The National Trust, Oxford Archaeology, and Knepp Castle Estate have officially launched (July 17th) the ‘Knepp Accord’ – a new framework that urges experts in archaeology, historic landscape knowledge, and nature conservation to unite to tackle the nature and climate crisis.

The Knepp Accord has been agreed by 50 specialists from across archaeology, farming, heritage, and nature recovery at a workshop at the Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex. This was convened to create a shared framework for using deep-time evidence – from buried plant remains to historic land-use patterns – to guide decisions that will shape our landscape for hundreds of years to come.

The Knepp Accord is based upon in real-world projects across the UK that demonstrate how nature recovery and heritage can work hand in hand. Some examples are included in the Accord, as short case studies including the historic (and industrial) landscapes at: Knepp Castle in West Sussex, Upper Ply in Devon, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Attingham in Shropshire, the Steeping Stones Project in Shropshire, Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, Hinton Ampur in Hampshire, Shugborough Estate Duck Covert in Staffordshire, and the Hepple Estate and Simonside Hills in Northumberland.

These projects show how understanding the historic environment can:

• Shape habitat creation and species reintroduction
• Reveal lost features and habitats that can be revived
• Strengthen community connection to changing landscapes

For further details on the Accord follow this link: Press Release | Media | National Trust