Charlie Burrell
Owner of Knepp Estate
Charlie is the inspiration behind the Knepp Wildland Project. In 2000 he made the big decision to give up unprofitable arable and dairy farming on the heavy Sussex clay and launched a rewilding experiment that is now world-famous.
He is on the board of Rewilding Britain, the Beaver Advisory Committee for England and the Romanian rewilding project, Foundation Conservation Carpathia. He is also on the board of The Arcadia Fund and the oversight committee of the Endangered Landscapes Programme, as well as the enviromental committee for Ingleby Farms.
“It’s always been a struggle to farm here. With the Wildland Project we’re still raising livestock, only now it’s extensive rather than intensive farming – more like ranching, really – and the animals are driving the great positives of biodiversity, habitat and soil restoration. We’re on a thrilling journey.”
Ian Mepham
Development Manager
Ian has spent many years working in all aspects of the food industry, first as a chef, and then in wholesale, production, packing, distribution and selling. He’s worked for Southover Foods and The Cheese Man in Brighton, and, most recently, as wholesale manager at the Goodwood Estate, helping to develop their organic range.
We are thrilled to have Ian heading up the development of Knepp Wild Range meat. His passion for delicious, healthy, sustainable food is unparalleled and he brings with him a wealth of experience and creativity.
“We should be embracing nose-to-tail eating. Every animal offers a unique opportunity to try foods lost to us over the years. The natural herbs, grasses and vegetation our animals have browsed and grazed gives them a flavour and goodness that is totally lacking in industrially farmed animals.”
Pat Toe
Stockman and Cattle Wrangler
Although Pat doesn’t call himself a farmer, much of his time is dedicated to our old English longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs and Exmoor ponies. He also handles the animal paperwork, farm inspections, 4x4 driving instruction and gives the occasional guided tour.
Pat started working at Knepp in 2009. Prior to that he spent 18 years as an arborist in the wood gang at Leonardslee Gardens and continues to play drums in a kick-ass rock band.
“The cattle are the thing I spend the majority of my time on. I’m having to react and adapt as the cattle and our land evolves. Developing my skills and understanding of Bud Williams’ cattle handling technique is a long-term undertaking. It’s proving to be rewarding and frustrating in equal measure.”
Ned Burrell
Assistant Manager
Ned was born and brought up at Knepp so rewilding is in his DNA. Having graduated in Ancient History he is now taking a sideways career jump and turning his hand to cooking. At the end of March he will have graduated from the prestigious Ballymalloe Cookery School.
Ned will be developing our range of stocks, sauces and homemade dishes, as well as running Pasture-to-Plate events and pop-up restaurants.
He is also a keen diver, wildlife photographer and guitarist (though not as kick-ass as Pat).
“I love the fact that our animals have free rein of the land - and water - here. They’re living almost as naturally as species in the wild. If you’re going to eat meat I believe ours is the most natural and ethical there is.”
Lia Brazier
Artist and designer
A recent graduate in Art and Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, Lia works freelance for Knepp, designing everything from stork aprons, ragwort and cinnabar moth tea towels, wild swimming towels and our brand new web designs.
We hope to see a lot more Knepp designs added to her portfolio as more exciting projects develop.
She also takes commissions.