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Landscape Regeneration Solutions to the Interlinked Extinction and Climate Crises that support Sustainable Development

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Department Name: Plant Sciences

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are responses to societal challenges that involve working with nature to deliver benefits for both people and biodiversity. They include protecting existing ecosystems, restoring degraded ecosystems and managing working lands more sustainably. NbS are of national strategic importance in supporting the UK's net zero climate targets and the Government's ambition to improve the environment within a generation. They have gained international significance too: 131 countries include NbS in their UNFCCC climate change pledges. If well designed and robustly implemented, NbS will deliver multiple benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhance biodiversity, promote human wellbeing and support economic recovery. The challenge is that the implementation of NbS is often piecemeal, narrow in focus, and undermined by weak research/policy/practice connections. UCam-Regen will redress this problem by applying its breadth of expertise in a practically driven analysis that provides the knowledge and tools needed to address several challenges facing the delivery of NbS:

NbS can contribute significantly to achieving net zero emissions, although the extent of that contribution is limited by the finite amount of land available and critically by the effects of climate change on ecosystems. NbS are not an alternative to decarbonising the economy and must be accompanied by swift, deep emissions cuts; they must be designed with and for local communities; and they must deliver measurable benefits for biodiversity and be designed to be resilient to climate change i.e. a 'whole systems approach' must be applied - as in UCam-Regen - that integrates economies, societies, and nature.

Scaling up, restoration and protection of key ecosystems across UK landscapes requires (a) better protection of natural habitats in the planning system; (b) reforming agriculture and forestry subsidies to better support actions that benefit both climate regulation and biodiversity; (c) connecting habitats across landscapes, building on the emerging Nature Recovery Networks; (d) making it compulsory to build an NbS framework into all new developments, and (e) making space on land for natural systems to adapt to climate change.

There is a need to develop robust metrics to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of NbS for carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity and human wellbeing. Well-designed new financing mechanisms, including tax incentives and public subsidies for ecosystem stewardship that meet the NbS guidelines and support climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and biodiversity, could be instrumental for upscaling NbS and improving social-ecological resilience to climate change, both in the UK and globally.

UCam-Regen addresses these challenges by applying a whole systems approach to deliver knowledge and tools necessary to regenerate UK landscapes using NbS approaches. At the heart of the proposal is a recognition that local communities must be engaged with decisions regarding their landscape's future and co-produce solutions, informed by scientific assessments of the optimal landscape management approaches to maximise the delivery of ecosystem services.

*We take policy recommendation and definitions from a COP26 Universities Network Briefing led by Prof Coomes https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_790171_smxx.pdf

Organisations

People

ORCID iD

Anne Ferguson-Smith (Principal Investigator)
Richard Bradbury (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1245-2763
Andrew Friend (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9029-1045
Jerome Neufeld (Co-Investigator)
Christopher Sandbrook (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9938-4934
Elizabeth Stockdale (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-8594
Alexandra Turchyn (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9298-2173
Benjamin Lang (Co-Investigator)
A Woods (Co-Investigator)
Emily Shuckburgh (Co-Investigator)
Jennifer Howard-Grenville (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3737-0465
Carl Ek (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1302-6309
Manish Chhowalla (Co-Investigator)
William Sutherland (Co-Investigator)
Andrew Balmford (Co-Investigator)
Zhaoyang Liu (Co-Investigator)
Liliana Janik (Co-Investigator)
John Clarkson (Co-Investigator)
David Coomes (Co-Investigator)
Thomas Spencer (Co-Investigator)
Lynn Dicks (Co-Investigator)
Chiara Giorio (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7821-7398
Roderic Jones (Co-Investigator)
Andrew Tanentzap (Co-Investigator)
Adam Pellegrini (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0418-4129
Carol Brayne (Co-Investigator)
Srinivasan Keshav (Co-Investigator)
Jennifer Gabrys (Co-Investigator)
Shailaja Fennell (Co-Investigator)
Laura Diaz Anadon (Co-Investigator)
Shaun Fitzgerald (Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2178-496X
Paul Dupree (Co-Investigator)
Rekha Bhangaonkar (Researcher)
David Thomas (Researcher)
Oscar Aldred (Researcher Co-Investigator) orcid http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-7905

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
NE/W00495X/1 31/01/2022 31/01/2028
2748407 Studentship NE/W00495X/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Liam Wakefield
2730125 Studentship NE/W00495X/1 30/09/2022 30/03/2026 Neil Mahon
 
Title CambridgeZero Community Day 
Description We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on creative arts activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2025 
Impact tbc 
URL https://www.linkedin.com/posts/centre-for-landscape-regeneration_universityofcambridge-cambridgezero...
 
Title FenPals 
Description Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2025 
Impact An exhibition of beautiful nature journals created by pupils of Benwick and Glebelands Primary Schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots as part of the Fen Pals outreach project commissioned by the University of Cambridge Centre for Landscape Regeneration. 
URL https://x.com/ZoologyMuseum/status/1947704960835006588
 
Title Wonderful Wetlands Wildlife: Collaboration with the Museum of Zoology and Fenland Primary Schools 
Description In 2024, the CLR partnered with the Museum of Zoology to bring an exciting outreach programme to fenland schools, engaging 240 pupils (ages 8-11) across four primary schools. Over three sessions, students: Explored wildlife in their school grounds. Discovered local wildlife collections at the Museum. Created collaborative artwork with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots for a Museum exhibition. The programme culminated in an exhibition displayed throughout the summer holidays, attracting thousands of visitors. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact Exhibition The Wonderful Wetlands Wildlife exhibition was installed in summer 2024 in the Museum's Communities Case, featuring a special event for pupils and their families. Over the summer, nearly 39,000 visitors explored the display, including more than 800 during a dedicated Wonderful Wetlands Wildlife family day in August. 
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/wetlands-and-wildlife-museum-out...
 
Title World Beneath our Feet: Collaboration with Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination 
Description A Creative Exploration of the Fens Come Explore the World Beneath Our Feet is a pop-up exhibition and interactive presentation showcasing the results of a collaboration between the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR) and Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination. Working with schoolchildren from Weatheralls and The Shade, the project brings together archaeologists, mycelium (fungi) researchers, and artists to explore the Fens in new and imaginative ways. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2025 
Impact A final exhibition held at local church in Soham. An exhibition in the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge throughout the summer holidays. Influence and impacts on the schools, teachers and children. 
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/interactive-exhibition-showcases...
 
Title World Beneath the Water and Voices of the Fen (Wicken Fen) 
Description The World Beneath the Water In collaboration with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, CLR supported Wilburton Primary pupils to create a futuristic soundscape for Wicken Fen, combining live underwater recordings with imaginative storytelling. The year is 5000, what creatures lurk at the bottom of the Fens? This was the starting point for World Beneath the Water - a creative science project with students from Wilburton Primary School, produced by artist Susanne Jasilek of Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination in partnership with CLIP and the Centre for Landscape Regeneration at Cambridge University. Inspired by ongoing scientific research into the Fens, students were invited to imagine a future underwater world and bring it to life through sound, sculpture, and movement. 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2025 
Impact At the end of the workshops, the sounds from both sessions were layered into a single immersive underwater soundscape, now installed inside one of the hides at National Trust Wicken Fen. Visitors are invited to step inside, listen closely, and experience this imagined future beneath the water - a creative response to the Fens' rich ecology and the scientific research shaping our understanding of its past and future. During summer 2025, from Friday 18 July, World Listening Day, until Sunday 28 September, a sculptural sound trail welcomed audiences into a new way of experiencing Wicken Fen, reaching a large number of visitors to the site (no estimate available though) 
URL https://www.clipsoundandmusic.uk/world-beneath-the-water/
 
Description The Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR) has established an interdisciplinary research hub designed to develop a more joined-up approach to restoring the British countryside. Rather than looking at environmental challenges in isolation, the project has brought together experts from widely different fields-such as ecology, social science, and engineering-to better understand how nature recovery can be balanced with the needs of farming, local economies, and the climate.

Key achievements from the first phase of this work include:
• Establishing an Interdisciplinary Model: The project has successfully moved beyond traditional academic boundaries to foster a "whole-system" perspective. This has meant developing new ways for researchers to collaborate across disciplines, ensuring that scientific data is integrated with social and economic insights from the very beginning.
• Developing Actionable Evidence: The Centre is building a robust body of evidence that bridges the gap between scientific theory and real-world practice. By working closely with land managers, policymakers, and conservationists, the project is producing findings that are intended to be directly usable by those responsible for managing the land.
• Training a Future Workforce: A significant achievement has been the support and development of a new generation of researchers. These early-career scientists are being equipped with the specific skills needed to lead complex, multi-partner environmental projects in the future.
• Technical Tools for Monitoring: The project has developed and shared new technical approaches and digital tools to help monitor landscape change. By creating open-access resources and low-cost monitoring protocols, the Centre is helping to make high-quality environmental data more accessible to a wider range of organisations.
• Integrating Community Perspectives: The research has highlighted that long-term landscape change requires the support of local people. The project has actively engaged community members, stakeholders, and schoolchildren, ensuring that local heritage and communities are reflected.
• Supporting Policy and Decision-Making: The Centre is providing evidence-based insights to help inform national and regional environmental strategies. This work aims to help decision-makers understand the practical trade-offs involved in different land-use choices, such as the impacts on food security, carbon storage, and biodiversity.
Exploitation Route The outcomes of this funding are intended to provide a practical foundation for landscape regeneration that can be adapted by others to address climate and biodiversity challenges. The intended legacy for how these outputs will be taken forwards after the end of the project in 2028 includes:

• Building Interdisciplinary Research Capacity: Contribute to the professional development of a new cohort of researchers and practitioners equipped with interdisciplinary skills. Through the training and mentoring provided to early-career researchers and interns, the project aims to leave behind a workforce capable of applying a "whole-systems" perspective to environmental challenges in their future roles across academia, government, and the private sector.

• Providing Transferable Methodological Frameworks: The project seeks to offer replicable approaches for place-based regeneration that can be adapted for different regional contexts. By sharing methods that integrate ecological data with socio-economic insights, the aim is to provide others with a structured way to consider the balance between food production, carbon storage, and nature recovery in land-management decisions.

• Contributing to the Evidence Base for Policy: The research findings are intended to serve as an informative resource for future environmental strategies. By providing evidence on the practical trade-offs involved in different land-use choices, the project aims to assist policymakers and stakeholders.

• Sharing Technical and Digital Tools: A core ambition is to provide accessible technical resources, such as open-access software, code packages, and methods for environmental monitoring.

