Neil Hulme
ECOLOGIST & SAFARI GUIDE
Neil Hulme is a well-known butterfly enthusiast and conservationist. He works with a wide range of bodies including the South Downs National Park Authority, county councils, NGOs, local conservation organisations, landowners, farmers and foresters to improve our woods, meadows and downs for the benefit of butterflies and other wildlife.
His work with the charity Butterfly Conservation, to reverse the declines of species such as the Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary, was recognised with the award of a British Empire Medal in 2017. His trousers and boots are renowned for their ability to attract Purple Emperors down from the treetops.
“Knepp is a magical place. These days, where else can you hear the nightingale, cuckoo and turtle dove at the same time? The Wildland Project has restored the soundtrack of my youth and increasingly provides a sense that the clock has turned backwards, to an earlier period when our countryside was richer in wildlife. Knepp can also provide a feeling of optimism; it just gets better, year after year.”
