Natural Regeneration
What?
Sometimes the best thing you can do for nature is simply give it time and space. Natural regeneration — allowing vegetation of all kinds, from grass swards to saplings, to regrow from existing seedbanks, root systems or wind-blown seed — can restore habitats more effectively and resiliently than planting alone. It creates self-sustaining ecosystems adapted to local soils, climate and wildlife. This approach is really a further extension of ‘Flowers for Free’ , allowing some areas to fully develop under a rewilding regime.
Where?
Almost anywhere: corners of gardens, parks, farmland margins, brownfields and community spaces. On the Isle of Wight, even small patches left to recover naturally can link neighbouring habitats and contribute to the wider Biosphere network. For site-specific actions, check out the Isle of Wight Habitat Map, and find out what is particularly special around your garden or space.
How?
Stand back and observe. Fence off or mark out an area to rest from mowing, strimming or digging and watch what returns. Treat these patches as ‘non-intervention’ in surroundings that are often over-maintained.
Work with what appears. Incorporate regenerating habitats into the areas you look after.
Retain natural ‘litter’: Leave fallen leaves, deadwood, last-year’s growth, all in place — they protect soil , provide essential overwintering habitats and feed new growth.
Transplant seedlings carefully if needed. Move self-sown trees or shrubs during the dormant season (November–March) when they’re not actively growing. Lift with soil around the roots, replant promptly at the same depth, water well, and mulch lightly. Avoid moving seedlings in warm, dry weather.
Add structure later. Once regeneration is underway, you can enhance it with additional planting, built habitat features and fixtures, material stored, used, recycled and upcycled from the management and maintenance of other sites and grounds.
Record change. Keep simple notes or photos each season; watching a space rewild itself can be inspiring for others.
When?
Regeneration is a long-term process — it can take several seasons to develop full cover and several years for a new habitat community to stabilise. We can leave spaces for the natural world to make its own decisions in its own time.
Why?
Natural regeneration saves resources, enhances genetic diversity and often delivers higher biodiversity than new planting alone. It’s climate-resilient, low-maintenance and deeply place-specific.
Actions for Isle of Wight Species
Native trees and shrubs (hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, oak) often re-establish naturally from existing seedbanks.
Pollen and nectar feeding insects benefit from the succession of wildflowers that colonise regenerating areas, and bring with them communities of other insects, quickly boosting biodiversity.
Small mammals and birds use early scrub and long grass as cover.
Amphibians shelter in damp, undisturbed ground as vegetation returns.
Soil invertebrates rebound quickly, restoring soil structure and fertility.
Observe and Record
Take photos, these small-scale rewilding projects can be very effectively documented by fixed-point photography, repeated seasonally, or even annually.
Record visiting wildlife and note how
Watching your patch change is part of the recovery story — and your records can feed into the Island’s Local Nature Recovery data.
Resources
“Contributes to LNRS overarching measures that promote stewardship, reduced pollution, and community action: CR2.1 Water quality management in source- protection zones | LGH2.1 Nutrient management and control on grasslands | LGH2.2 Nutrient management and control in headwaters | UGG1.4 Urban pollution control”