Nattergal’s first site is Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire, a 617 hectare arable farm with variable grade 3 soil types. It was purchased in December 2021.

Following lessons learnt from Knepp Wildland in Sussex, Boothby will stagger its retreat from arable farming over the next three years, gradually removing fields from intensive cereal production. The farm has been part of a well managed agri-environment scheme for the past decade – meaning that around the edges are small species-rich hotspots of nature waiting to burst out and colonise the depleted monoculture arable fields. Together with the variable soil types, the degraded River Glen, and adjacent ancient woodland, this makes Boothby a wonderful opportunity for nature recovery.

Once natural vegetation has a chance to re-establish (primarily through natural colonisation) free-roaming herbivores will be introduced to kickstart dynamic natural processes and drive ecosystem recovery. Natural hydrology on the site will also be restored to further stimulate a dynamic, functioning ecosystem.

As one of the 22 first-round ELMs Landscape Recovery pilots, Boothby will demonstrate how to build an innovative business model for rewilding, sell ecosystem services, help establish a rewilding community and encourage nature to thrive.

  • Current situation

    Boothby is currently contract-farmed and employs 1.5 people. It has hotspots of nature around the edges created and preserved by the previous owners. The canalised River Glen flows through the project and the variable soil types at Boothby present an amazing opportunity for varying plant communities and ecosystems.

  • Our process

    Once natural vegetation has a chance to re-establish, primarily through natural regeneration, free-roaming animals will be introduced to kickstart dynamic natural processes and continue the work of soil and habitat restoration. Natural water systems on the site will also be restored to further stimulate a dynamic, functioning ecosystem.

  • Project aims

    Nattergal will create an important natural asset in this intensively farmed region of the UK. This will bring significant economic and social benefits to the local community, including nature-based employment, volunteering opportunities, and engagement with the community and local schools.

Our future vision

This artwork shows how Boothby Wildland may change and develop over the coming years. Creating a more complex, interesting and beneficial landscape for nature and wildlife is at the heart of what we are working towards

Explore the Boothby WildMap

Get to know the wildlife and landscape of Boothby that bit better with our interactive digital map. From wildlife videos to plant lists, audio recordings to 3D models, this is a fascinating and unique way to enjoy our work from the comfort of your computer

Find out more…

What people are saying

“The community presentation was such a wonderful evening. I can't tell you how excited my husband and I are about the rewilding programme. It is something extremely close to our hearts - we are very excited to see it come to life and feel very blessed to have it on our doorstep.”

— Jo Elston-Moscrop, Local Resident

“As we seek to recover nature across Greater Lincolnshire, delivering multiple benefits for people and wildlife, it is truly exciting to have new partners to work with us. Nattergal’s first venture nationally, is to invest in our fabulous county, which will help illustrate to other land managers options to diversify their income base.”

— Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

“There is an urgent need to change the way we value and manage the natural environment and Nattergal brings together a unique team of experts to help pioneer that change. By focusing on nature recovery at scale, which delivers economic resilience and supports local communities, Nattergal has the potential to kickstart a new era of land management and make it one of the most important enterprises in the UK today.”

— Professor Alastair Driver, Conservationist and Rewilding Specialist