A groundbreaking partnership between the national rewilding project ‘Make it Wild’ and Ag-tech innovator AgriSound is set to showcase the undeniable positive impacts of rewilding farmland through the use of advanced AI algorithms. The initiative, based in North Yorkshire, aims to develop programs for nurturing and enhancing pollinator activity, leveraging AgriSound’s cutting-edge ‘Polly’ bioacoustic monitoring technology.
AgriSound’s Polly devices, equipped with AI tracking algorithms, monitor and produce robust data on biodiversity and wildlife in areas managed by Make it Wild. This collaboration aims to provide irrefutable, data-driven evidence demonstrating the significant benefits of rewilding in Harrogate’s Bank Woods, showcasing increased pollinator activity and biodiversity compared to conventionally farmed land.
Over the past four months, Polly devices have recorded marked differences in pollinator levels across the site, highlighting the influence of habitat on pollinator movement. Real-time data allows Make it Wild to track areas with the highest pollinator numbers, revealing a 38% increase in pollinator activity since rewilding efforts began.
While widely adopted in commercial, regenerative agriculture for revolutionizing commercial pollination and increasing crop yield, this partnership marks the first application of AgriSound’s Polly devices in rewilding. These devices now contribute essential Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data for businesses seeking to minimize their environmental impact.
Make it Wild, known for working with companies like Footasylum and De Vere to reduce their carbon footprint through tree planting, collaborates with AgriSound to enhance sustainability efforts. Similarly, businesses such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer leverage AgriSound’s Polly devices for sustainability initiatives and ESG reporting.
As part of the larger rewilding movement, supported by groups like the Yorkshire Rewilding Network and Rewilding Britain, the partnership aligns with the Rewilding Innovation Fund’s financing opportunities for large-scale ecosystem restoration.
The UK government’s plans for large-scale nature recovery projects, with anticipated funding of £700m to £800m annually by 2028, highlight the growing importance of rewilding. Successful implementation of these plans could see rewilded farms supporting local employment and economies more effectively than conventional farms.
Make it Wild’s ambitious Harrogate project involves removing sheep, planting trees, and restoring diverse habitats. Founded by Christopher and Helen Neave in 2010, Make it Wild seeks to address the UK’s ecological crisis, with wildlife numbers declining by 70% since 1970. The project focuses on increasing biodiversity through rewilding and woodland creation.
Helen Neave, Co-founder of Make it Wild, emphasized the significance of gathering data to demonstrate positive results in rewilding initiatives. She stated, “We are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, and eager to demonstrate how we can make a difference in our impact on nature to reduce destruction and loss of habitat.”
Casey Woodward, CEO of AgriSound, expressed excitement about the potential of their bioacoustic monitoring AI technology in rewilding projects. Woodward said, “This rewilding project sets an exciting precedent for how our bioacoustic monitoring AI technology can be used for conservation.”
The collaboration aims to underscore the importance of gathering demonstrable data for rewilding initiatives and inspire similar efforts in the future.