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Environment
Jun 20, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

Rebalance Earth funds massive rewilding of Yorkshire’s Broughton Sanctuary

AI Summary
Investment fund Rebalance Earth is injecting a few million pounds into the 1,100‑hectare Broughton Sanctuary estate, enabling a second phase of rewilding that will cover about 700 ha. The programme builds on five years of tree planting, wildlife returns and a shift toward treating nature as natural‑capital infrastructure.

Rebalance Earth is providing a multi‑million‑pound injection to the Broughton Sanctuary estate in North Yorkshire, unlocking the next stage of a five‑year rewilding programme that will transform roughly 700 hectares of the 1,100‑hectare property.

The Funding Boost for Broughton Sanctuary’s Rewilding

The fund, which describes itself as a “natural capital asset manager”, aims to treat ecosystems as critical infrastructure that can generate both environmental and economic returns. The latest capital injection follows an earlier phase that saw the planting of 330,000 native trees and the reintroduction of beavers, otters and curlews.

Scale of Investment and Ecological Targets

  • Funding amount: described as “a few million” pounds by CEO Rob Gardner.
  • Land area: 700 ha (about two‑thirds of the estate) slated for intensive habitat restoration.
  • Previous achievements: 330,000 trees planted over five years; beaver pair introduced in April produced a second litter.
  • Current land use: 60 cattle, orchards, allotments and a spa‑based tourism operation employing ~700 people across 50 companies.
  • Backer investment: West Yorkshire Pension Fund has placed £25 m in Rebalance Earth.

Ecological and Economic Implications for North Yorkshire

The rewilding effort is already reshaping the landscape: spruce stands are being felled and replaced with native species, while Iron Age pigs and Dales ponies will graze former sheep fields to break compacted soils. Wildlife returns—including otters, curlews and beavers—signal improving biodiversity, and the natural‑capital model promises reduced flood, drought and coastal‑erosion risks for surrounding communities.

Future Outlook: Expanding Natural Capital on the Estate

With the new capital, Rebalance Earth plans to “unlock the next level of rewilding”, extending habitat diversity and demonstrating a scalable model where private investment funds ecosystem restoration. Success could encourage further pension‑fund backing and inspire other historic estates to adopt similar natural‑capital strategies, positioning the Yorkshire Dales as a benchmark for climate‑resilient land management.