• Supporting Fair and Inclusive Engagement: The project aims to share practical toolkits for navigating social disagreements and building community trust. By documenting effective methods for stakeholder engagement and co-design, the ambition is to provide a basis for others to ensure that future restoration efforts are inclusive and consider the perspectives of the communities involved.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Communities and Social Services/Policy

Energy

Environment

Government

Democracy and Justice

Other

URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/
 
Description The Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR), funded by UKRI NERC, is an interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to regenerating the British countryside through cost-effective, nature-based solutions. By integrating expertise from archaeology to zoology, the CLR addresses the interconnected challenges of biodiversity recovery, climate mitigation, and societal resilience across three focal UK landscapes: the Fens, the Cairngorms, and Cumbria. The Mid-Term Evaluation was conducted by NERC in 2025, and the Changing the Environment Programme was judged to be making excellent progress towards its overall objectives. This process also confirmed that the CLR is delivering on its original aims and in many areas advancing the research into novel, unanticipated, directions to take advantage of technological advancements and policy opportunities. We continue to update the team at NERC through the regular narrative reports to the Programme Executive Group, and through regular meetings with NERC due to the 'Strategic Partner' relationship between UCam and NERC as a direct results of this funding. We also provided extensive information and data to NERC as part of the Mid-Term Evaluation in 2025. Impact within Academia The CLR has pioneered a new model for interdisciplinary research, specifically by fostering a "whole-system" perspective and developing a new generation of collaborative researchers. • Capacity Building: Through its support for ECRs, the Future Leaders Programme (FLP), and other training and placement opportunities, the Centre has provided career-defining opportunities, mentoring and coaching for early-career researchers (ECRs), including PhD students, equipping them with the skills to contribute effectively to complex interdisciplinary projects. Many of our interns and student placements have gone onto Masters and PhD programmes as well as some joining conservation practitioner organisations. • Scientific Contribution: The Centre is generating a body of evidence, with recent publications in high-impact journals such as Science (freshwater chemodiversity) and Conservation Biology (the efficacy of biodiversity credits). We expect the quantity of publications to increase significantly over the final phases of the project now that fieldwork and data collection are being completed. • Recognition: Academic excellence has been recognised through major honours, including the Royal Society Environment Medal for Prof Andrew Balmford and CBEs for Co-Director Prof Emily Shuckburgh and CoI Prof John Clarkson. Impact Beyond Academia: Policy, Public, Private and Thirds Sectors The CLR's research aims to shape local and national environmental strategies ensuring a considered place-based approach. • National Mapping: CLR's 2023 LiDAR survey of the Cairngorms successfully contributed to the business case for the Scottish Government's country-wide airborne LiDAR scanning initiative, launched in 2025 to map the entire country in 3D for flood management and environmental monitoring. CLR researchers are working closely with the Scottish Government to share our knowledge and data and coding approaches, to inform the outputs of their LiDAR scanning. A technical report on this was published recently. • UK Solar Strategy: Research demonstrating that nature-friendly solar farms in East Anglia support nearly three times as many birds as arable land was included in the UK Government's Solar Roadmap 2025 and a UK Solar Industry report, influencing national policy and local planning consultations on multifunctional land use. • Interdisciplinary evidence: Co-Director Prof Emily Shuckburgh's appointment as Chief Scientific Adviser to DESNZ has further strengthened the link between CLR's evidence base and national Net Zero delivery. The Centre also provides evidence to the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) for example, the CLR's expertise was sought for a recent expert round-table on nature-based flood and drought resilience, the CLR also submitted interdisciplinary evidence to the Scottish Climate Change Plan 2026-2040. • Land Use Change and Resilience: The publication of summary data from our Land Management Surveys in the Fens and Cairngorms including farms, estates and nature reserves has been well received by stakeholders, providing insights and data on the land practices in the regions. This is just one aspect of the data usage though as the data is also being fed into the CLR Future Scenario Models being used to assess benefits and disbenefits from potential changes in land management. • Collaborative Tools: The Centre developed the Fens Network Diagram, an interactive tool for stakeholders to coordinate complex regional initiatives, which has been integrated into the "Future Fens Integrated Adaptation" outputs, a key Fens-wide initiative. This Network Diagram was created in collaboration with stakeholders across the region in response toa clear, and articulated need from the stakeholder community. It does not just cover CLR partners, but aims to cover all the organisations working in related topics in the region. • Conservation Partnerships: CLR science supports large-scale restoration initiatives like Cumbria Connect and Cairngorms Connect. For example, our UAV-based monitoring procedures are being adopted by Cumbria Connect to track woodland and grassland regeneration. AND Cairngorms with RESAS • Nature Markets: Research such as Dr Cicely Marshall's study on biodiversity credits-helps the private sector understand the financial gap in large-scale nature recovery. Working closely with partners like Nattergal to understand the economic and environmental feasibility of emerging nature markets and how these can be used to fund nature restoration. Community Engagement and Digital Visibility Visibility of our research insights as well as community engagement is a key part of our work. In the Fens, we are bringing together scientific research and creative practice to engage local communities in a conversation about their local area. The CLR has actively engaged over 3,000 children and community members in the Fens. Our research insights and also has been profiled in news outlets such as the BBC, the Conversation and on the Today programme (BBC Radio4), ensuring that the research is connecting to audiences across the country. • Educational Outreach: Highlights include eel conservation projects in schools and "STEM in the Fens" workshops. Creative collaborations like the "Listen to the Voices of the Fen" sound installation bring the science of landscape change to life. • RSPB Members magazine: Our research, was featured in the RSPB Members magazine, with a readership of 560,000 households. • Public Visibility: Prof Shuckburgh's appearance in the Netflix documentary "Finding Harmony: A King's Vision" and CLR work in the Cairngorms was feature in the nature documentary "The Future of Nature" have helped credible climate science reach broad, global, public audiences, as well as ensuring we contribute to the wider conversations with key climate advocates such as King Charles.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment
Impact Types Policy & public services

 
Description CLR Contribution to POST Note on regenerative agriculture
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0748/?utm_source=POST+alerts&utm_campaign=e3b1...
 
Description CLR contribution to consultation on Scotland's draft Climate Change Plan 2026-2040
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-consultation-analysis-scotlands-draft-climate-change-plan-2...
 
Description CLR participation at FenlandSOIL conference
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description CSaP Policy Workshop: Challenges and trade-offs in the Cambridgeshire Fens
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-challenges-and-trade-offs-cambridgeshire-fens/?preview=1
 
Description Cairngorms Connect Conferences - 2023, 2024, 2025
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Chris Evans appointed to Wilder Carbon Data, Management, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (DMMRV) Advisory Board
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact None yet
URL https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wildercarbon_werepleased-to-welcome-professor-chris-activity-74219035...
 
Description Citation and case study of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in Solar Energy UK report: 'Solar Habitat 2025: Ecological trends on solar farms in the UK'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SEUK-Solar-Habitat-2025-3.pdf
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in RSPB Members magazine
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in RSPB annual report
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-us/annual-report
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in RSPB policy document 'Driving a nature positive energy transition' 2025
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-we-do/influence-government-and-business/nature-and-clima...
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in UK Goevenment DESNZ policy document: 'SOLAR ROADMAP United Kingdom Powered by Solar'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685d6e483e6b7941f4e00afb/35.87_DESNZ_UK_Solar_Roadmap...
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in governement policy document 'Unlocking benefits for people, nature and climate: Actions to jointly address climate change and biodiversity loss in England (accessible webpage)'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-to-jointly-address-climate-change-and-biodiversit...
 
Description Citation of Copping et al 2025 Bird study paper in government policy document 'Unlocking benefits for people, nature and climate: Actions to jointly address climate change and biodiversity loss in England'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68714133fe1a249e937cc0a0/actions-jointly-address-clim...
 
Description Contribution to POSTNote: Horizon scanning for multi-functional landscapes by RSPB team
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
URL https://post.parliament.uk/balancing-competing-land-uses-a-multifunctional-approach/
 
Description Contribution to Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) Note on Regenerative Agriculture
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0748/
 
Description Defra ELM Expert Panel
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Defra Environmental Land Management Ecology and Ecosystem Service Expert Panel
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Discussed scenario work across all three landscapes and at national scale with Chris Moses of DEFRA
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Dr Hamidreza Rahimi submitted evidence and attended expert panel for a forthcoming POSTnote on Nature based flood and drought resilience
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
URL https://post.parliament.uk/approved-work-nature-based-flood-and-drought-resilience/
 
Description EU climate Advisory Board co-vice chaired by Professor Laura Diaz Anadon recommends targets for 2040
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact The impact of this activity is at the level of Europe; this report from the EU's advisory body on climate change provides EU institutions with a science-based estimate of a 2040 climate target and an EU greenhouse gas emissions budget for the period 2030-2050. https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/c-eenrg/news/eu-climate-advisory-board-co-vice-chaired-professor-laura-diaz-anadon-recommends
URL https://climate-advisory-board.europa.eu/news/eu-climate-advisory-board-recommends-ambitious-2040-cl...
 
Description Emily Shuckburgh - Westminster Climate and Nature Event
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact tbc
 
Description Emily Shuckburgh appointed to Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) for DESNZ
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk/uk-net-zero-advisory-council-cambridge-academics
 
Description Evidence to the UK's Parliamentary Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on how to stop insect decline
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/event/18028/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Description Fenland Conservation Network
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/fenland-conservation-network
 
Description Fenland Nature - A concise, accessible, and diversely sourced natural history of the region
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in systematic reviews
URL https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/fenland-nature
 
Description House of Commons' cross-party Environmental Audit Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6880/sustainable-timber-and-deforestation/news/172336/what-imp...
 
Description Influence on CtE projects: RENEW using RPD toolkit to explore perspectives of staff and partners.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://www.endangeredlandscapes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EDI-Partnerships-Toolkit_Guidance.pd...
 
Description Invitation from Defra to join Oversight Group of Lowland Peat Public Dialogue Project
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Keynote talk at the ICLR 2024 Workshop on "Fostering the Maturity of AI Applications for Climate Change" (Incorporated Council of Law Reporting)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Knowledge exchange with stakeholder, Wicken Fen
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
 
Description Land Use Framework Consultation for DEFRA
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use-framework/land-use-consultation/
 
Description Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Cambridgeshire
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact Still in progress.
URL https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-culture/biodiversity-and-greenspaces/c...
 
Description Lowland Agricultural Peat Taskforce Report
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lowland-agricultural-peat-task-force-chairs-report
 
Description M.Phil in Public Policy, annual policy simulation exercise
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description MPhil in Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/maammpqce
 
Description Member and Vice-Chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/climate-advisory-board/
 
Description Member, Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Portfolio Scientific Advisory Board
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.gov.scot/publications/strategy-environment-natural-resources-agriculture-research-2022-2...
 
