Lincolnshire Rewilding Project Transforms Doddington Hall Estate

Rosie, a new employee of the rewilding initiative at Doddington Hall Estate in Lincolnshire, guided a visitor through the site’s recent developments. The estate has opened a purpose‑built education centre set amid grasslands being restored under the "Wetter Better" scheme, which involves breaking old drainage pipes and creating ponds to revert the land to wet‑land habitats.

The tour highlighted newly created habitats such as a secret woodland with meadow brown butterflies, a teepee‑style outdoor classroom, and a parkland of tall grasses and mature trees. Wildlife observed included a lightning‑struck horse chestnut still thriving, a devils coach‑horse beetle in a cow pat, various butterflies, a blue‑green dragonfly, and a small copper butterfly. The project aims to let the area naturally evolve into a diverse scrubby woodland supporting birds and other species.