Renowned comedian, writer, and activist Nish Kumar has joined the chorus of voices calling for extensive rewilding of Britain’s land and seas.
Kumar, who is known for his stand-up comedy and hosting skills, voiced his support for the cause during a special fundraising event held in London on November 27th. The event, organized by charity Rewilding Britain to commemorate its 10th anniversary, was attended by various guests from the fields of culture, politics, land management, and conservation. It celebrated a “decade of wild hope” while also highlighting the need for urgent action to address inadequate policies, laws, and funding that hinder nature recovery in the country.
In his speech, Kumar expressed his vision for a future where nature thrives, replacing polluted waters and barren landscapes. He emphasized the crucial role of rewilding in achieving this future, citing its potential to create jobs, boost the economy, and improve overall health and well-being.
Rewilding, which involves large-scale nature restoration, offers a glimmer of hope in the face of the ongoing nature and climate emergencies, according to Rewilding Britain. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and there have been increasing calls to rewild 30% of the country’s land and seas.
This can be achieved by restoring various habitats such as peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers, and seas, while also maintaining and benefiting productive farmland, explains Rewilding Britain. The charity notes that over the past 10 years, rewilding has evolved from a niche idea to a growing movement. However, it cautions that greater investment and political support are necessary to fully realize the potential of rewilding, not only for biodiversity and climate action but also for benefits such as job creation and improved health.
Rewilding Britain’s founder and chief executive, Rebecca Wrigley, expressed her enthusiasm for the progress made in the past decade, saying, “We’ve witnessed remarkable transformations in landscapes, and a growing understanding of nature’s power to heal itself.” However, she stressed the need to scale up efforts and breathe new life into the country’s landscapes and seas.
The Rewilding Network, managed by Rewilding Britain, brings together various stakeholders, including communities, farmers, landowners, and public bodies, to work towards rewilding across Britain. It currently encompasses over 1,000 projects, covering 206,500 hectares of land and 1,000 square kilometers of sea. Through its Innovation Fund and Challenge Fund, Rewilding Britain has supported more than 70 projects with over £1.1 million in funding. In Scotland, rewilding has led to a five-fold increase in jobs, and in England and Wales, the number has doubled. Public support for rewilding has also surged, with 83% of the British public now backing the cause.
Thanks to rewilding efforts, several species that were once extinct in Britain, such as storks and beavers, have made a comeback. The concept of rewilding has also been incorporated into UK government plans, including Environmental Land Management schemes, and has been included in official nature targets for Scotland and Wales.
In Scotland, a campaign led by the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, urging the country to declare itself the world’s first Rewilding Nation, has garnered support from thousands of people, including actors Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, musician Nathan Evans, Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio, and activists Laura Young (Less Waste Laura) and Somhairle.
Despite the significant progress made, less than 1% of Britain is currently being rewilded. Moreover, Rewilding Britain notes that many politicians are failing to capitalize on the opportunities presented by rewilding and keep up with the growing public support for the cause. The charity also highlights the fact that the demand for rewilding is far exceeding the available resources, as seen in the latest round of applications for its Rewilding Innovation Fund. The fund, which has been running since 2021, received almost six times more applications than the available funding.
“We all deserve a future where nature offers opportunities for flourishing livelihoods and quality of life, where elk, lynx, and beavers inhabit wild and healthy landscapes again, and where communities are protected from extreme weather events by restored seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, peatlands, and native woodlands,” says Rebecca Wrigley, emphasizing the need for greater investment in rewilding.
Rewilding Britain’s “Our future is wild” fundraising appeal, which aims to scale up rewilding efforts, is currently underway and features a matched funding campaign. Interested individuals can still contribute until today by visiting rewildingbritain.org.uk/appeal.
