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Image Credit: Nattergal
Nature restoration firm Nattergal has acquired Harold's Park, an 11th-century former mixed farm in Essex once used by Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson for hunting deer. This historic site is set to become the UK's latest rewilding project.
Situated just northeast of London, Harold's Park will be transformed into a haven of biodiversity. Nattergal's ambitious plans aim to create employment opportunities, deliver environmental benefits such as water purification, improve soil health, reduce flood risks, and provide children in London and Essex with access to nature.
The 500-acre site, currently a mix of degraded arable fields, intensive grassland, and Christmas tree plantations, will be reimagined as an expanse of woodland reminiscent of the ancient deer parks that once graced the area over a millennium ago.
To fund this transformation, Nattergal will partner with corporations to mobilize private investment by selling Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units. These credits will allow developers in the housing, commercial property, and infrastructure sectors to offset the environmental impact of their projects by supporting the rewilding efforts at Harold's Park.
Ivan de Klee, Nattergal's head of natural capital, highlighted the site's unique blend of history, location near major population centers, and immense potential for nature restoration as crucial factors in selecting this landmark project. Harold's Park Wildland, as it will be known, promises to become a model of sustainable development and ecological rejuvenation.
"Harold's Park is ripe for rewilding," he said. "Although it is a largely ecologically degraded landscape, we were pleased to find an ancient woodland, several ponds, a scattering of smaller fields, and a selection of unkept hedges - all of which will give us a great start to re-establishing natural processes.
"Notable species such as the crested newt, smooth newt, Greenfinch, Cuckoo, and Jay have also been recorded on site, with expectations of many more to follow."
Since acquiring Harold's Park, previously owned by the Church of England's CBF Funds Trustee, Nattergal has been actively engaging with local farmers, community groups, and key stakeholders, including wildlife trusts, farmers, and councils, to maximize benefits for both people and nature.
In addition, Nattergal is hiring a site manager to ensure the project's success, drawing inspiration from their sister site, Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire. At Boothby, three full-time local employees manage daily nature restoration activities and community engagement, setting a precedent for effective site management.
Essex County Council's climate czar, Councillor Peter Schwier, strongly supports Nattergal's plans. "Essex County Council is excited to have a Nattergal project in the county," said Schwier. "Creating a 500-acre rewilding site in Nazeing aligns perfectly with our ambitious goal of transforming 30 percent of Essex into wild and natural areas."
"We look forward to working with a forward-thinking nature restoration company to support the council's wider climate action agenda, which will help nature to recover, reduce flooding, lock up carbon, and introduce local people to, and enthuse them about, these important issues."
Alongside Harold's Park and Boothby Wildland, Nattergal owns and operates High Fen Wildland in Norfolk, which was acquired in December 2022.
Under the leadership of Charlie Burrell, co-founder of Nattergal and owner of the UK's leading rewilding project at the Knepp Estate, and CEO Archie Struthers, formerly of BlackRock and Standard Life Aberdeen, the firm has ambitious plans. Nattergal aims to buy, lease, or manage between 20 and 30 areas of ecologically degraded land and seascapes globally over the next five years. These projects are anticipated to generate significant returns by selling Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits and other ecosystem services, creating a sustainable model for large-scale nature restoration.
Alongside Harold's Park and Boothby Wildland, Nattergal owns and operates High Fen Wildland in Norfolk, which it acquired in December 2022.
Nattergal is led by Charlie Burrell, co-founder and owner of the UK's leading rewilding project at the Knepp Estate, and CEO Archie Struthers, formerly of BlackRock and Standard Life Aberdeen. Under their leadership, Nattergal aims to buy, lease, or manage between 20 and 30 ecologically degraded land and seascapes worldwide over the next five years. These projects are expected to generate returns through tourism, regenerative farming, and the sale of biodiversity credits.
"Nature is in crisis, and the UK is not currently on track to meet its 30 percent by 2030 Nature targets," said Struthers. "With investment from the private sector and the sale of BNG units, we can scale our operation and ultimately our nature recovery impact."
The announcement follows Labour's launch of a central review of progress towards the UK's Environment Act targets, including the ambitious goals of halting the decline of British species by 2030 and protecting 30 percent of land and seas by the same year. This review will inform a significant overhaul of the UK's Environmental Improvement Plan as the new government seeks to fulfill its manifesto pledges and accelerate efforts to meet the nation's climate and nature goals.
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