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Matt Phelps
Lead Ecologist
Matt is an avid birder and all-round naturalist. He studied countryside management and ecology at agricultural college and has worked for the National Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust and various private estates, managing landscapes for wildlife, enthusing others about the natural world and advocating for rewilding and the return of lost and declining species.
He writes regular articles for nature publications and reviews bird records both for eBird and as a member of the Sussex Ornithological Society Records Committee.
‘‘For as long as I’ve loved the natural world, I’ve enjoyed sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Knepp Wilding represents one of the most important and exciting nature restoration endeavours in the world right now. Having first visited almost a decade ago, I was amazed at the ambition and scale of the project and it’s been such a privilege to share the excitement and wonder of it all with visitors as a safari guide in recent years. I’m now even more excited to continue exploring and spreading the word as the Lead Ecologist!”