acorns crunched underfoot. I find this abundance so comforting…perhaps there’s something primeval in us which views a heavy crop of autumn fruits as something reassuring, and certainly in this atmosphere of loss and negativity, the proof that nature has the wherewithal to cope when given the opportunity is lovely to see. Hopefully the resident and visiting wildlife will enjoy a well-resourced winter, leading to a strong start to next year’s breeding season.
