Tolworth Court Farm Rewilding Project (20 October 2025)
Seventeen of us were given a fascinating tour around this project, led by the incredibly enthusiastic Elliot Newton, Director of Rewilding at Citizen Zoo, and possessor of the world’s coolest job – few of us get phoned at work to discuss German Hairy Snails as happened to Elliot during the course of the morning.
For starters Elliot invited us to literally “take a pew” under the barn area at the Moated Manor nature reserve. The pews were relics from a church, the barn, fortunately enough, had a waterproof roof, from which the heavy rain bounced off as he gave us an introductory talk. Tolworth Court Farm has an ancient history, with a Roman road running across it, and the moated manor mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Farming ceased in the 1980s when the land was acquired by Kingston Council for use as a Nature Reserve. The Local Nature Reserve status has protected it from being taken over by developers in this otherwise built-up area. Now Elliot and his team are working hard to create a re-wilded area with a variety of habitats to realise the site’s considerable ecological potential. The previous week they had been scything the meadows, and stock fences have been put in ahead of introducing Sussex Cattle, who will live onsite all year-round wearing GPS collars so their whereabouts can be tracked. Mangalitza Pigs will be allowed to roam for one month a year only, as their necks will not accommodate GPS collars. This will be the first time both species have been released into an urban area. Both cows and pigs are excellent disruptors of the soil, the pigs root up the ground, the cows tear of snatches of grass with their tongues, create micro habitats with their hoofprints, then defecate in the woodlands encouraging insects and spreading nitrates in the soil.
Water Voles were last reported on the site in 2017. Citizen Zoo have now managed two releases on the Farm. The previously captive Voles were unfamiliar with swimming, so Elliot showed us the prototype trainer pool set-up used to help the Voles adapt to crossing the water. A further plan is to install platforms to aid the reintroduction of White Storks to London.
Fortunately, the rain was beginning to ease off as we headed fearlessly across the dual carriageway to the main part of the 100-acre reserve, entering via the soon to be called Butterfly Gate, destined to be one of five entrance gates to the reserve. In the Great Meadow the team had been digging out wetland areas of varying depths, some to be full of water all year round, others shallower scrapes, watery during the winter and drying out in the summer, reflecting the natural changes in wetlands. The variety of habitat is important to encourage as wide a range of species as possible, and a Grey Wagtail was already investigating the dugout areas as we passed. At the moment approximately 45 species of bird are found on the reserve, and a good half of the native British butterfly species have been recorded, most notably the Marbled White, and the Brown Hairstreak. On our way round the fields our eagle-eyed group spotted a Hairstreak egg in the abundant blackthorn. 150 – 200 eggs were counted on the site last year.
The excavated soil has been put to good use, partly to even out the ground with a view to creating wheelchair friendly access, and partly to create clay bricks working with Kingston University. Nothing is wasted here!
As we walked down the public footpath that was the old Roman road of Stane Street Elliot explained that in Roman times 20% of the UK was wetlands. Now it is down to 2% but projects like his aim to increase that and educate the local populace to see the merits of wetland creation. We noted that there were a number of off-lead dogs in the area and Elliot’s next challenge is to engage with the local dog walkers to encourage responsible dog walking and control.
Crossing Britt Field, we observed Stonechat, and rather excitingly two Skylarks were flying over. Skylarks have not bred on the site since the 1970s but hearing them in the vicinity has to be a good sign.
We finished our walk on Seven Acres, where the field level rises in several bunds (earth mounds) towards the road. This area provides a habitat for tortoise beetles, the larvae of which use faecal shields of discarded exoskeletons and excrement to ward off predators. New cattle pens had been put in in anticipation of the cows’ arrival.
The rain began again as we made our way back down the A240, inspired by the infectious enthusiasm and hard work of Elliot and his team and their plans for the future of this reserve.
This is an exciting project which deserves support. To learn more about the nature reserve and make a donation visit www.citizenzoo.org/our-work/wild-tolworth/
by Julia Keddie
Species observed (25): Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Cormorant (flying over), Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Little Egret (flying over), Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Red Kite (flying over), Reed Bunting, Robin, 2 Skylark (flying over), Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Woodpigeon.
Other: Brown Hairstreak egg