Top Rewilding Projects
in the UK
Exploring how Britain is restoring nature and building climate resilience
Written by Tom & Chloe, Grange Project founders
Rewilding has moved from a fringe idea to a powerful movement for restoring nature and climate resilience across Britain. Since Rewilding Britain launched its network of projects in 2021, membership has grown rapidly. By 2025 the network encompassed more than 1,000 practitioners and was actively transforming over 206,500 hectares of land and 1,000 km² of sea.
The organisation's long-term vision is ambitious: rewilding 30 per cent of Britain's land and seas by 2030. We've explored rewilding projects across all four nations and compiled our top five projects from each.
Explore by Region
Click on a region to discover our top five rewilding projects
The Rise of Rewilding
Rewilding seeks to re-establish natural processes and wildlife populations while supporting resilient rural economies. Across the UK it is bringing back keystone species, creating space for native woodland and wetlands, and reconnecting people with the wild.
Explore Topics
Dive deeper into the world of rewilding with our comprehensive guides, species profiles, and habitat explorations.
Rewilding Guides
Practical how-to guides for rewilding your garden, local area and beyond
ExploreKeystone Species
Meet the animals driving rewilding across the UK, from beavers to bison
ExploreUK Habitats
Explore woodland, wetland, meadow and coastal habitat restoration
ExploreOrganisations
Meet the charities and organisations leading UK nature recovery
ExploreEngland
England may be one of the most intensively farmed countries in Europe, but it also hosts some of the most visionary rewilding projects in the UK. From the pioneering work at Knepp Castle Estate to bison roaming ancient woodlands in Kent, English rewilding proves that nature can bounce back on even the most degraded farmland.
Featured Projects
© Knepp EstateWales
Wales has embraced rewilding with a mixture of community-driven projects and ambitious land purchases. From Celtic rainforest restoration to upland rewilding in the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh projects are reviving ancient landscapes and pioneering new models for nature recovery.
Featured Projects
© Cambrian WildwoodScotland
Scotland's wild landscapes offer some of the greatest opportunities for rewilding in Europe. From the Caledonian pinewoods to vast Highland estates, Scottish projects are restoring ancient forests, reintroducing lost species and creating wildlife corridors that span thousands of hectares.
Featured Projects
© Trees for LifeNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is pioneering rewilding on a community scale, from island reserves to bog restoration projects. These initiatives prove that even small nations can make significant contributions to nature recovery while engaging local communities and protecting unique habitats.
Featured Projects
© Rathlin Island RewildingWhy Rewilding Matters
Rewilding has multiple benefits beyond wildlife recovery. By restoring wetlands, peatlands and forests, projects store carbon, reduce flood risks and improve water quality.
Free-roaming herbivores, from cattle and ponies to bison and beavers, create mosaics of habitats that support a wider range of species, while nature-based enterprises such as ecotourism, regenerative agriculture and education generate new income streams for rural communities.
These projects show that giving nature a free hand produces richer habitats, stores carbon and supports rural livelihoods.
Join the Movement
By celebrating and supporting these projects, we can help accelerate the UK's journey towards rewilding 30 per cent of its land and seas by 2030.