On the day that Tim Mackrill and his team install an osprey nesting platform at Knepp, Isabella Tree grabs the chance to chat to the raptor reintroduction specialist about his work and his vision for ospreys and other birds of prey in England. What kind of nest is an osprey looking for? Why do they need a helping hand? How many ospreys would England have had in the past, and how many should we hope for in the future? And what did it take to turn a trout farmer on Rutland Water from being an ardent opponent of ospreys to one of their most enthusiastic supporters?

Isabella Tree is co-owner of Knepp and the award-winning author of ‘Wilding’, which was made into a major film in 2024.

Her book ‘White Stork – restoring a missing bird to Britain’ will be published by Bloomsbury on 1 April 2027.