Autumn Rewilding – Beavers, Scrapes and Raptors at Work

Autumn settles softly across the Sussex site. The trees blaze with russet and gold, insects retreat into hibernation, and most birds have finished breeding. It is a time of pause for much of the natural world – but for the team, led by Ecotalk's Chief Ecologist Chris Packham, it marks the start of a busy new phase. With the landscape momentarily still, there’s space to shape habitats without disturbing their wild residents.

Standing before a backdrop of shifting autumn colour, Chris explains why this is such a crucial season for ecological work. “It’s the perfect time of year to get busy without damaging any wildlife,” he notes. “Most creatures are settled for winter, which means we can prepare their habitats for spring.”

One of the team’s largest undertakings has been completing a vast beaver enclosure. At first glance, the fence may look a little like something from Jurassic Park, but it serves a vital role in protecting both animals and people. “It’s important that our beavers are comfortable and safe,” says Chris. “If they need veterinary help, we can reach them quickly – but they still have plenty of room to live naturally.”

Plenty of room, indeed. This is no small paddock; the enclosure stretches over a kilometre, creating a genuine beaver paradise. Here, the animals can build dams, shape wetlands and spark new life across the landscape – all within a secure, carefully monitored area.

Beyond the beaver zone, the open fields are taking on a new character. The team has been hard at work digging “scrapes” – shallow depressions that hold water through the winter. These small, simple features are transformative. When rain fills them, they become feeding grounds for wading birds such as snipe, redshank and lapwing. Later, in spring, frogs and toads will likely spawn here, bringing the pools to life with ripples and calls.

“I love a good scrape,” laughs Chris. “I’ve been in plenty over the years - though not always as muddy as these.”

Elsewhere, attention turns skyward. Across the fields, newly installed wooden poles stand proud against the autumn sky – perches built for raptors. Birds of prey like kestrels and owls expend enormous energy searching for small mammals in open fields. By offering these simple perches, the team helps them hunt more efficiently. “They’d rather sit quietly, scanning the ground,” Chris explains. “When they spot movement, they can pounce. It’s an energetically smart way to hunt – and it helps us see and record them more easily too.”

Each of these practical tasks – fencing, digging, building – is a piece of the wider rewilding puzzle. Together they create a landscape richer in life and opportunity. Beavers engineer wetlands. Wading birds feed and breed. Raptors return to hunt. And all of it is happening in harmony with the turning of the seasons.

As autumn deepens, the site hums with quiet purpose. Nature slows, yet restoration gathers pace. The team’s work ensures that when spring arrives, the land will be ready – alive with birdsong, amphibian calls and the splash of industrious beavers.