Is it time for Church of England to repent of its 'sinful' ways by rewilding its farmland? Chris Packham thinks so.

 

CELEBRITY naturalist Chris Packham is calling for the Church of England to rewild 30 per cent of its landholdings by 2030.

Along with fellow-supporters of the Wild Card campaign group, the popular TV presenter, dressed in medieval-style costume,  made his appeal on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral at the weekend.

Managed on the CoE's behalf by the Church Commissioners, much of its 105,000-acre estate is thought to be intensively farmed, with plentiful use of chemicals and not much space allocated for trees and shrubs.

According to the BBC Springwatch host, the Church is failing the "all things bright and beautiful" which the good Lord made.

The Church Commissioners says its agricultural holdings are entirely  let to tenant farmers, many with long leaseholds.

It believes rewilding would be inappropriate to sacrifice highly productive farmland for rewilding.