Ecology on the landscape scale in our beautiful part of the world here in Sussex. Ross will be discussing the challenges facing the habitat and how land managers can overcome them and his role in making this happen. One of the greatest tools to help achieve this is the revival of ancient hardy breeds grazing the land. Tristram who has recently reintroduced grazing with his Belted Galloways to land not grazed in 100 years will be talking about the highs and lows of pioneering this forgotten farming practice but with the aid of satellite collars. With the help of his team each year he is now market his “Bewilder Beef”.

One topical benefit from grazing wild spaces that will be discussed is the reduction in Wildfire risk that comes from grazing.

Ross Wingfield, Restoration Director, RESTORE.

A practical, visionary land manager with over 20 years’ experience, Ross leads on the critical implementation of RESTORE’s growing nature restoration portfolio, from designing, mapping, and planning our rewilding to managing the entire restoration workflow with landowners and contractors on the ground.
Ross honed his skills over many years at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, National Trust, and High Weald National Landscape.  He has been responsible for creating, enhancing, and monitoring habitats from wildflower meadows to wet woodland and has helped land managers dive into regenerative farming building soil health while always putting nature at the forefront of all his landscape decisions.

Tristram Stuart

A local farmer who did a Ted Talk on global food waste and created the beer “Toast” which is brewed from waste bread.