Description Prof Laura Diaz Anadon becomes Lead Author for IPCC Seventh Assessment Report within Working Group III on Climate Change Mitigation
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The IPCC is an intergovernmental body of the UN, whose aim is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information they can use to develop climate policies. This IPCC Working Group III report will be even more policy relevant, inclusive and systemic and that it will be even more helpful in providing evidence for effective mitigation in different contexts.
URL https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-laura-diaz-anadon-attends-first-ipcc-seventh-assessmen...
 
Description Professor Laura Diaz Anadon was appointed for a second mandate as a member of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (2026-2030)
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The European Climate Law sets out a binding objective of climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. To support the achievement of this objective, the European Climate Law provides for the establishment of a European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. As this is Prof Diaz Anadon's second term in this role she has significantly influenced European Union's measures and climate targets, along with the EU's aims to become climate neutral by 2050, improving the lives of current and future generations.
URL https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-laura-diaz-anadon-appointed-second-mandate-member-euro...
 
Description Response to Defra Land Use Framework consultation
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Richard Bradbury contributed to 'The Land Climate Programme: Workshop for the Research Community' on 9/9/2025
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Rob Field contributed to NFU/Fenland SOIL response to Landuse Framework consultation 9/4/2025
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Rob Field contributed to POST review on Regenerative Agriculture
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0748/
 
Description Rob Field presented regenerative agriculture biodiversity review at Groundswell 2025
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Science, Innovation and Technology Committee call for for new Gov focus on halting the decline of UK insects.
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-innovation-and-technology-committee/news/2002...
 
Description Shaun Fitzgerald at COP27
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact TBC
 
Description Solar Energy UK: Solar Habitat 2025. Solar Energy UK.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SEUK-Solar-Habitat-2025-3.pdf?utm_source=chatgp...
 
Description Solar paper featured in Environment APPG newsletter
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
 
Description The Woodland Bird Steering Group
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description UK Government. 2025. Unlocking benefits for people, nature and climate: Actions to jointly address climate change and biodiversity loss in England.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-to-jointly-address-climate-change-and-biodiversit...
 
Description UK Government. Solar Roadmap: United Kingdom Powered by Solar
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685d6e483e6b7941f4e00afb/35.87_DESNZ_UK_Solar_Roadmap...
 
Description UK Govt appoints Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE as Chief Scientific Adviser to DESNZ
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/uk-govt-appoints-emily-shuckburgh-as-chief-scientific-adviser-to-desnz
 
Description Webinar on the RPD toolkit to the social science group at Natural England, organised by Stephen Jones
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description AI for climate and nature
Amount £149,710 (GBP)
Organisation University of Cambridge 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2025
 
Description British Council Climate Connections Visiting Fellowship
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RI2022_03 (Uni ref. G118980) 
Organisation British Council 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2024
 
Description C-CLEAR summer studentship
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2023 
End 10/2023
 
Description CSaP Policy Fund
Amount £9,896 (GBP)
Organisation University of Cambridge 
Department Centre for Science and Policy
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2025 
End 03/2026
 
Description Collaboration with NIAB; Paludiculture
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural England 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2024 
End 05/2025
 
Description CtE - additional funding
Amount £500,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2025 
End 03/2026
 
Description Developing Collaborative Fenscape Archeological Heritages
Amount £17,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Cambridge 
Department McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2026 
End 11/2026
 
Description EDI funding for CLR
Amount £139,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2024
 
Description EDI funding for CLR II
Amount £136,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 03/2025
 
Description Examining the design of public sector institutions focused on commercializing new clean energy technologies
Amount £586,000 (GBP)
Funding ID G-2023-21095 
Organisation Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United States
Start 01/2024 
End 12/2026
 
Description Fenland SOIL LAP Water Discovery Pilot
Amount £499,657 (GBP)
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 12/2024
 
Description LAPDWP+ (led by FenlandSOIL)
Amount £249,000 (GBP)
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2025 
End 03/2026
 
Description LP3
Amount £3,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2023 
End 11/2028
 
Description Land Use for Net Zero Hub
Amount £7,837,030 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/Y008723/1 
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2023 
End 02/2027
 
Description Maximising the impacts and visibility of the CtE Programme: Roadmapping and Communications
Amount £136,500 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2023 
End 03/2024
 
Description NERC DTP studentship: Evie Hutulla
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2024 
End 10/2028
 
Description NERC Environmental Omics Facility (NEOF) : Soil organic carbon stabilisation in agricultural peatlands
Amount £14,575 (GBP)
Funding ID NEOF1618 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Department National Environmental Isotope Facility (NEIF)
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2024 
End 04/2025
 
Description Restoration Dialogue (Geospatial Foundation Models)
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Organisation Seascape Consultants 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2025 
End 03/2026
 
Description Restoration Dialogue (Rethinking the Carbon Footprint of Woodland Recovery)
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Organisation The British Library 
Department Endangered Archives Programme
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2025 
End 03/2026
 
Description The E-Perceptive Project
Amount £2,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation Nokia 
Sector Private
Country Global
Start 01/2023 
End 07/2024
 
Description The Fenlands are Breathing
Amount £3,100 (GBP)
Organisation University of Cambridge 
Department Newnham College
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2024 
End 08/2024
 
Description in-person workshop to design land use scenarios with local stakeholders
Amount £2,900 (GBP)
Organisation Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 02/2024
 
Title Biodiversity surveys from E Anglan Fens, 2023 
Description • Birds - 60 x 1km line transects, 6645 birds of 101 species recorded • Dragonflies - 149 x 100m line transects, 3811 dragonflies of 24 species recorded • Butterflies - 148 x 200m L-shape transects, 962 butterflies of 19 species recorded • Bumblebees - 148 x 200m L-shape transects, 672 bees of 13 species recorded • Beetles and spiders - c.750 pitfall traps, still being counted but tens of thousands of records. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact None yet; the data are still being analysed 
 
Title Cairngorms region land management economics survey 
Description Survey of ~20 land managers in wider Cairngorms region, situated around Cairngorms National Park, on economics and practices of land management within significant land holdings/enterprises. Collected by Alix Syder, with assistance from Cambridge Zero Future Leaders programme. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Summary report compiled and sent to participating stakeholders. Data will be used in land scenario modelling. 
 
Title GitHub repository for the lidarSHM package 
Description Collection of robust and reproducible pipelines for extracting ecologically meaningful data in complex landscapes. Three main pipelines, each described in terms of product, methods, validation, downstream applications and available resources: - Mapping the height of near-ground features such as dwarf shrubs, ditches, and bracken (Shrub Height Model) - Mapping regenerating trees across landscape scales (Canopy Height Model) - Mapping coarse woody debris (deadwood) and other linear features on the ground (Linear Feature Detection) In addition to this: a. A package to extract forest structural metrics, b. An algorithm that identifies old-growth forests from ALS-segmented crowns, c. A pipeline that creates canopy height models robust to point density, d. A new foundation model useful for habitat mapping, and e. An approach to map tree species across landscape scales. Shrub Height Model (SHM) is new product created by a specialised LiDAR processing pipeline which overcomes this to accurately map the height and structure of the shrub layer. The algorithm uncovers hidden features in the landscape that are otherwise difficult to detect, such as bracken patches, lying deadwood, and historical archaeological features like ancient rigg-and-furrow systems 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2025 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact A collaboration with the Scottish Government on their recently launched national Land LiDAR programme 
URL https://github.com/alandhyc/lidarSHM
 
Title HYBRID15_can 
Description Model code to simulate canopy photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and soil water dynamics of a tree. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2026 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The code is being used to underpin two papers, one submitted and one in preparation. Both relate forest gross primary production to tree ring variability across central Europe. 
URL https://github.com/adfriend45/HYBRID15_can
 
Title MiniLUSP 
Description Semi-spatial land cover analytical/scenario modelling technique based on Land COver Functional Units. Developed by Dr Tom Finch & Dr Josh Copping. Manuscript in review Mar2025 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2025 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Allows rapid assessment of multiple outcomes of many different land cover scenarios in short time. Has allowed further work with Dr R Rouse on scenario efficiency iptimisation (MS in preparation). 
 
Title Paludiculture bird surveys - Netherlands 
Description Breeding bird densities in Paludiculture (Typha) fields, wetland reserves and intensively managed grasslands in Netherlands. Collected by Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2024 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Analysis of data prepared as a manuscript, currently in review at Ecological Solutions and Evidence 
 
Title Supplementary information files for "Lines in the landscape" 
Description Supplementary files for article "Lines in the Landscape" Ditches (linear constructions which store and/or move water where humans prefer it to go), via irrigation, drainage, and power, have helped drive the development of human societies. Now, ditches and other linear channels, typically carrying water, are numerous and found on every continent. Their form varies widely with use, which includes land drainage, irrigation, transportation, and boundary marking. Ditches support and shape biogeochemical cycles, biotic communities, and human societies, at multiple spatiotemporal scales. However, ditches are frequently overlooked by researchers in many disciplines. Here, we review the largely unrecognized role that ditches play in environmental processes and human societies. The effects of ditches can be both positive (e.g., biodiversity refuges, water for food production, nutrient retention) and negative (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, dispersal of pollutants). We call for future management to consider and enhance the multifunctional role that ditches can deliver at the landscape-scale. ©The Author(s), CC BY 4.0 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2025 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Supplementary_information_files_for_Lines_in_the_lan...
 
