Something Wild is Happening in Market Harborough...

and I'm buzzing about it!

Ai image of how the site could look. Image Credit: Harborough District Council

Under the glow of a full moon, the first volunteer briefing for the Rewilding Harborough project took place. Described as 'A Project of National Significance for Nature Restoration', the vision shared by Market Harborough councillors was nothing short of inspirational.

Volunteer Briefing. Image Credit: Lauren Hulbert

The passion in the room was infectious as several key figures spoke of the stars aligning to enable them to bring this incredible opportunity to South Leicestershire (one of the most nature-depleted areas in England). These included Chief Executive John Richardson, council leader Phil Knowles, councillors Darren Woodiwiss and Cat Hartley, and Ben Devine, the Head of Nature Recovery at Leicestershire Wildlife Trust. There was a glint of this as they walked us through the project's incredible aims. It’s about creating a legacy for the future, a place where nature leads the way and where we can all connect with the wilder world on our doorstep.

Part of the purchased land. Image Credit: Ian Drummond

You might be thinking wow this all sounds amazing but...

What even Is Rewilding?

You might have heard the term, but what does it really mean? In simple terms, rewilding is about stepping back and letting nature take its natural course. Instead of carefully managing every single plant and path, it’s about reintroducing lost natural processes on a large scale and allowing ecosystems to restore themselves.

But it does so much more for our environment. Thriving, wild landscapes are brilliant at locking away carbon in their soils and trees, helping to fight climate change. They can also act like a natural sponge, improving water quality and reducing the risk of flooding in our communities. It’s not about abandoning the land; it’s about giving it the freedom to become wilder, more complex, and self-sustaining. It’s a shift from controlling nature to empowering its recovery.

  Image Credit: Lauren Hulbert

How Can It Help Biodiversity?

This is the really exciting bit! A wilder landscape is a richer landscape. When nature is in charge, it creates a complex mosaic of habitats varying from long grasses, scrub and wetlands to emerging woodland. This variety provides food and shelter for a huge range of species. Rewilding helps rebuild the intricate web of life, supporting everything from the insects at the bottom of the food chain to the birds of prey at the top. It creates resilient, thriving ecosystems that are better able to cope with challenges like climate change. In short, it’s a lifeline for our local wildlife.

Image Credit: Harborough District Council

What Can We Expect to See at the Harborough Site?

For now, the project's 130 acres (with the potential to expand to over 500 acres as local landowners show interest!) have been left to see what secrets the land holds. The team is letting the ecology tell its own story, revealing what was once there. This will then be carefully emphasised to produce a varied ecosystem. Reintroducing key species is also on the cards, to further help the natural processes and encourage local support.

And the change is already being felt! 🍃

Even in this short time, tiny oak saplings are popping up, and the long grasses have attracted an abundance of butterflies. Most gloriously, great numbers of skylarks are now a common sight, showing nesting and mating behaviours. That’s just the tip of the iceberg (or maybe the tip of the oak tree seems more fitting!). This is nature returning, right before our eyes.

With big ambition, the project aims to design varying landscapes for different purposes, giving and array of opportunities for people to connect with nature.

The project is already building relationships with partners from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Anglian Water, and the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust visiting the sites.

Image Credit: Lauren Hulbert

How Can You Get Involved?

This is a project for our whole community, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty. Me and the rest of the new volunteers are primed and ready to help with things like:

• Monitoring species: keeping track of the butterflies, birds and plants that make the site their home.

• Estate management: helping with practical tasks to support the natural processes.

• Sharing the passion: acting as ambassadors for this incredible rewilding site with our community and beyond.

  
  

The best way to get involved in Rewilding Harborough is to email: rewildingproject@harborough.gov.uk and express your interest.

I'm still pinching myself that this is happening just a stone's throw from where I live. This is a chance to be part of something truly special.

Please share this far and wide, and let the support for this incredible project grow 💚