On spring equinox some of the UK's nature projects will be celebrated in the first Global Rewilding Day.
The day will be celebrated with virtual events that will share knowledge, connections and skills. The day had been backed by the Global Rewilding Alliance which is a group for organisations in 70 countries that are looking to restore ecosystems by returning land to nature.
Richard Bunting, a spokesman for Rewilding Britain shared his excitement of the day:
"The fact this event is happening, and involving so many people from around the world, highlights the huge growth in rewilding's popularity over recent years. At its heart, it's about hope. Rewilding offers a powerful way of tackling the overlapping nature, climate and health crises."
Rewilding Britain has called for nature restoration across 30% of Britain's land and sea by 2030. This would include 5% of this dedicated to core habitats like native forests, salt marshes, peat bogs and kelp beds.
Some of the following rewilding projects and many more are the reason for celebration.
Dundreggan, Scottish Highlands
This 4,046-hectare rewilding project is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals. For the first time in 40 years, last year a pair of golden eagles raised a chick, following the creation of an artificial eyrie.
Somerleyton Estate and Wild East, Suffolk
This 404-hectare rewilding site is home to loose water buffalo, Exmoor ponies, pigs and Highland cattle. WildEast hopes that over the next 50 years they will be able to encourage East-Anglia to dedicate 250,000 hectares to nature.
Wild Ennerdale, Cumbria
Wild Ennerdale has managed to get salmon into rivers and red squirrels into ancient oak woodland groves. It also encourages people to come and take part in outdoor activities such as climbing, hiking and biking.
Rewilding is seen as one of the most widely available ways of stabilising the climate crisis. Rewilding Britain's Chief Executive, Rebecca Wrigley highlighted:
"When Rewilding Britain launched five and a half years ago, we were one of the few organisations in Britain using the word 'rewilding'. Today, thanks to David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, local rewilding projects and thousands of ordinary people, rewilding has come to epitomise hope in the face of ecological and climate catastrophe."
