Thanks to the introduction of free-roaming cattle, ponies, pigs and deer – proxies of the large animals that once roamed Britain – the 3,500 acre project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife numbers and diversity in little over a decade. Rewilding and ecological restoration narratives are still a very tiny genre of nonfiction, so I'm always excited to see a new one. A Bible for a new green enlightenment * Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project * A game changer for sure. Those in their eighties could remember the agricultural depression between the wars, when marginal land across the country had been abandoned… To them, clumps of dog rose and hawthorn, thickets of hazel and sallow - even swathes of ragwort - were not offensive at all.

It's fair to say this is the ultimate handbook to rewilding and that a great range of wildlife enthusiasts will find plenty of value within its pages. The species that we used to regularly see and hear are no longer around; when did you last hear a cuckoo? Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope. Apparently, I’m a “Re-establishment of Wild Nature” zealot and I am to be admonished for my extreme views: “Are you sure you want to remove human involvement from nature? For years, the farm’s transformation was greeted by indifference from other landowners and drew hostility from neighbours who complained that the farm spread “weeds” such as ragwort.The story Tree tells is about her land and their management decisions, largely made by expert advice and steering committee, and none of it feels especially personal. The Book of Wilding, co-authored with her husband Charlie Burrell, takes that conversation to the next level.

These usually have some bearing on the topic at hand, but they're inevitably undermined by this third-hand, only-the-most-interesting-bits game of pop science telephone. And what comes is not just wildlife in super-abundance, but solutions to the other environmental crises we face. It will no doubt have influenced how I view and support government policies and local council/charitable projects.Going back to the reason I agreed to review the book, it is because I wanted to know if it provided any insights into the four key questions that were left unanswered in Issy’s earlier book Wilding. The first half of the book is a great read for anyone with an interest in British nature, but the second half might be of more limited appeal. The Knepp effect is about to get bigger with the publication of The Book of Wilding by Tree and her husband, Charlie Burrell.