Watercress Farm Rewilding

18 members enjoyed an inspiring visit to Watercress Farm, near Wraxall, South Bristol, led by Martin Williams, Head of Nature Connection for Belmont Estate, who purchased the farm in 2019. Their primary aim was, and is, to improve its value for native wildlife, using pioneering methods not dissimilar to those used at Knepp farm in Sussex. The visit was a follow up to Martin’s equally inspiring talk to the group in January 2026.
Photo courtesy of Belmont Estate website

Formerly low-grade, arable / pasture land with some woodland and a canalised (straightened) stream running through it, its poor wildlife value was highlighted by a bioblitz in 2019, recording just 359 native species of flora and fauna. A follow-up survey 5 years later recorded over 2000 species! Martin spent the afternoon explaining expertly and enthusiastically how such a remarkable improvement is possible in such a short space of time.

The most notably of these is ragwort, one of the top ten food plants for insects in the UK, supporting over 35 species, the best known being cinnabar moth caterpillars, whose striking yellow and black stripes warn any predator: “eat me and you will die!” This is because they ingest the poisonous alkaloids produced by the ragwort without being harmed, yet rendering them as poisonous as the plant!

It is still a widely held rural myth that ragwort is highly toxic to livestock, and indeed it can be, but only when harvested and dried in hay, when animals eat it unknowingly and can die. Martin was quick to point out that all the livestock (see below) roam freely among the ragwort without harm, because the living plant has a very bitter taste and is unpalatable, so is never ingested.

His initial answer was simple enough: don’t do anything! So no ploughing, no fertilisers nor pesticides, no (or carefully timed) mowing of pastures. The contrast between the recently mowed, brown and lifeless pasture next door and the farm meadows was stark: the latter ablaze with wild flowers (including several native grass species, other than the agricultural ryegrass or fescues).

Martin then explained some of the measures being taken to further increase the biodiversity on the farm. Firstly, rewinding the stream and creating scrapes and ponds nearby (see aerial photo above from Belmont estate website), all of which had been rapidly colonised on the edges by self-seeding alder, a very important tree for native wildlife. It is a Nitrogen fixing plant, improving soil fertility, and its root structure binds the soil together, reducing soil erosion and providing an excellent habitat for otter holts, water voles, and other animals. The stream and ponds were alive with damsel- and dragonflies. 
Photo: black-tailed skimmer

After a brief respite from the hot sun under a mighty oak tree, where we discussed the huge wildlife importance of the oak (which would provide an entire article on its own), we entered the equally shady woodland and found the small herd (22) of Devon Ruby Red cattle doing the same as us, sheltering from the hot sun under the trees (the first time many of us had seen cattle in a woodland! Led by matriarch and grandmother Ruby (photo below right) their importance cannot be overstated. They can roam freely, so browse and graze all over the farm, breaking up the soil surface, preventing scrub incursion (including alder!) and fertilising the soil with their free, organic, dung! Their activity creates a rich mosaic of habitats, further increasing biodiversity. They are also culled periodically and sustainably, maintaining the size of the herd, and providing high quality organic beef, an important source of income.

Other important livestock include 4 Tamworth, 2 Gloucester Old Spot and 3 iron age pigs; all fulfilling the same role as wild boar, rootling up the soil, enabling seedlings to germinate and preventing scrub incursion. Two of the latter were wallowing in the mud at the edge of one of the ponds, reminiscent of an African water hole! En-route to this pond, we found some wasp spiders, busy devouring crickets. Most of us had never even heard of them, let alone seen them!

Of all the activities on the farm, Martin explained that by far the most important was “Nature Connection”, educating as many people as possible of the importance of this way of farming. Many groups have been as inspired as us, including school children (many of whom have never seen livestock up close before), University groups, corporate groups and wildlife / conservation groups or individuals, keen to take part in bioblitzes and active conservation work.

We ended the visit as we started it in the beautifully restored barn, with photos, artefacts (including an Aurochs bone!) and displays about the project. Martin was happy to receive a generous donation from the group, which would be used to provide wellies and waterproofs to those children who visited the farm without having any of their own.

Well done Julia and Liz for organising the superb talk and walk!!

Photos by Dave Sage