Wild Kielder is the biggest of the four areas of the nation's forests where we're taking a nature-led approach to restoring fully functioning and resilient ecosystems. The Wild Kielder area in Northumberland covers at least 6,000 hectares and the project will deliver landscape-scale ecological enhancements that will benefit both nature and people. Find out more about how we'll achieve this and follow the latest updates here.
Supporting nature's recovery
Wild Kielder will focus on restoring natural processes, including allowing trees and scrub to regenerate naturally and reinstating hydrological function.
Through this project we're aiming to identify nature-based solutions for climate change and biodiversity, whilst driving sustainable and resilient forest management practices.
Forestry will continue to be an essential activity, putting nature at the forefront whilst continuing to produce high-quality, sustainable forest products and welcoming visitors to enjoy spending time at Kielder.
Latest updates from Wild Kielder
The first phase of the project will run for three years, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. During this time we'll engage with stakeholders and collect and interpret the data needed to set parameters for the future management of the area.
An outline concept plan was approved during the first year, which agreed the broad principles for decision making and key activities needed to move forward. Stakeholder workshops were held and a numbers of key surveys were commissioned.
In the project's second year, studies to look at grazing management, restoring hydrological function and enhancing the visitor offer will be commissioned. Further ecological surveys will set a baseline against which we'll measure how the Wild Kielder site responds to changes over time.
Making Kielder wild
The Wild Kielder project will follow these principles:
- making space for water, through rewetting, slowing the flow, 'rewiggling' water courses, and floodplain management.
- making space for trees and scrubs, through native planting and encouraging scrub.
- letting nature lead, through increasing areas of connectivity, enhancing river corridors, planting woodland suited to wetlands, and removing barriers.
Working in partnership
The wilder forests work is being supported by Defra’s biodiversity funding, with Forestry England’s first major biodiversity corporate partner, Forest Holidays, contributing funding over a five year period to create the wild area in Kielder Forest. Forest Holidays is a key partner to Wild Kielder; they understand the long-term benefits and impact of investing in our wild landscapes to secure and grow their social, economic and natural capital value for the future.
