For Derek Gow, “rewilding” is not an abstract environmental theory—it is a hands-on, often confrontational process of restoring ecological function to landscapes that have been “trashed” by industrial farming. his approach operates on several interconnected principles.
Of course the term rewilding itself is an emotive word and I could easily argue that a landscape that has been destroyed can never be “rewilded”. It can only be repaired in part. But in this article I use rewilding as Derek Gow tends to use it. My objective is to give my impression of his work and ethos as he tackles the reintroduction of some species and the repair of landscapes .. or “lifescapes” as he calls them.
Letting Nature Take the Lead
At its core, Gow’s rewilding philosophy is about stepping back and allowing natural processes to reassert themselves. On his 300-acre farm in Devon, this has meant removing the infrastructure of industrial agriculture: fences have come down, livestock sold off, and the land is no longer ploughed or cut for hay. “You seed it, you bring the water up,” he explains. “You then start to put texture like log piles, rock piles, which make it possible for other life to exist.”
The results, he argues, speak for themselves. Grasslands once managed for silage now grow long and fall over, creating “citadels” for small mammals like field voles and wood mice. This in turn attracts predators: skylarks now sing on the farm for the first time, flocks of goldfinches number in the hundreds, and sparrowhawks and goshawks have returned to breed.
Keystone Species as Ecosystem Engineers
Central to Gow’s vision is the role of keystone species—animals whose presence disproportionately shapes their environment. The beaver is his most celebrated example. As Europe’s largest rodent, beavers are “the architects of nature.” Their dams transform shallow rivers and waterways, creating ponds and pools that serve as nurseries for fish, breeding grounds for amphibians, and habitats for water beetles and dragonflies.
This engineering has multiple cascading benefits. By slowing the flow of water, beaver dams reduce flood risk downstream while helping the land retain water during drought. The dams also trap agricultural run-off, preventing pollution from flowing into rivers. Wetlands created by beavers can store up to five times more carbon than dry areas. At the Devon Beaver Project, a family of beavers created dams capable of retaining approximately 1,000 tonnes of water on a seasonally flowing stream, transforming a small area of woodland. Common frogs increased fiftyfold, and a host of new insect, bird, and plant species flourished.
Other species play supporting roles in this restoration drama. Gow has introduced Heck cattle and Exmoor ponies—ancestral breeds that imitate the grazing behaviour of ancient aurochs and wild horses. Their grazing creates habitats that encourage plant growth and insect life. Iron Age pigs emulate wild boar, and their wallowing creates ephemeral pools that attract amphibians. Even dung is valued: the droppings of these animals provide a life source for countless insects.
Restoring “Lifescapes”, Not Just Species
For Gow, the goal extends beyond reintroducing individual species to creating what he calls “lifescapes”—functioning ecosystems where “everything is intricately linked.” This involves restoring the full web of ecological relationships, from the soil upwards.
He is equally passionate about what might seem unglamorous. He has constructed a “sky table”—a raised wooden platform where he places roadkill and animal carcasses. This is a deliberate act of defiance against legislation that requires dead farm animals to be removed and burned. “Death is the best form of recycling,” Gow argues. The carcasses provide food for raptors, carrion beetles, and other decomposers that put nutrients back into the soil.
A Confrontational Approach to Change
Gow’s methods are as notable as his philosophy. He is openly impatient with what he calls the “University of Prevarication”—the committees, consultations, and bureaucratic delays that he believes have stalled conservation for decades. “We’re not debating this with anybody, we’re not going to sit down and form committees, we’re just going to do it,” he states.
His farm is used as a large-scale experimental area to demonstrate what is possible. He breeds threatened species for reintroduction across Britain, supplies beavers to other projects, and acts as a consultant for rewilding initiatives. His argument is simple: in a time of ecological collapse, action matters more than talk.
Farming and Rewilding: A False Choice
For Derek Gow, the choice between farming and rewilding is a false one. He argues that a more nature-led approach isn’t a rejection of food production, but a necessary evolution for a farming system that has become ecologically and economically unsustainable.
The “Green Desert” Crisis
Gow’s core argument is that current industrial farming methods, while often producing a lot of food, have created what he calls a “green desert”—a landscape that appears abundant but is largely devoid of life. This system is proving fragile in the face of modern pressures, with soil degradation costing England and Wales an estimated £1.4 billion annually in lost productivity, and the value of pollinators to UK agriculture estimated at £500 million, even as their numbers plummet.
Gow believes we can no longer afford this trade-off. “We create food in great abundance, but at the same time destroy nature, to the extent that it is beyond repair.” He insists that productive agriculture and ambitious rewilding are not mutually exclusive, and with the right approach, the two can thrive side by side.
A Different Kind of Farming
Gow’s vision for this coexistence is based on a practical, hands-on philosophy. On his own farm, he has shifted from rearing livestock to allowing natural processes to lead. This involves reintroducing keystone species like beavers, whose dams reduce flood risk, revive wetlands, and create complex habitats.
Instead of high-input livestock, his land is now home to wild boar, Exmoor ponies, and Heck cattle. These are not just for show; their natural behaviours—grazing, gouging, and digging—are used to manage the land in a way that mimics nature. Their dung even provides a vital “life source” for countless insects. This proves that food production and nature recovery can be integrated, not separated.
The Economic Realities
Gow is realistic about the economics of rewilding. He funds his operation through his environmental consultancy and other backers, acknowledging that a transition requires new income streams. He points to the potential of nature-based enterprises and public payments for ecosystem services to create more stable rural livelihoods.
He also argues that much rewilding can happen on land that is not prime for agriculture. His own farm was boggy moorland until it was drained in the 1940s and had only ever produced relatively small amounts of lamb, beef, or milk. By focusing on marginal land and non-arable areas, the impact on national calorie production can be minimal.
A Tale of Two Dereks
A documentary, Derek vs Derek, perfectly captures the tension. Gow and his neighbour, Derek Banbury, represent two ends of the farming spectrum: one devoted to rewilding, the other to heavy industrial processes. When a wild boar escaped onto Banbury’s land, he had it shot and butchered, viewing it as a menace to his sheep.
Yet the film shows a fascinating softening. Taking a walk on Gow’s land, Banbury was forced to concede, “I hate to say it… Sometimes, he’s right… I don’t know.” This moment illustrates that the conflict is not set in stone, and even the most hardened farmers can see the value in a different approach.
Gow himself doesn’t blame individual farmers. “As individuals I like farmers very much,” he says. “It’s the great false idol of the industrial machine that so many unblinkingly worshipped that’s the problem.” His mission is to break that idol and show that a wilder, more resilient countryside is also a more productive one.
Conclusion: A Vision for Britain’s Countryside
Gow’s ultimate ambition goes beyond the beaver. Having authored books on bringing back the beaver and the history of wolves, he is testing the boundaries of what Britain is willing to accept. He pushes for the reintroduction of native species to create not just wildlife havens, but functioning “lifescapes” where nature’s own processes can solve problems—from flooding to the collapse of biodiversity.
His vision of rewilding is, at its heart, about returning agency to nature. By reintroducing keystone species, restoring natural processes, and challenging the industrial logic that has shaped the British countryside, he seeks to demonstrate that landscapes can be both productive and wild—and that the choice between them is a false one.
Stefan Drew
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