Title sugar 
Description Model code used to produce the simulations in the paper 'Implications of source-sink feedbacks for modelling tree carbon assimilation and growth' by Friend et al. This paper is on bioRxiv (https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.27.615358) and has been submitted to New Phytologist (22nd July, 2025). 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2025 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Used in a paper currently in revision for New Phytologist. 
URL https://github.com/adfriend45/sugar
 
Description Advisory Board, Wicken Fen 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Member of the scientific advisory board for the Wicken Fen nature Reserve, National Trust
Collaborator Contribution Quarterly committee meetings, providing scientific advice on carbon and water cycling in peatland ecosystems.
Impact Evolution in land and water management practices. New flux monitoring at Wicken Fen.
Start Year 2023
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Birmingham City University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Black Environment Network
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Earth Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Environment Agency
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Foundation for Common Land
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation National Farmers Union
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation National Grid UK
Department National Grid
Country United States 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation National Trust for Scotland
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation Natural England
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation The Wildlife Trusts
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description CLR Programme Board 
Organisation University of Leicester
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Collaborator Contribution This Board are helping to shape our research, guide our outputs and inform policy and practice with the insights from our research.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description E-perceptive project 
Organisation Nokia Foundation
Country Finland 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We started developing a low energy camera-based system to monitor insect biomass in real time, using computer vision, in partnership with the University of Cambridge Computing Labs. One postdoc worked on this project for 13 months. Our objectives were: we addressed three main objectives: (I) Develop an automated standardized system for flying insect biomass/abundance monitoring, with Near Real Time (NRT) capabilities. (II) Initial testing of a close-range monitoring system, with NRT capabilities, able to capture images of insect instances for taxonomic classification. (III) Use the biomass/abundance data produced with (I) to implement high-temporal resolution models of flying insect trends.
Collaborator Contribution Partners donated all the funding to support our research activities.
Impact A multidisciplinary collaboration involving computer scientists and ecologists. We completed initial testing of a prototype for the E-Perceptive system. We generated a dataset of flying insect biomass/abundance collected in the Cambridgeshire, used for method validation and the Camera trApp system (now available as .apk file). No publications yet, although at least one paper is planned.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Anglian Water Services
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Cambridgeshire ACRE
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Cambridgeshire County Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Environment Agency
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation F C Palmer and Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation National Farmers Union
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation Natural England
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation The Wildlife Trusts
Department The Wildlife Trusts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Fenland Advisory Board 
Organisation University of Leicester
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project, leading to better design of research, research questions and in due course, impacts also. There has been significant follow up with individuals and individual researchers for more in depth discussions. Our research has helped inform the members as individuals and across their organisations, e.g informing local planning about ways that biodiversity can be incorporated into solar planning.
Collaborator Contribution This Board have shaped our research throughout the project.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Field Sites in the Fens 
Organisation F C Palmer and Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution For each field site we have liaised with them for access, explaining our research and any restrictions they may have. At the end of each season researchers have created individual landowner reports with the data on biodiversity and GHG emissions from their sites. This has been an essential part of showing that we are open and will share data with them. Many of these have led to more detailed advice and guidance, e.g. taking our hydrological models to G's Fresh farms to see if they represent reality on the farm. This has now led to a 'Farmers Dialogue' event later this year to share our results more widely and seek advice and input about how our research could be use on farm.
Collaborator Contribution These organisations (and others) are a key part of the CLR - they provided access to their land for our fieldwork. This includes - biodiversity monitoring, soils analysis, installation of GHG monitoring equipment, interviews with land owners and managers, trails of new technology amongst others.
Impact Most of the CLR research in the Fens was only possible due to these relationships, this is is too extensive to answer here.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Field Sites in the Fens 
Organisation G's Fresh Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution For each field site we have liaised with them for access, explaining our research and any restrictions they may have. At the end of each season researchers have created individual landowner reports with the data on biodiversity and GHG emissions from their sites. This has been an essential part of showing that we are open and will share data with them. Many of these have led to more detailed advice and guidance, e.g. taking our hydrological models to G's Fresh farms to see if they represent reality on the farm. This has now led to a 'Farmers Dialogue' event later this year to share our results more widely and seek advice and input about how our research could be use on farm.
Collaborator Contribution These organisations (and others) are a key part of the CLR - they provided access to their land for our fieldwork. This includes - biodiversity monitoring, soils analysis, installation of GHG monitoring equipment, interviews with land owners and managers, trails of new technology amongst others.
Impact Most of the CLR research in the Fens was only possible due to these relationships, this is is too extensive to answer here.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Field Sites in the Fens 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution For each field site we have liaised with them for access, explaining our research and any restrictions they may have. At the end of each season researchers have created individual landowner reports with the data on biodiversity and GHG emissions from their sites. This has been an essential part of showing that we are open and will share data with them. Many of these have led to more detailed advice and guidance, e.g. taking our hydrological models to G's Fresh farms to see if they represent reality on the farm. This has now led to a 'Farmers Dialogue' event later this year to share our results more widely and seek advice and input about how our research could be use on farm.
Collaborator Contribution These organisations (and others) are a key part of the CLR - they provided access to their land for our fieldwork. This includes - biodiversity monitoring, soils analysis, installation of GHG monitoring equipment, interviews with land owners and managers, trails of new technology amongst others.
Impact Most of the CLR research in the Fens was only possible due to these relationships, this is is too extensive to answer here.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Future Fens Integrated Adaptation (FFIA) 
Organisation Anglian Water Services
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Future Fens Integrated Adaptation (FFIA) Securing the future of the Fens: sustainable, adaptive and resilient Future Fens: Integrated Adaptation is a strategic partnership initiative, with the aim of working together across sectors to determine the actions that partners involved in managing water across the landscape can jointly take to secure a vibrant future for the Fens. Through close collaboration with this project - attending all workshops and events to ensure CLR research is visible and prominent - we have managed to contribute to their 3D Expo and FF:IA Activity Visualiser, which will be launched soon. These projects are all about bringing together vital partners from across the region into a discussion about a transition to a more sustainable region. These two elements are significantly informed by the CLR and will contain CLR research outputs such as the Stakeholder Map, the Fens Land Management Survey and work on biodiversity.
Collaborator Contribution This group have helped inform and shape CLR research outputs.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2024
 
Description Future Fens Integrated Adaptation (FFIA) 
Organisation Environment Agency
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Future Fens Integrated Adaptation (FFIA) Securing the future of the Fens: sustainable, adaptive and resilient Future Fens: Integrated Adaptation is a strategic partnership initiative, with the aim of working together across sectors to determine the actions that partners involved in managing water across the landscape can jointly take to secure a vibrant future for the Fens. Through close collaboration with this project - attending all workshops and events to ensure CLR research is visible and prominent - we have managed to contribute to their 3D Expo and FF:IA Activity Visualiser, which will be launched soon. These projects are all about bringing together vital partners from across the region into a discussion about a transition to a more sustainable region. These two elements are significantly informed by the CLR and will contain CLR research outputs such as the Stakeholder Map, the Fens Land Management Survey and work on biodiversity.
Collaborator Contribution This group have helped inform and shape CLR research outputs.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2024
 
Description LP3 
Organisation UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This tender application was led by researchers at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and is the third tranche of funding from Defra to UK CEH in their studies of lowland (agricultural) peat (LP3). The ultimate aims of the project will be to provide Defra, other policymakers and the farming community with best-practice advice on a range of approaches to mitigate GHG emissions from agriculturally used peatlands. The work of LP3 will complement and extend that of the CLR already underway, with itsd focus on the E Anglian Fens, and will provide CLR with novel tools and methods by which to monitor peat health and greenhouse gas emissions. We will colloborate with the partners in LP3, led by CEH, to ensure knowledge exchange and explore the potential for staff secondments both into and outwith the CLR in Cambridge.
Collaborator Contribution The LP3 partnership has only recently commenced and thus far CLR staff have attended the initial kick-off meeting only.
Impact The project has just started; it is too early to list any outcomes.
Start Year 2024
 
Description LUNZ hub 
Organisation James Hutton Institute
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Staff from the CLR are co-applicants on the recently awarded (Jan 2024) UKRI/Defra/DESNZ Land Use for Net Zero (LUNZ) 'hub', which will have an overarching role in the delivery of the UKRI LUNZ research projects, likely to be announced Q2 2024. The LUNZ hub will produce fresh evidence and guidance to drive policy change led by administrations covering all four parts of the UK, with the overall ambition of providing guidance to develop policies that will drive the UK land transformation required to achieve net zero.
Collaborator Contribution The hub has only just been announced and thus far CLR staff have attended kick-off meetings. We anticipate that much greater involvement in the hub will commence in Q2 2024.
Impact None yet; it is too early since the hub has just reached inception
Start Year 2024
 
Description Masters in Quantitive Climate and Environmental Science 
Organisation F C Palmer and Sons
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution A new MPhil in Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science launched in 2023, led by one of the CLR CoIs, she has now brought in a range of CLR colleagues to enhance this course, for example the cohort visited one of the CLR fieldsites, and the farmer talked to the group about his land and the environmental challenges he faces. The team from Chemistry are teaching elements of their research to the group, including their low cost sensor network for GHG fluxes. The students are also visiting CEH, Wallingford in November for a guest lecture by Dr Ross Morrison, and a tour of the Lowland Peat 3 Project experiments. Field trips took place to FC Palmer Farms, a key CLR fieldsite and met with the farmer to discuss issues related to climate change, emissions and mitigations.
Collaborator Contribution FC Palmer welcomed the group to his farm and spent time chatting to them.
Impact So far ~40 students have benefitted from this interdisciplinary training and experience.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Masters in Quantitive Climate and Environmental Science 
Organisation UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution A new MPhil in Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science launched in 2023, led by one of the CLR CoIs, she has now brought in a range of CLR colleagues to enhance this course, for example the cohort visited one of the CLR fieldsites, and the farmer talked to the group about his land and the environmental challenges he faces. The team from Chemistry are teaching elements of their research to the group, including their low cost sensor network for GHG fluxes. The students are also visiting CEH, Wallingford in November for a guest lecture by Dr Ross Morrison, and a tour of the Lowland Peat 3 Project experiments. Field trips took place to FC Palmer Farms, a key CLR fieldsite and met with the farmer to discuss issues related to climate change, emissions and mitigations.
Collaborator Contribution FC Palmer welcomed the group to his farm and spent time chatting to them.
Impact So far ~40 students have benefitted from this interdisciplinary training and experience.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Netherlands Paludiculture Biodiversity 
Organisation Altenburg and Wymenga Ecological Consultants
Country Netherlands 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Bird surveys of Typha paludiculture trials at several locations in Netherlands. Dr Josh Copping led analysis and submission of peer reviewed article of results.
Collaborator Contribution Fieldwork support for bird surveys of paludiculture trials, co-authoring of peer-reviewed article of results. Provision of contextual biodiversity data for paludiculture trials in Netherlands.
Impact Journal article submitted to Ecological Solutions and Evidence, currently accepted, due to be published Feb 2026
Start Year 2024
 
Description Netherlands Paludiculture Biodiversity 
Organisation Bargerveen Foundation
Department Landscape Ecology
Country Netherlands 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Bird surveys of Typha paludiculture trials at several locations in Netherlands. Dr Josh Copping led analysis and submission of peer reviewed article of results.
Collaborator Contribution Fieldwork support for bird surveys of paludiculture trials, co-authoring of peer-reviewed article of results. Provision of contextual biodiversity data for paludiculture trials in Netherlands.
Impact Journal article submitted to Ecological Solutions and Evidence, currently accepted, due to be published Feb 2026
Start Year 2024
 
Description PhD with Dicks group and British Trust for Ornithology 
Organisation British Trust for Ornithology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution A collaborative PhD project with the British Trust for Ornithology to improve the ability of eco acoustics to estimate bird abundance. The partnership was entirely sparked by CLR, because we were talking to BTO about the CLR acoustics data. The PhD student, Ruari is a mathematician and computer scientist, and its the first time someone from his background has been embedded in the Agroecology Group in the Dept of Zoology. Ruari is learning about bird ecology and conservation science, and the Agroecology Group are building capacity in computing, and quantitative methods.
Collaborator Contribution The British Trust for Ornithology bring substantial knowledge about the topic, and support.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2023
 
