WHAT TO EXPECT

Northwoods partner Pirleyhill Farm has recently embarked upon an ambitious rewilding project encompassing its entire 300 acres. Its principal focus is the restoration of its grasslands, alongside wetland and woodland creation and a ‘wild grazing’ project.

Join SBP’s inhouse ecologist Aidan Maccormick for an informative learning day exploring these regenerating grasslands and learning more about this vital habitat.

Discover the natural history and ecology of grasslands, their origins and cultural history, and how they have been managed in conventional nature conservation. Learn where grasslands fit within a rewilding context and explore the range of approaches to creating, restoring and enriching grasslands being practised at Pirleyhill, including direct seeding of ‘meadow’ mixes, using yellow rattle and green hay to increase diversity, and wild grazing with native cattle and horses.

The Learning Day will cover:

• The history and context of grasslands and their management in Scotland.
• The ecological concepts that underpin the principles of rewilding.
• The different approaches to restoring and enhancing species-rich meadows.
• Embracing natural processes within grasslands, including vegetation succession.
• Soil sampling and reducing nutrient loads.
• The concepts of ‘Reflowering’ and ‘Wild Grazing’
• How to assess, plan and initiate a grassland rewilding project.
• How to get started on your own rewilding journey.

This Learning Day is for you if:

• you’re a student, graduate or interested in pursuing a career within the rewilding/nature restoration sector.
• you’re a land manager interested in seeing rewilding in action and starting your own rewilding journey.
• you’re a local resident or visitor curious about how rewilding looks and works.