Rewilding Coombeshead

Changing from a traditional, highly managed human environment of livestock and vivid green pastures to a new landscape, one where habitats develop through natural processes. Where nature sets its course.

Farming has now ceased on 300 acres at Coombeshead. We are at the beginning of a new journey, one which will give the land an opportunity to relax, recover and re adjust.

Our vision and hope are that gradually, slowly, life will return. New life, not hemmed in by hedgerows or restricted to narrow verges but full and complete.

Derek Gow

Derek Gow is a farmer and nature conservationist, described as Britain’s most colourful rewilder. Early in his career, Derek managed a European wildlife park in Central Scotland and then moved on to develop two nature Centres in England. Derek now farms a 300-acre farm on the Devon/Cornwall border where he has introduced grazing animals such as shorthorn and Galloway cattle, water buffalo and Exmoor ponies. He continues to farm while transforming his farm into a rewilding haven.

Derek has been influential in the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver, the water vole and the white stork in England. He is author of two books, Bringing Back the Beaver, and Birds, Beasts and Bedlam, and he Tweets regularly on all aspects of the environment.

Derek runs Coombeshead Rewilding, delivering courses on ecology, wildlife and rewilding, including an exciting, organised tour to observe beaver reintroduction in Germany. Derek is also the director of Derek Gow Consultancy Ltd, a company offering an extensive range of ecological and environmental services.

Derek’s talk will draw deeply on his personal experience of rewilding and at the end of his talk, there will be ample time for the questions that I know many of you will be eager to ask.