The focus of this year’s World Economic Forum was on finding solutions rather than merely diagnosing the world’s problems. According to the forum, this means we must work together “within societies and among nations” – hence, the forum adopted the theme of Rebuilding Trust.
With 2,800 participants from governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations, this was a huge opportunity to establish both short- and long-term strategies for the good of all.
Alongside the topics of peace and security, jobs and growth, and the use of AI, I had a particular interest in the forum’s discussions around climate, nature and energy. This is an area that falls very much into our remit here at Ewhurst Park, where we are rewilding a former shooting estate and developing methods of sustainable nature-friendly farming.
The forum issued a call for farming leaders to scale-up adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, stating “We have a leadership imperative and a responsibility to build resilient and equitable food systems that can nutritiously feed the growing population within planetary boundaries. Farmers as stewards of our food systems are leading this shift towards producing food that is more sustainable, nutritious, and accessible, leaving no one behind.”
With this in mind, I was pleased to see the forum acknowledging ancient and traditional knowledge of land management, with inspiration being drawn from indigenous peoples. The Yawanawá community of the Amazon, for example, treads a light footprint, supporting themselves through harvesting açai berries and seeds. Across the world, in all cultures, we need to learn how to live in harmony with nature, which is precisely our goal at Ewhurst Park.
While Ewhurst Park is a mosaic of habitats, our woodlands sit at the heart of the estate’s rewilding strategy. Our long-term vision is to rewild the land while also operating as a working farm that sits sympathetically within nature.
Work on this project began in 2021. Our woodland area is going to increase by 50 per cent to support a wide habitat network. We’ve been removing dead and dying ash, thinning existing woods, and planting new woods – all of which will result in a more uneven aged structure, which is good for diversity, resilience and productivity. We can expect to see more oak, elm, chestnut, hornbeam, cherry, lime, wild service trees, alders and native poplars. Failed woods will be converted to wetlands.
Our woodlands will include an ‘edible’ forest garden, which will combine herbs, shrubs of currants and berries, nut bearing species, fruit trees and climbers – a many layered structure that is climate resilient. At the same time, throughout the estate, food plants for wildlife will be established and nurtured.
Ultimately, our woodlands will be vibrant with wildlife, providing essential habitat and food for a wide mix of flora, insects, birds and mammals (nuts, fruits, pollen, shelter). The woodlands will also provide woodfuel supplies for estate use and sustainable timber to help reduce local carbon footprints.
Simultaneously, our wetlands, chalklands and grasslands will undergo careful management to restore biodiversity – and we will continue to manage our free-roaming cattle and market garden.
While it is still relatively early days at Ewhurst Park, the signs are already there that we are implementing successful strategies for land management that are sensitive to climate change, and we are showing that food production can work in harmony with a vision to restore nature.
In keeping with the World Economic Forum’s recommendations, dialogue and partnerships are at the heart of our philosophy. Just as we watch and learn from others, we hope Ewhurst Park can provide inspiration for the farming community in the UK to adopt more sustainable land management and agriculture practices.
Read more of Mandy’s articles in Sublime Magazine
About the Author
Mandy Lieu is an exclusive columnist for Sublime Magazine, food systems entrepreneur and philanthropist. Having enjoyed success across Asia as a model, film and TV actress, she moved to the UK in 2015 to start a family and join the revolution in local, sustainable food. Now Mandy is transforming her lifelong passion for nutrition and food systems into a business – she owns The Good Plot, a new farm-to-table restaurant and Ewhurst Park a regenerative farm. Visit Mandy’s Blog
