Specialists from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust say the scheme, which saw 40 hectares of former farmland returned to nature, has far exceeded expectations and demonstrates the effectiveness of its rewilding project.

The results are the first in the UK to show such a significant decrease in soil mineral nitrogen at a rewilding project, with a drop of 47% in just under two years at Wilder Little Duxmore.

HIWWT Chief Executive Debbie Tann said: "These are extremely encouraging results that we were just not expecting after such a short amount of time."

"This is a new realm of science for the UK as other rewilding schemes are underway, but we are the first to undertake such rigorous monitoring. These results are very significant for the fight against pollution here on the south coast."

The Trust purchased Little Duxmore in 2020, previously an arable farm that was subject to high levels of fertiliser inputs, growing mainly maize for anaerobic digestion.

As part of the Trust's Nature-Based Solutions programme, the land has been taken out of intensive agriculture and is being rewilded, allowing nature to take the lead.

Through the provision of nitrate credits, the project is offsetting development in the Solent catchment, restoring habitat for wildlife and helping to address the issue of high nitrate pollution in the Solent.

Environmental credits such as these are emerging as a new way to invest in nature's recovery and help tackle the nature and climate emergency through nature-based solutions.

The Trust's nutrient reduction programme at Wilder Little Duxmore was one of the first in the Solent.

The former farm sits on a tributary of Wootton Creek, which means it can offset the impact of new developments in the Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, and Gosport areas.

The Trust has also recently taken on a second rewilding site, Wilder Nunwell, and is working closely with the Oglander Estate and Nunwell Home Farm, who graze livestock in low densities across the 140-hectare site using the principles of regenerative agriculture and nature-friendly farming.

Debbie added: "Through the process of arable reversion, we are creating a wilder landscape, with more space for nature. As well as the incredible reduction in nitrates in the soil, our ecological surveys have recorded a wide range of species using the site, including farmland birds, a multitude of invertebrates, rare arable flora, and much more.

“And both of our Rewilding Projects are delivering wider benefits too, with more jobs now supported and – through our partnership with Nunwell Home Farm – supporting more food production on site too. We will continue to monitor species abundance and diversity as the site transitions.”

Jamie Marsh, Director of Nature Recovery Wilder Wight and Wilder Seas at HIWWT, adds: “Wilder Little Duxmore is a fantastic example of a project that is providing multiple benefits for nature. Rewilding this arable farm and ‘farming wildlife’ is already delivering huge benefits to habitat and species recovery whilst simultaneously reducing pollution impacts into the Solent and protecting some of our most important marine habitats.

“It is an absolute privilege to be based on this site and observe wildlife flourishing. Our monitoring is demonstrating how effective this process is in helping nature recovery as well as providing opportunities for landscape-scale restoration. Working in partnership with the Nunwell Home Farm will facilitate low-intensity regenerative grazing that supports the local rural community enabling us to still produce sustainable food from the land.”

Recently a Local Rewilding Network was launched in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to bring together local landowners passionate about creating wilder, more naturally functioning landscapes across the region.

Part of the Rewilding Britain initiative, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight network will also enable landowners managing at least 40 hectares of land to connect with each other to share experiences, ideas, and expertise.

Debbie added: “Traditional conservation has done an amazing job over decades saving our most threatened wildlife, but nature reserves alone are not enough to tackle the biodiversity crisis. As well as protecting the fragments of wildlife-rich habitat that we have left, it’s vital that we start restoring ecosystems at scale.

“As part of our vision for a wilder Hampshire and Isle of Wight, we want to see rewilding making a meaningful contribution to nature recovery goals, so that at least 5% of our landscapes are rewilded by 2030. The launch of our new Network shows there is huge enthusiasm across our two counties for doing just that – which is fantastic news not just for wildlife, but for people too.”