Aerial images taken at the Holnicote Estate—a protected area located in Somerset, a county in southwestern England within the Exmoor National Park—reveal a stark contrast. On one hand, the British countryside—hit by five heat waves—has been reduced to a parched, yellowed expanse. On the other, an area that remains green and lush. This is the result of an ecological restoration project by the National Trust, the organization that protects the landscape and the environment in the United Kingdom.
Field data provide clear evidence of the resilience of areas undergoing rewilding (the renaturalization of landscapes) against extreme weather events, refuting those who accused renaturalization of contributing to wildfires.
Green Infrastructure to Combat Emergencies
For over a century, land management has been guided by the principle of rapid drainage. More than 90% of Britain’s wetlands have been lost to agricultural drainage and the channeling of waterways. Ben Eardley, project manager at Holnicote, explained the shift to the British newspaper *The Guardian*: “For generations, as a nation, we’ve drained wetlands, straightened rivers, and moved water off the land as quickly as possible. Here, we’ve reversed that approach, and the results are extraordinary. By reconnecting river systems with the surrounding area and creating natural sponges in the landscape, we have created a system that stores water during periods of drought, keeping wetlands and surrounding habitats healthy, and slows the flow of water during storms and periods of heavy rain, helping to protect downstream villages from the risk of flooding.”
Retaining water helps maintain moisture in vegetation, reducing the flammability of pastures and creating natural firebreaks.
Protecting the Land for the Future
The urgency of these measures becomes clear when compared to other areas. The Dunwich Heath, a National Trust reserve on England’s east coast, was devastated this summer by a wildfire caused by dry soil lacking water protection.
With the El Niño phenomenon expected to return next year, the risks of drought and flooding will increase. Harry Bowell, director of land and nature at the National Trust, calls for a strategic vision: “It is in places like Holnicote that nature shows us the way, demonstrating how, by treating it as essential infrastructure, we can create more resilient landscapes that benefit both communities and nature itself.”
