Boothby Wildland, Lincolnshire
Key Facts
- Nattergal took ownership of Boothby Wildland, near Grantham Lincolnshire, in December 2021.
- Previously this 617-hectare site was managed intensively for cereal production.
- It is now being transformed into a landscape of woodland, open grassland, pasture and scrub with restoration of the local floodplain to ease downstream flooding pressures.
What is the project doing for Nature and Environment?
- Once natural vegetation has had a chance to re-establish here, free roaming herbivores will be introduced to drive natural processes.
- Kick-starter interventions will also be carried out, such as spreading green hay and creating ponds, along with plans to restore the 2 km stretch of the River Glen that runs through the site, which will include the reintroduction of beavers (Castor fiber)
How are communities engaged and benefiting?
- With a commitment to community engagement and volunteering, Boothby Wildland has a part time Volunteering & Communities Coordinator who supports regular volunteering opportunities and community events.
- Since late 2023, weekly volunteering sessions have been run with a growing number of local volunteers attending regularly to undertake work including green hay spreading, fence building, apple tree grafting, removing tree guards and setting up and monitoring camera traps.
- Free monthly guided walks are provided for the local community, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about the site and ongoing changes to the landscape.
- A number of seasonal events have also been organised, including the reinstatement of a local barn dance at the behest of residents of the closest village of Boothby Pagnell, and a Nature Day during the summer months, to encourage local families to discover and explore the site.
- Regular talks (on and off site) have been provided to local community groups and clubs, including U3A, Rotary Club and local primary schools.
- Early consultation workshops have resulted in changes to site plans, including joining up bridleways and providing up to 6,000m of new routes/paths – increasing access by 30%.
- Volunteers are not only becoming actively engaged in site works but have reported changes in their mental and physical wellbeing after being out in nature.
What is the business model employed to fund the project?
- The sale of associated Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units, biodiverse carbon credits, and voluntary biodiversity credits will allow us to make our plans a reality. Boothby Wildland has a number of BNG units for sale, including scrub, grassland, woodland and pond habitats, with river units also being developed.
- Environmental Land Management (ELM) Landscape Recovery scheme funding is also a significant enabler here, demonstrating a blending of public and private finance. Boothby is one of the 21 Landscape Recovery scheme Phase 1 pilots funded through ELM, meaning the project has government backing that will support site activities while natural capital markets and ecotourism are establishing. Part of this funding has enabled Nattergal to complete thorough biodiversity baselining surveys, which will allow us to understand the impact of our interventions over time.
Describe the partnerships formed and how they support project viability?
- Nattergal was established to become a world-leading nature restoration company, pioneering the use of private sector investment to help deliver the 30% by 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework goal.
- Nattergal have partnered with the Newt Conservation Partnership and NatureSpace to create and restore ponds on our site, and our growing ecotourism offering, which has included pop-up glamping and camping, rewilding tours and bird ringing experiences.
Introducing Boothby Wildland
Volunteer Quotes
Being a volunteer and having the chance to play a small part in contributing to restoring nature to how it should be has been extremely powerful and rewarding for my heart and soul. One day I’ll walk the site with my children and be able to say “I helped create this”.
I feel incredibly grateful to have such a beautiful rewilding project just over the hill from my house. It gives me hope and happiness to spend time at Boothby: to volunteer alongside lovely people who all share a compassion for nature as an end in itself and enjoy seeing it thrive. Boothby to me means increased colour, birdsong and tranquillity. It makes me feel proud to be able to contribute to a better future.
I feel lucky to have Boothby Wildland on my doorstep - a safe haven for wildlife to belong, and to return to. Personally, I find it a relaxing place to be, watching for whatever plant or animal may choose to make it their home next, and I love that I can make the tiniest bit of difference in my local environment by volunteering here.