A major rewilding project at the Mapperton estate in West Dorset is being featured in a BBC One documentary this week.

Mapperton Wildlands is handing hundreds of acres back to nature. But can rewilding secure its future?

To the Manor Farm, part of the We Are England series, will be shown on Friday evening (21 October) at 7.30pm.

Centred around Mapperton House, just outside Beaminster, home to Luke and Julie Montagu, Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, the 1,900 acre estate poses its own set of challenges.

Waning agricultural revenues, a repair bill that regularly runs to six figures, and a global pandemic have meant the couple have had to constantly look for new ways to generate income.

These days not only is the house open to visitors, but weddings and yoga retreats take place on site, and Luke and Julie even run a successful YouTube channel, sharing the ups and downs of running the estate.

Now they’re embarking on a journey that will see them hand hundreds of acres of the estate back to nature, all in an effort to ‘rewild’ the land, create space for wildlife and store carbon.

But transforming the rural estate into a wilderness is no small task. And with a host of animals being released onto the estate to shape the landscape in a natural way, there’s a lot to get done.

Luke Montagu said: “We are really pleased that Mapperton Wildlands are featuring in this BBC documentary and hope it will raise awareness and bring more visitors to see the changes that are underway.

“Rewilding isn’t just about helping to fix our ecology and climate crises – it’s about giving people more opportunities to connect with our magnificent countryside, with all the wonderful wellbeing benefits this brings.”

There is the opportunity to join Mapperton’s Ranger on guided walks through Mapperton Wildlands on Sunday 30 October and Sunday 13 November. More information at mappertonwildlands.com

To the Manor Farm, part of the We Are England* regional documentary series, is being shown on BBC One South West at 7.30pm on Friday, 21 October 2022. The episode will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

About Mapperton Wildlands

Mapperton Wildlands is part of Mapperton Estate’s response to the biodiversity crisis. We are rewilding 450 acres of unproductive farmland and opening up the countryside to visitors for the first time.

Visitors and the local community will be invited to experience the flourishing wildlife by joining guided walking tours and through stays in glamping accommodation and converted farm buildings. The Estate is also planning to build a visitor centre. In addition, Mapperton is developing a social prescribing programme, which will support the health and wellbeing of local residents.

Mapperton House & Gardens are located two miles from Beaminster in the heart of the Dorset countryside. Mapperton House was voted ‘the Nation’s Finest Manor House’ by Country Life magazine while the Gardens recently won the ‘Historic Houses Garden of the Year’ award. The House contains an important collection of pictures and furniture which reflect the Montagu family’s contribution to British naval history.

Luke and Julie Montagu (Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke) have made Mapperton their home since 2015, when they took over from the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. Since then they have started various projects to support the long-term sustainability of Mapperton, including yoga retreats at Mapperton House, glamping at Mapperton Camps and Mapperton Wildlands.

Mapperton has been used as the location for several feature films, including the Netflix production of Rebecca, starring Lily James, and Far From the Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan.

Mapperton is also the star of the popular YouTube channel Mapperton Live which celebrates the joys and challenges of life on a 21st century English country estate.