Description Quadrature Climate Foundation 
Organisation Quadrature Capital Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The QCF are interested in understanding GHG emissions from land use, and how these can be reduced. Our research will contribute to this, and we agreed a set of research projects to extend and expand on CLR objectives. Also, Prof Emily Shuckburgh has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Quadrature Climate Foundation helping to shape their other donations in this topic.
Collaborator Contribution Financial contribution for CLR management and research costs.
Impact tbc
Start Year 2022
 
Description Regenerative agriculture research, RSPB, Leeds University, Cambridge University 
Organisation University of Leeds
Department School of Biology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Literature review, review writing, planning future research proposals
Collaborator Contribution Literature review, review writing, planning future research proposals
Impact Work currently underway on multidisciplinary review of Regenerative Agricultural environmental impacts, part funded by REF policy fund award to R Wade at University of Leeds, with contributions from Leeds and RSPB staff. Research proposal being developed between Leeds, RSPB and University of Cambridge
Start Year 2025
 
Description Schools projects in the Fens 
Organisation Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our work in the Fens has been complimented by a significant amount of work to engage with school children in the Fens region - to educate, to share our research, to expose pupils to new topics and new interests and to fit curriculum goals for local history and geography.
Collaborator Contribution Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The World Beneath our Feet; Working with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, we explored the hidden beauty of the Fens with local schoolchildren, culminating in a pop-up exhibition in Soham. Eels in the Classroom: In Spring 2025, we supported a hands-on outreach project with Cambridgeshire ACRE, bringing live European eel conservation into two Fenland primary schools: Lionel Walden Primary School and Alderman Payne Primary School. With support from the Environment Agency, pupils observed and cared for elvers (baby eels) collected from the River Great Ouse before releasing them at Godmanchester Mill Steps. The project introduced students to eel life cycles, river ecology, and the importance of conservation in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Schools Partnership with Cambridge Science Centre: We partnered with Cambridge Science Centre to deliver Future Fens, a hands-on workshop introducing Upper Key Stage 2 pupils to conversations about landscape change in the Fens. Through discussion, real-world evidence, and a simplified land-use model, students explored how landscapes change over time, weighed different priorities, and built their own future land-use plans - learning that there's no single "right" answer when balancing nature, livelihoods, and everyday life.
Impact Listed elsewhere
Start Year 2024
 
Description Schools projects in the Fens 
Organisation Cambridge Science Centre
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our work in the Fens has been complimented by a significant amount of work to engage with school children in the Fens region - to educate, to share our research, to expose pupils to new topics and new interests and to fit curriculum goals for local history and geography.
Collaborator Contribution Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The World Beneath our Feet; Working with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, we explored the hidden beauty of the Fens with local schoolchildren, culminating in a pop-up exhibition in Soham. Eels in the Classroom: In Spring 2025, we supported a hands-on outreach project with Cambridgeshire ACRE, bringing live European eel conservation into two Fenland primary schools: Lionel Walden Primary School and Alderman Payne Primary School. With support from the Environment Agency, pupils observed and cared for elvers (baby eels) collected from the River Great Ouse before releasing them at Godmanchester Mill Steps. The project introduced students to eel life cycles, river ecology, and the importance of conservation in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Schools Partnership with Cambridge Science Centre: We partnered with Cambridge Science Centre to deliver Future Fens, a hands-on workshop introducing Upper Key Stage 2 pupils to conversations about landscape change in the Fens. Through discussion, real-world evidence, and a simplified land-use model, students explored how landscapes change over time, weighed different priorities, and built their own future land-use plans - learning that there's no single "right" answer when balancing nature, livelihoods, and everyday life.
Impact Listed elsewhere
Start Year 2024
 
Description Schools projects in the Fens 
Organisation Cambridgeshire ACRE
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Our work in the Fens has been complimented by a significant amount of work to engage with school children in the Fens region - to educate, to share our research, to expose pupils to new topics and new interests and to fit curriculum goals for local history and geography.
Collaborator Contribution Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The World Beneath our Feet; Working with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, we explored the hidden beauty of the Fens with local schoolchildren, culminating in a pop-up exhibition in Soham. Eels in the Classroom: In Spring 2025, we supported a hands-on outreach project with Cambridgeshire ACRE, bringing live European eel conservation into two Fenland primary schools: Lionel Walden Primary School and Alderman Payne Primary School. With support from the Environment Agency, pupils observed and cared for elvers (baby eels) collected from the River Great Ouse before releasing them at Godmanchester Mill Steps. The project introduced students to eel life cycles, river ecology, and the importance of conservation in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Schools Partnership with Cambridge Science Centre: We partnered with Cambridge Science Centre to deliver Future Fens, a hands-on workshop introducing Upper Key Stage 2 pupils to conversations about landscape change in the Fens. Through discussion, real-world evidence, and a simplified land-use model, students explored how landscapes change over time, weighed different priorities, and built their own future land-use plans - learning that there's no single "right" answer when balancing nature, livelihoods, and everyday life.
Impact Listed elsewhere
Start Year 2024
 
Description Schools projects in the Fens 
Organisation Environment Agency
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Our work in the Fens has been complimented by a significant amount of work to engage with school children in the Fens region - to educate, to share our research, to expose pupils to new topics and new interests and to fit curriculum goals for local history and geography.
Collaborator Contribution Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The World Beneath our Feet; Working with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, we explored the hidden beauty of the Fens with local schoolchildren, culminating in a pop-up exhibition in Soham. Eels in the Classroom: In Spring 2025, we supported a hands-on outreach project with Cambridgeshire ACRE, bringing live European eel conservation into two Fenland primary schools: Lionel Walden Primary School and Alderman Payne Primary School. With support from the Environment Agency, pupils observed and cared for elvers (baby eels) collected from the River Great Ouse before releasing them at Godmanchester Mill Steps. The project introduced students to eel life cycles, river ecology, and the importance of conservation in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Schools Partnership with Cambridge Science Centre: We partnered with Cambridge Science Centre to deliver Future Fens, a hands-on workshop introducing Upper Key Stage 2 pupils to conversations about landscape change in the Fens. Through discussion, real-world evidence, and a simplified land-use model, students explored how landscapes change over time, weighed different priorities, and built their own future land-use plans - learning that there's no single "right" answer when balancing nature, livelihoods, and everyday life.
Impact Listed elsewhere
Start Year 2024
 
Description Schools projects in the Fens 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Department McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our work in the Fens has been complimented by a significant amount of work to engage with school children in the Fens region - to educate, to share our research, to expose pupils to new topics and new interests and to fit curriculum goals for local history and geography.
Collaborator Contribution Part of the CLR partnership with the Museum of Zoology. Fen Pals Nature Journals featured works created by pupils from two Fenland primary schools with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots, exploring children's connections to the Fen landscape. Using natural objects, pupils printed the covers of their journals and imagined how the Fens might look in the future. We joined Cambridge Zero's Community Day 2025 with hands-on activities exploring the Fens and our research into this unique landscape, alongside partners from the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, sound artist Frazer Merrick, and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. The World Beneath our Feet; Working with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, we explored the hidden beauty of the Fens with local schoolchildren, culminating in a pop-up exhibition in Soham. Eels in the Classroom: In Spring 2025, we supported a hands-on outreach project with Cambridgeshire ACRE, bringing live European eel conservation into two Fenland primary schools: Lionel Walden Primary School and Alderman Payne Primary School. With support from the Environment Agency, pupils observed and cared for elvers (baby eels) collected from the River Great Ouse before releasing them at Godmanchester Mill Steps. The project introduced students to eel life cycles, river ecology, and the importance of conservation in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Schools Partnership with Cambridge Science Centre: We partnered with Cambridge Science Centre to deliver Future Fens, a hands-on workshop introducing Upper Key Stage 2 pupils to conversations about landscape change in the Fens. Through discussion, real-world evidence, and a simplified land-use model, students explored how landscapes change over time, weighed different priorities, and built their own future land-use plans - learning that there's no single "right" answer when balancing nature, livelihoods, and everyday life.
Impact Listed elsewhere
Start Year 2024
 
Description Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) 
Organisation Government of Scotland
Department Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Produced a report summarising work compiled by the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR) led by the University of Cambridge, which has produced several new LiDAR processing pipelines for mapping vegetation and landscape features. Many of these pipelines are developed based on a LiDAR dataset collected in the Cairngorms National Park, so they are specifically applicable for Scottish land covers. We worked with Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government (RESAS) and four research projects lots covering geomorphology, forestry, agriculture and the development of a new Scottish resilience index (led by NatureScot), to produce a detailed account of how these pipelines fit with proposed work in the Scottish land LiDAR programme (detailed below). The main pipelines effectively map shrub height, deadwood, and young colonising trees at landscape scale. Supporting algorithms extract a range of vegetation and geomorphological attributes. Several of these pipelines have been developed into software packages and are readily deployable to upcoming LiDAR datasets. Products of these pipelines support downstream applications, including habitat quality assessments, carbon stock estimations, fire risk modelling, and hydrological analyses.
Collaborator Contribution The Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government (RESAS) has commissioned four research projects lots covering geomorphology, forestry, agriculture and the development of a new Scottish resilience index (led by NatureScot) as part of it's national Land LiDAR programme launched in 2025. Projects covered by the four components lots include improving flood management (lot 1), monitoring peat erosion (lot 1), mapping trees outside woodland (lot 2), estimating carbon stocks (lot 2), mapping vegetation types and habitats (lot 2), monitoring agricultural runoff (lot 3), assessing impacts of grazing (lot 3), and gauging landscape resilience to change and disturbances (lot 4). The CLR is in the process of publishing scientific papers from these data and offering the datasets and code to RESAS in the hope that they will become part of the eventual processing pipelines used by Scottish Government. To this end RESAS hosted a kick-off workshop with CLR and the 4 lot leads in Edinburgh and has facilitated the communications and connection to the four lot leads.
Impact The report is due to be published in the coming days
Start Year 2025
 
Description Wicken Fen Flux Tower Installation 
Organisation National Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat. No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Collaborator Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat.
Impact No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Start Year 2025
 
Description Wicken Fen Flux Tower Installation 
Organisation Quadrature Capital Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat. No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Collaborator Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat.
Impact No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Start Year 2025
 
Description Wicken Fen Flux Tower Installation 
Organisation UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat. No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Collaborator Contribution A partnership between CLR, UKCEH, LP3 funding, Defra, and the National Trust has enabled additional GHG monitoring to take place at Wicken Fen. The Tower itself was paid for by a different UKCEH project, with Wicken Fen providing the fieldsite and significant staff time and effort. QCF provided the funding for a methane analyser for the flux tower, enabling methane emissions to be monitored on one of the only remaiing fragments of original Fen wetland. Hoping to answer questions about methane emissions from waterlogged peat.
Impact No results yet, as the tower has not been in place for a year yet. Results in 2026/7.
Start Year 2025
 
Description 'Birdlife soars on nature-friendly solar farms' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Summary of findings of 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' published on University of Cambridge website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.cam.ac.uk/www.cam.ac.uk/stories/solar-biodiversity-birds
 
Description 'Conversation' article - Solar farm birds paper 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article By Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite in The Conversation, entitled 'Solar farms can host up to three times as many birds as crop fields - new research', detailing results published in Bird Study as 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://theconversation.com/solar-farms-can-host-up-to-three-times-as-many-birds-as-crop-fields-new-...
 
Description 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Summary of findings of 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' published in RSPB website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/solar-farms-managed-for-nature-boost-bird-numbers-and-b...
 
Description 2023 - COP28 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact At COP28, I chaired and spoke on multiple panels on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), contributing to international discussions on research integrity, governance frameworks, industry engagement, and inclusive, nature-based climate solutions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description 2024 - COP29 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact At COP29 (Baku), I chaired and spoke on multiple panels on marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), contributing to international discussions on research integrity, governance frameworks, industry engagement, and inclusive, nature-based climate solutions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description 2025 - COP30 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Over the course of the week, I spoke on multiple panels covering research priorities, industry involvement, international perspectives, and governance frameworks for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). Discussions focused on the role of high-integrity research in scaling mCDR approaches responsibly, the importance of transparent monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), and the need for coordinated international governance mechanisms.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description 2nd Annual BBC Sustainability Symposium: Panel (Emily Shuckburgh) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 2nd Annual BBC Sustainability Symposium: Panel: "How sustainability is not just a nice to have for businesses anymore, its fundamental to their success.

The UK economy needs to stay competitive internationally and achieving our Net Zero goals is therefore key to success."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description 76 individual farm reports providing summary biodiversity data 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact All farms and nature reserves where biodiversity data are collected as part of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (35 separate landowners across two landscapes) have received individual annual reports, summarising the wildlife recorded on their farm, including information about any species of note. The reports also provide benchmarking data, so farms can see how their biodiveristy compares to other similar farms or nature reserves in the same landscape. The biodiversity elements of these reports have been compiled by Dr Jack Shutt and PhD student Neil Mahon. We receive considerable positive feedback from farmers in response.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description AgriFood4NetZero Workshop: Food/Net Zero Nexus in the Fens 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Hosted a Cambridge satellite meeting for the "Food/Net Zero Nexus in the Fens Workshop" with the UKRI AgriFood4NetZero Network. Inc. talk by Chris Evans, Co-I from CLR. March 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Are wetlands our secret weapon for fighting climate change? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Tom Marquand was interviewed on the BBC World Service in an episode of the The Climate Question radio programme called Are wetlands our secret weapon for fighting climate change? In this interview Tom described how the world's wetlands store carbon and can help us tackle some of the impacts of climate change. The radio show also debated whether we are overlooking their importance, and what can be done to protect them more.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5blb
 
Description BES Applied Ecologist Blog 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite edits Restoration theme on BES Applied Ecologist Blog series - blogs so far have included ELSP CLR partners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://appliedecologistsblog.com/category/restoration/
 
Description Back to Nature Exhibition at the Ely Museum 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A temporary exhibition at Ely Museum from 20 July - 30 November 2024. Designed with input from Neil Mahon, PhD student in the Agroecology Group funded by the Centre for Landscape Regeneration. The exhibition champions the environmental initiatives that are taking place across our fenland landscape. It featured a display case including beetles collected and identified by Neil, his entomological equipment and text he co-wrote about Carabid beetles, their role in agriculture and how we study them. Accompanied by a 'Back to Nature' trail around the museum during the summer Holidays.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.elymuseum.org.uk/whats-on-elymuseum/back-to-nature-exhibition/
 
Description Briefing event on Climate Change and Nature in Westminster for cross-party MPs 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Prof Emily Shuckburgh was one of the keynote speakers at a briefing event on Climate Change and Nature in Westminster for cross-party MPs, this included briefing them about the work of the CLR.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description British Ornithologists Union conference presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Josh Copping presented details of his work on land use trade-offs between food, nature and renewable energy at the 'Birds and Net Zero: Mechanisms, impacts and solutions in the transition to clean energy' BOU conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description CISL Business and Climate Change Course 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Emily Shuckburgh was part of the delivery of this course for industry professionals. This course benefits professionals seeking to upskill themselves in climate change risk, adaptation measures, and low carbon innovation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/education/learn-online/business-and-climate-change-towards-net-zero-emiss...
 
Description CNZ Panelist. Emily Shuckburgh 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact CNZ Panellist: WEF's Annual post-COP Review of International Climate Risk, Resilience & Response: Mission Critical Contexts for 2025-2050
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description COP28 Blue Zone Biosphere event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr Shaun Fitzgerald spoke about the work of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration and its role within the University of Cambridge and its focus on climate science at the COP28 Blue Zone in Dubau in December 2023. The event involved an audience drawn from a wide range of countries, representing policy makers, media, the scientific community, and NGOs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description COP28 Blue Zone event in the Higher Education Pavilion 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr Shaun Fitzgerald spoke about the work of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration and its role within the University of Cambridge and its focus on climate science at the COP28 Higher Education Pavillion in Dubau in December 2023. The event involved speakers drawn from the UK and Canada, and an audience drawn from a wide range of countries, representing policy makers, media, the scientific community, and NGOs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description CSaP Blog post 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite authored blog post about Botanic Gardens event entitled 'Exploring the Future of the Fens: Cultivating community insights'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-exploring-future-fens-cultivating-community-insigh/
 
Description Cairngorms Connect Annual Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Cairngorms Connect Annual Conference is a major event that brings together everyone involved in the UK's largest restoration project (bring wildlife back to 600 km2 of the Scottish Highlands), aimed at maintaining the momentum of this complex project which has many moving parts. Our team was invited to give several talks at the conferences
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://cairngormsconnect.org.uk/projects/science-and-monitoring-projects
 
Description Cairngorms Connect Science Working Group. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Cairngorms Connect Science Working Group brings together professionals from the four partners that make up the 600 km2 Cairngorms Connect project as well as representatives from the wider Cairngorms National Park, to set priorities for research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness at conservation actions, for nature, people and the local economy. David Coomes is a member of the WG and joins quarterly meetings which have helped the UK's largest restoration project set its adaptive management priorities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024,2025
 
Description Cairngorms stakeholder survey report 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Short informal feedback report prepared and circulated to land use and business survey by Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite in the Cairngorms National Park area, based on the results of a survey carried out in autumn 2024 by Alix Syder.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Cambridge Botanic Garden Newsletter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We were asked to write an article for the Cambridge Botanical Garden, this led to an interesting discussion around their 'Fens' display and then some fieldwork to learn about the soils in the garden. This was then covered in their newsletter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/CLR_Cambridge/status/1623627377300348928
 
Description Cambridge Conservation Initiative Food and Agriculture Summit Presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Rob Field presented CLR land use scenarios work as part of a presentation of RSPB science and policy work around food and farming a a CCI organised Food and Agriculture Summit at the David Attenborough Building in Cambridge, November 21st 2024
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Cambridge105 Radio Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Laurie Friday (Programme Manager) and Tom Marquand (PhD student) were interviewed on the breakfast show by a local/regional radio station. Laurie and Tom answered questions about the work of the Cambridge research team and the particular socio-economic and environmental science challenges facing the Fenland.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://cambridge105.co.uk/breakfast-01-03-2023-2/
 
Description Cambridgeshire Fens Climate Panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Cambridgeshire Fens Climate Panel with Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Commissioned by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Centre for Landscape Regeneration Annual Stakeholder Meeting Cumbia and Cairngorms 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Talk given at a meeting including academics and local partners - "Large benefits from Wood Pasture"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Chanel US talk (remote to US): Climate Change: Global realities and opportunities for action 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Chanel US talk (remote to US): Climate Change: Global realities and opportunities for action. To present the current data on climate change, including underpinning causes and impacts, as well as opportunities to reach net zero at the societal level.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Channel 4: election film on environment: set around a politicians debate on the issues of climate change and biodiversity loss 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Channel 4: election film on environment: set around a politicians debate on the issues of climate change and biodiversity loss
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.channel4.com/news/are-parties-taking-climate-change-seriously-in-the-election
 
Description Civil Service Climate + Environment Network Talk (Emily Shuckburgh) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Civil Service Climate + Environment Network
CSCEN January Talk: The Importance of Evidence-Based Decisions

At a time when misinformation spreads faster than ever, robust scientific evidence remains our most powerful tool for understanding and tackling climate change.

Thursday 23 January, 13:00-14:00. Microsoft Teams.

Register now to secure you space: https://lnkd.in/dS-iUrBN

We'll be joined by two leading authorities on the science of climate change:
• Professor Robert Watson - Former Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• Professor Emily Shuckburgh - Director, Cambridge Zero

Together, they'll unpack:
? How scientific evidence shapes climate policy
? The challenges of communicating complex climate data
? Why evidence-based decision-making matters more than ever

Unlock the power of data-driven decisions this January!

PLEASE NOTE: This event is for CIVIL SERVANTS and PUBLIC SERVANTS ONLY.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.linkedin.com/posts/civil-service-environment-network_cscen-january-talk-the-importance-o...
 
Description Collaboration with Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination; Exploring the World Beneath Our Feet 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact A Creative Exploration of the Fens
Come Explore the World Beneath Our Feet is a pop-up exhibition and interactive presentation showcasing the results of a collaboration between the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR) and Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination. Working with schoolchildren from Weatheralls and The Shade, the project brings together archaeologists, mycelium (fungi) researchers, and artists to explore the Fens in new and imaginative ways.

"Through creative work developed from these conversations, the exhibition offers insights into the hidden beauty beneath the landscape, inspiring new perspectives on the natural world."

Location: St Andrew's Church, Soham
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/interactive-exhibition-showcases...
 
Description Collaboration with the Museum of Zoology 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact In 2024, the CLR partnered with the Museum of Zoology to bring an exciting outreach programme to fenland schools, engaging 240 pupils (ages 8-11) across four primary schools. Over three sessions, students:

Explored wildlife in their school grounds.
Discovered local wildlife collections at the Museum.
Created collaborative artwork with artist Rebecca Cahill Roots for a Museum exhibition.
The programme culminated in an exhibition displayed throughout the summer holidays, attracting thousands of visitors.

The Wonderful Wetlands Wildlife exhibition was installed in summer 2024 in the Museum's Communities Case, featuring a special event for pupils and their families. Over the summer, nearly 39,000 visitors explored the display, including more than 800 during a dedicated Wonderful Wetlands Wildlife family day in August.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/wetlands-and-wildlife-museum-out...
 
Description Deep Seed and Soil Capital podcast: does regenerative agriculture actually work? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact This video podcast was broadcast on several major podcast channels - Spotify, Apple podcasts and YouTube. It is part of a series on regenerative agriculture, soil health, and ecosystem restoration! The one hour long conversation was an opportunity to publicise existing and forthcoming outputs from the H3 project, as well as other work in the Agroecology group on Zero Budget Natural Farming and flower strips for natural pest control. At time of reporting, there have been 2,800 views on Youtube. Outcomes so far - at least three people contacted Lynn Dicks directly via email or Linkedin to explore future collaboration or use of our H3 data.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2026
URL https://youtu.be/4ZRTITjoXko?si=t79qr8vdIqrp34gZ
 
Description Defra Environmental Land Management Ecology and Ecosystem Services expert panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Lynn Dicks appointed as a Member of Defra Environmental Land Management Ecology and Ecosystem Services expert panel, to inform the design and development of the Environmental Land Management schemes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Defra Lowland Peat/BEIS Wasted Peat Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Organised by UKCEH - Chris Evans. Broad stakeholder meeting with wide community of researchers and stakeholders, e.g. DEFRA, BEIS, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, Environment Agency, FenlandSOIL, ADAS, Farmers, Broads Authority, Local Government as well as a wide variety of academic researchers, including CLR researchers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Economist Films - Now & Next AI & Science 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Economist Films - Now & Next AI & Science
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Emily Shuckburgh on Radio - Today Programme and Nicky Campbell Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact na
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit ECIU climate impacts media briefing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Specifically, the briefing will consider:

How worried should we be by heat records being broken by wide margins on a regular basis and what are the consequences?
Is there is a growing gap between temperatures and impacts, and the acknowledgement and response to them from leaders?
What real world impacts on people and livelihoods are we seeing and how could this evolve over the summer months?
What specifically do escalating climate impacts mean for agriculture around the world, food supplies and food security as well as people's health?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://eciu.net/media/events/media-briefing-off-the-charts-a-year-of-broken-climate-records-how-wor...
 
Description Event at COP29 (Shaun Fitzgerald) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Shaun Fitzgerald spoke on a panel with Heiko Balzter from the University of Leicester and the Land Use for Net Zero Hub about changes in land management practices to help reduce emissions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/cop29-climate-repair
 
Description Feature Article. Ambitious collaborations are bringing biodiversity back to the Scottish Highlands 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Ambitious collaborations are bringing biodiversity back to the Scottish Highlands - an article about our collaboration with Cairngorms Connect as part of the Climate and Nature Campaign from UCam.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/landscape-regeneration-cambridge-partnership
 
Description Fenland wildlife talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Laurie Friday gave a talk, followed by a QnA session, at a Fenland wildlife exhibition in the Cambridgeshire market town of March, as part of a larger exhibition (organised by the Diocese of Ely) displaying art, design and photography work all with a Fenlabd focus. There were a number of small stands from environmental/ wildlife groups providing information on the Fens and its biodiversity (and its problems). Many of the audience were parish, local and county councillors, proividing Dr Friday with a perfect platform from which to engage further with local decision makers on the work of the CLR in the region.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Fens scenario workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite ran a workshop with 25 key stakeholders to gain their input for Catherine's and Josh's WP3 research (the modelling of future potential land management scenarios) in the CLR work programme. The stakeholders were engaged in in-depth conversations about the future of the Fens, and their just, fair and socioeconomic perspectives of likely accpetability boundaries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Festival of Plants, Cambridge Botanic Garden 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite organised an event as part of the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens Festival of Plants. The event, titled 'Exploring the Future of the Fens', aimed to deepen the public's understanding and connection to the Fenland landscape, exploring their perceptions and knowledge while providing a space for conversation with researchers working on Fenland regeneration. Over 150 members of the public took part, ranging in age from under 10 to 60+.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-exploring-future-fens-cultivating-community-insigh/
 
Description Festival of plants event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite organised an event at the Cambridge Festival of Plants at Cambridge Botanic Gardens, entitled 'Exploring the Future of the Fens'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/whats-on/festival-of-plants-2024/
 
Description Future Fens; Cambridge Science Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 'Future Fens' is an interactive workshop designed to increase awareness of the diversity and interconnectedness of the work of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration to support future planning for Fenland. Aimed at students from Year 5 and Year 6, they will take on pivotal roles in the Fenland community, including farmer, business manager and urban planner. As they develop their roles, they will collaborate together to negotiate a consensus decision for the future of the Fens. Taking their decisions forward, they will model the group results and see how the different decisions affect them.

Together they will use their experiences, case studies and research to find STEM solutions to future changes in Fenland.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024,2025
URL https://www.cambridgesciencecentre.org/schools-workshop-future-fens/
 
Description Guardian Interview about carbon credit schemes 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Coomes was interviewed by the Guardian newspaper about some recent research on some of the challenges being faced by companies trading in and/or certifying carbon offsetting. Verra have now changed their business model. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/10/biggest-carbon-credit-certifier-replace-rainforest-offsets-scheme-verra-aoe
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/18/revealed-forest-carbon-offsets-biggest-provider-...
 
Description HotSat-1: UK spacecraft maps heat variations across Earth 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Emily was aked to provide comments on a novel UK satellite that had just returned its first pictures of heat variations across the surface of the Earth, which is particularly important for climate-related matters. Not only was the story covered by thr BBC website, Emily was also interviewed on BBC Radio 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001r1ph
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67010377
 
Description Hundreds of UK scientists and academics urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to prevent any new oil and gas field development 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact A letter initiated by Cambridge Zero Director Professor Emily Shuckburgh told the Prime Minister that the latest global report on climate change demonstrates now is the time to channel all our efforts into renewable energy: "Last Monday the IPCC made it clear that immediate action is required to avert a climate catastrophe. Now is the time to be investing in the technologies of the future, not the past."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk/who-we-are/blog/news/hundreds-uk-scientists-and-academics-urge-prime-mini...
 
Description In Conversation: Emily Shuckburgh / Nik Gowing: "insights into the latest scientific developments and discuss innovative pathways to address the climate emergency" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Swedish Chamber of Commerce. Impact 2024 / Nike Gowing, 'Thinking the Unthinkable'
In Conversation: Emily Shuckburgh / Nik Gowing: "insights into the latest scientific developments and discuss innovative pathways to address the climate emergency"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description In conversation with Prof Emily Shuckburgh and Dan Labbad, Crown Estates 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact In conversation with Prof Emily Shuckburgh and Dan Labbad, Crown Estates
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Interactive Workshop: Exploring the impacts of paludiculture on the natural environment 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Nigel Taylor, CLR PDRA gave a talk at this stakeholder event about his work on exploration of biodiversity impacts of paludiculture farming.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.paludiculture.org.uk/event-details/interactive-workshop-exploring-the-impacts-of-paludic...
 
Description Interview re "effective public communication of required science to "We the Peoples of the UN determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Interview re "effective public communication of required science to "We the Peoples of the UN determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" as part of the 80th anniversary of the UN / Michael Wadleigh Filmmaker
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Invited attendance at Aurora Trust conference / workshop on the future of UK agriculture 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr Richard Bradbury and Prof Lynn Dicks were invited attendees at a 2-day meeting convened by the Aurora Trust (Sainsbury's family) in Cambridge in March 2024. The goal was to bring diverse people together to discuss the future of UK farming, from gene editing to regenerative farming, sparking dialogue and debate, forging new collaborations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://auroratrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Biographies-of-attendees-1.pdf
 
Description Joint Oxford/Cambridge workshop on nature recovery in the Scottish Highlands 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This was a joint workshop between staff from the CLR, the Oxford Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery with disciplinary expertise across ecology, forestry, geography, sociology, land economy, and computation. The intended purpose of the workshop was to facilitate networking, sharing, coordinating, and further research and publications across landscape restoration, regeneration, rewilding and recovery interdisciplinary research, with a focus on the Scottish Highlands. A follow-up event is in the planning stages to be held in Scotland, with Cambridge, Oxford, and Scottish University participation in addition to local research staff from NGOs. The most significant planned impact is a multi-authored article on eco-social research that is currently in development.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Keynote speech -Net-Zero Banking Alliance member conference (London): the latest science of climate change and the urgent need to decarbonise the economy globally. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Keynote speech -Net-Zero Banking Alliance member conference (London): the latest science of climate change and the urgent need to decarbonise the economy globally.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Meeting with Mid-Level Commissioner to discuss scenario work and water levels 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Meeting between Rob Field, Josh Copping and Richard Bradbury and Chair of the Mid-Level Commissioners to discuss our scenario modelling work and water levels in the mi-level (21/3/25)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Member of Steering Group for a British Ecological Society policy report on regenerative agriculture 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The British Ecological Society Policy Committee commissioned a report on ecological science surrounding regenerative agriculture. Lynn Dicks was on the steering group that shaped the report, structured the chapters, selected authors and oversaw the content. The report is due to be published on 26 March 2025.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Natural England East of England presentation by Dr Laurie Friday 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited presentation at the annual meeting of the Natural England East of England team on the challenges of co-ordinating a highly interdisciplinary research team and engaging effectively with stakeholder organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Nestle Exec Board Members visited UK farms and Emily spoke at dinner hosted at Trinity Hall. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Nestle Exec Board Members visited UK farms and Emily spoke at dinner hosted at Trinity Hall. Emily was able to raise awareness of the work of the CLR, its funding by UKRI/NERC and the role of the wider University in supporting research on climate, environmental issues and agriculture.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description New Changing the Environment Programme Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact AS part of working across the CtE projects, we created a joint website for all 4 projects. Showcasing our approach and impact.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024,2025
URL https://changingtheenvironment.org/
 
Description New website and Twitter account 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact New website and twitter account launched.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://twitter.com/CLR_Cambridge
 
Description Nurturing nature 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Laurie Friday was interviewed for the Newnham College Roll, an annual printed newsletter sent to any current or past student from Newnham College - the reach of this newsletter is global and is measured in the thousands. Within the article Dr Friday spoke about the work of the CLR in the region, the funding provided by UKRI/NERC and therefore raising the profile of both the Univeristy and the funder in the eyes of the alumni of Newnham College.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Paludiculture Birds poster presented at FenlandSOIL conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Drs Josh Copping & Catherine Waite presented poster describing findings of 'Typha-based paludiculture offers potential for greater bird species abundance and diversity than drained agricultural grassland' at FenlandSOIL conference in Ely January 2025
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Paludiculture: Exploring the way forward for wetter farming in England 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact A workshop was organized and convened in Cambridge in January 2022 in partnership with the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB), FenlandSOIL and Natural England around the future prospects for paludiculture, ie the potential for farming on re-wetted peatlands. There were approximately 100 attendees over 2 days and speakers from some European countries with large expanses of lowland peat that is or could be used for paludiculture.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.paludiculture.org.uk/event-details/exploring-the-way-forward-for-wetter-farming-in-engla...
 
Description Practical Soil Science Workshop on Fenland soils 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Two workshops on practical soil science were ran by Dr Katy Faulkener, one to cover the Earith and Manea districts and a second to cover Barway and Pymoor. These events were attended by a key local stakeholder group (Fenland SOIL), local farmers, landowners and a soil surveyor, Rodney Burton. The events were desigmed to train attendees in aspects of soil science in order for landowners to conduct simple experiments on soil health themselves.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation and discussion with Fenland Soil (21/7/25) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Josh Copping presented Scenario work to date with members of Fenland SOIL, including gathering of relevant practical input to steer scenarios.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Presentation to 'Organisms, Ecology & evolution' group of School of biological sciences group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite presented talk entitled 'Exploring the future of the Fens through land-use scenario modelling'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to Darwin College, Cambridge 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite presented a talk entitled 'Exploring potential future landscapes with land-use scenario modelling' to Darwin College
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to Natural England licensing team 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited presentation to the Natural England Licensing Team about the range and scope of the CLR project including methods for effective engagement with key stakeholder organisations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Quoted in Guardian article about the role of pesticides in insect decline 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Lynn Dicks was interviewed for, and quoted in an article by Helena Horton, Environment Reporter, about insect decline and the link to pesticide use.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/19/i-have-seen-the-decline-pesticides-linke...
 
Description RMetS: virtual session for ITV regional journalists (Emily Shuckburgh) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact RMetS: virtual session for ITV regional journalists and weather team: Cambridge Zero's ongoing work and future priorities to help influence the news agenda through 2025.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description RSPB Fens local conservation team 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Regular meetings of Drs Josh Copping, Richard Bradbury and Rob Field with RSPB Fens area conservation officers and managers, to enhance local context of research and to make use of RSPB farmer networks.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Radio Interview - BBC Cambridge 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Isobel Morris interviewed about 'Solar farms managed for nature can boost bird numbers and biodiversity' published in Bird Study.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Radio Interview - BBC Radio4, Farming Today. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Josh Copping interviewed about the findings of the paper 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' published in Bird Study. 21/2/25
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00282w0
 
Description Radio interview - Afternoon Show; BBC Radio Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Dr Josh Copping interviewed about findings of study 'Solar farms managed for nature can boost bird numbers and biodiversity' published in Bird Study, by radio presenter Louise Hulland. 13/2/25
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kl1gkh
 
Description Regenerative Pioneers Foundation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact An afternoon and evening event with significant funders. Lynn Dicks presented on how to tackle insect decline, including data from the SUFICA, GLiTRS and CLR projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Science-on-sundays 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact "Why wetlands? The role of wetlands in climate change" Science on Sundays - Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Talk by CLR PhD Student Tom Marquand.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Seminar on Fenland soil 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact With Dr Faulkener, an experienced (50+ years) soil surveyor gave a presentation and Q&A on Fenland soils. The purpose of the activity was to introduce CLR researchers and project leaders to the different soil types in the fens, previous studies and research on fenland soils, and how to sample and describe these soils. The event was highly impactful; firstly, it provided the required background for researchers to select appropriate field sites and develop methodology. Secondly, it was an opportunity to ask questions and queries with an expert in the field, who also provided numerous resources (e.g. maps, guides) which have been very useful to a number of CLR projects.

This event was the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between Rodney Burton and CLR researchers which has led to a lot of knowledge exchange. Since this event, further workshops have been hosted with Rodney Burton which have been attended by farmers, landowners, Fenland Soil representatives and academics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Solar Birds poster at FenlandSOIL conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Drs Josh Copping & Catherine Waite presented poster describing findings of 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' at FenlandSOIL conference in Ely January 2025
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Solar farms managed for nature can benefit bird abundance and diversity 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Press release circulated about the publication of 'Solar farms managed for nature can benefit bird abundance and diversity' in Bird Study, containing quotes from Drs Josh Copping and Catherine Waite, as well as Beccy Speight, CEO of RSPB.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Speaker at the ZSL/BES Land Use Summit, 16 April 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A one-day summit focussing on strategic land use prioritisation in the midst of a triple planetary crisis. Lynn Dicks was an invited speaker, and spoke about regenerative agriculture, specifically the work of the H3 project. The event was subsequently written up into a report that is cited in the consultation document for the Land Use Framework: Pettorelli et al. (2024) Prioritising Land Use in the Midst of a Climate and Nature Emergency - Ten Key Messages for Scientists, Civil Society, and Policy Makers. Lynn Dicks is a co-author of this report, which can be found here: https://issuu.com/zoologicalsocietyoflondon/docs/land_use_report
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/events/land-use-summit
 
Description TV Interview - That's TV, Cambridge 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Josh Copping interviewed about the findings of 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' published in Bird Study.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description TV interview - Anglia News ITV 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Catherine Waite interviewed on ITN Anglia evening News about the findings of 'Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape' published in Bird Study. 13/2/25
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
 
Description Talk at Cambridge Science Festival, 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Shaun Fitzgerald gave a talk at the Cambridge Science Festival 2022 on a theme around the ethics of energy: with the focus on cutting emissions rapidly and the acceleration to NetZero, what are the ethical implication for what is billed as the next global revolution?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.energy.cam.ac.uk/events/cambridge-festival-2022-ethics-energy
 
Description Talk at the Ely Museum by Neil Mahon: Predators and Pollinators in the Fens 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An evening event at the Ely Museum, to accompany an exhibition about nature-friendly farming featuring some of our work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Talk by Adam Pellegrini 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Adam Pellegrini (Co-I) "New framework for carbon offsets in global drylands" Energy and Environment Group lecture series. March 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Talk by Tom Marquand 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The East Anglia Fens: Crop Productivity and Climate Vulnerability", Cambridge Global Food Security, Coffee Break Seminars, November 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://sms.cam.ac.uk/media/4109817
 
Description Talk to Robert Arkenstall Primary School 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Our director @emilyshuckburgh talked about the Antarctica and her new ladybird book on #ClimateChange to students at the Robert Arkenstall Primary School.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/CambridgeZero/status/1674769023542624258
 
Description Talk to the March Society 'Future-proofing the Fens' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Laurie Friday gave a talk (Solutions for the current challenges facing the Fens landscape and its population, including restoration of biodiversity, are being researched by the Centre's academics and researchers) to the March Society. Dr Friday provided facts and information about the current challenges facing the Fens landscape and its population. She explained that Fenland crops are an essential part of the UK's economy and its food security. However, continuous drying out and shrinkage of this fertile peat land has resulted in the Fens being the UK's highest emitter of the greenhouse gas: carbon dioxide. Solutions for these other urgent local problems, including restoration of biodiversity, are being researched by the CLR's group of academics and researchers, who are working with farmers, landowners, conservation groups, policy makers and local communities to address and mitigate the undesirable effects of our Fenland's unique peat-based farming. Dr Friday was able to raise the profile of the CLR, its research aims, and its funder UKRI/NERC to an important local stakeholder group, and which was also picked up by local print media. Pls see the link below for the article in the Cambs Times on Dr Friday's talk
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/23896484.cambridge-uni-dr-laurie-friday-future-proofing-fens/?ref=...
 
Description Thinking the Unthinkable Podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact New Narrative podcast: "how to generate urgently a new narrative?"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Times interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Rob Field contributed to interview with Ben Spencer about Fenland land use, food production, conservation and peat at Lakenheath fen, with RSPB site manager (Dave Rogers) and Tom Lancaster at ECIU. Other CLR stakeholders also contributed - FenlandSOIL farmers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/ferns-cambridgeshire-sustainable-farming-carbon-foot...
 
Description Top Tier Impact Nature and Biodiversity Summit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This TTI Summit gathered 100 highly selected family offices, asset managers, GPs and thought leaders in nature & biodiversity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.toptierimpact.com/tti-summit-nature-biodiversity-investing
 
Description Turning Source to Sink (Tom Marquand) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact An article about our PhD student Tom Marquand.

Turning Source to Sink: Can the Fens Help Combat Climate Change?
The Fenlands of eastern England are known as the breadbasket of Britain, producing around a third of the nation's vegetables and employing roughly 80,000 people in the agricultural food chain.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2025
URL https://www.clr.conservation.cam.ac.uk/projects/cambridgeshire-fens/turning-source-sink-can-fens-hel...
 
Description UK scientists urge Rishi Sunak to halt new oil and gas developments 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact An open letter signed by over 700 leading climate scientists was organised by Prof. E Shuckburgh and delivered to the UK Government asking it to ensure the UK demonstrates international leadership by acting on the latest warnings about the escalating climate crisis. This means including in the forthcoming revised net zero strategy a commitment not to approve any new development of onshore or offshore oil and gas fields.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/29/uk-scientists-rishi-sunak-oil-and-gas-developmen...
 
Description University of Cambridge Climate and Nature Communications Campaign 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Bhaskar Vira and Emily Shuckburgh were both profiled as part of this new UCam website to showcase climate and nature research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://www.cam.ac.uk/climate-and-nature
 
Description Varsity Article by Tom Marquand 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact ? T I Marquand & S Salhan (2023), Cambridge at the Bottom of Tripos for Sustainability: Climate Expert breaks down how student climate activists can help, Varsity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.varsity.co.uk/science/24940/
 
Description Visit to Environment Agency at Denver Sluice 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Visit by Drs Rob Field and Ross Morrison (UKCEH) to Environment Agency facility at Denver Sluice to discuss practical functioning of the high and low level drainage systems of the Fens and the Great Ouse catchment, in relation to water availability and future land use changes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description What do windscreen splats tell us about insect decline? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Prof Lynn Dicks was interviewed on the BBC World Service about the decline in the number of flying insects and how researchers have encouraged citizen scientists to count and report the number of insect 'splats' they find on their windscreen after drivng through rural areas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5b71
 
Description Wicken Fen Open Day for Farmers 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr Laurie Friday hosted a delegation of Fenland farmers at Wicken Fen to talk to them about conservation and biodiversity in the Fens.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description expert panel to discuss passive cooling in a heating world 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Fitzgerald was a panel member discussing the role of passive colling in the broader context of emissions reduction in tackling climate change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/news/article-passive-cooling-hotter-world/