Elmore Court’s Rewilding Project Showcases Natural Solutions as Roz Savage MP Calls for Action

Roz Savage MP recently visited Elmore Court in Gloucestershire to see how rewilding can restore biodiversity, strengthen flood resilience, and create rural job opportunities. The visit builds on her continued push for stronger environmental action, following the second reading of her Climate and Nature Bill in Parliament.

Hosted by Elmore Court owner Anselm Guise and Professor Alastair Driver from Rewilding Britain, the visit highlighted the site’s ambitious rewilding project, now in its third year. A key focus is the upcoming enclosure of 420 acres to introduce beavers, whose natural engineering will restore traditional wetlands and help manage flood risks for downstream communities.

Roz also learned how rewilding can double rural employment by generating opportunities in nature tourism, sustainable food production, wellbeing initiatives, and education. At Elmore Court, this shift is evident in the use of locally sourced materials to create event spaces, demonstrating how conservation and economic sustainability can go hand in hand.

Roz Savage MP commented:

“I was inspired by my visit to Elmore Court to find out more about their rewilding project. Restoring ancient flood meadows offers a natural solution to flood management and provides valuable habitats for wildlife at a time when the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. I'll be raising questions in Parliament about accelerating licenses for beavers to be reintroduced in the UK, to further improve natural flood defences, and about budgetary support for landscape recovery and countryside stewardship. As my recent Climate and Nature Bill emphasised, our English countryside is one of our greatest assets, and we need to encourage farmers and landowners to do the right thing and nurture it for future generations.”

The visit also reinforced Roz’s commitment to advocating for stronger policy measures to support rewilding. She will be bringing forward questions in Parliament to hold the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to account, including pressing for updates on beaver release frameworks, increasing investment in natural flood management, and ensuring sufficient funding for landscape recovery schemes.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• Photo: Roz Savage MP with Anselm Guise and Professor Alastair Drive at Elmore Court