Natural Capital: Reimagining Estate Management for the Future

Welcome to a special episode of Hidden Heritage! In this episode, Lady Violet Manners is joined by two exceptional guests: Molly Biddell, head of natural capital for Knepp Estate in West Sussex, and Katie Talbot, a tax trusts and succession lawyer for Charles Russell Speechlys. Join us as we explore: Natural Capital and Estates: The role of natural capital for estates and the opportunities and challenges it brings. Knepp Estate's Rewilding Project: The background behind Knepp Estate's revolutionary 3,500-acre rewilding project and its impact on ecological thinking. Legal and Financial Perspectives: How estates can navigate the complexities of natural capital initiatives from tax and legal standpoints. Future of Land Management: Insights into emerging nature markets and the evolving landscape of estate management. Key Points 00:00:04 - Introduction of Molly Biddell and Katie Talbot 00:01:22 - Overview of Knepp Estate's rewilding project 00:03:17 - Explanation of Knepp Estate's location and history 00:04:17 - Katie Talbot defines natural capital and its relevance to estates 00:06:43 - Discussion on responsible land ownership and societal expectations 00:08:33 - Molly Biddell explains the concept of rewilding 00:10:37 - The story behind Knepp Estate's transition to rewilding 00:15:46 - Impact of rewilding on biodiversity at Knepp Estate 00:18:01 - Katie Talbot on advising estates considering natural capital initiatives 00:21:54 - Molly's first destination recommendation: Duart Castle on Mull 00:23:53 - Challenges and opportunities in natural capital for estates 00:40:07 - Katie's destination recommendation: Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire 00:45:19 - Discussion on biodiversity net gain (BNG) and its implications for estates 00:48:46 - Molly on creating habitat banks and emerging nature markets 00:54:21 - The role of Knepp Estate in evolving models of natural capital 00:56:41 - Katie on legal frameworks supporting nature-based solutions 01:05:23 - Molly and Katie's joint destination recommendation: The Purbeck Coast in Dorset Guest Info Molly Biddell is the head of Natural Capital for Knepp Estate in West Sussex. She works on developing the business case for nature restoration and exploring emerging nature markets. Molly also works for her family's regenerative farming business in Surrey. Katie Talbot is a tax trusts and succession lawyer for Charles Russell Speechlys, an international law firm. She focuses on private capital at the intersection of personal, family, and business matters. About Step inside Britain's greatest Historic Houses, gardens, and family homes through HeritageXplore, your digital gateway to discovering heritage today. Visit www.heritagexplore.com Links and Resources Knepp Estate Charles Russell Speechlys Duart Castle, Mull Sudeley Castle The Purbeck Coast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices