Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach (RENEW)
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Vice Chancellor
Abstract
We are in a biodiversity crisis. A million species of plants and animals are threatened with global extinction, and wildlife populations across much of the planet have been dramatically reduced, perhaps by as much as a half in recent decades. This is of profound concern because biodiversity underpins human existence. Biodiversity provides the foundation of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life. Increasing numbers of people, organisations and governments recognise the need to reverse the perilous state of our ecological inheritance. However, while there is unprecedented willingness to act, what we do not know is what will work most effectively to renew biodiversity and ensure continued delivery of its benefits.
The Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach (RENEW) programme will develop solutions to the renewal of biodiversity. We will work, with a sense of urgency, to reshape understanding and action on biodiversity renewal across scales, creating knowledge at the cutting edge of global debates and policy development, and influencing national institutions, communities and individuals. We know that understanding of, and action on, renewal must take a step change and we will focus on the agency of people in nature, both as part of the problem and as the solution. We focus on a set of challenges: how popular support for biodiversity renewal can be harnessed; how populations that are disengaged, disadvantaged, or disconnected from nature can benefit from inclusion in solutions development; how renewal activities can be designed and delivered by diverse sets of land-managers and interest groups; and how biodiversity renewal can most effectively be embedded in finance and business activities (as has occurred with carbon accounting and climate change). This sits alongside the scientific and technical development necessary to underpin solutions options.
Biodiversity renewal is a complex and whole system problem. The solutions require the creation of a new kind of inclusive and diverse research community, one that transcends traditional boundaries between the disciplines needed to tackle the environmental crises of the Anthropocene. Solutions also need to address the inequalities and lack of diversity found in current renewal practices. RENEW has therefore prioritised partnership building, to allow us to combine research with experiment, learning, sharing, outreach and impact, across relevant organisations and wider communities.
Our approach means that practical impact is guaranteed. With the National Trust as co-owners of RENEW, we will have significant reach through their membership, outreach programs and public voice. Alongside other key partners in RENEW, our links are responsible for or have influence over much of the UK landscape in which biodiversity renewal activities need to occur. We will use the many landscape-scale nature activities currently underway (or planned in the near future) to develop learning, as if they were 'real time' experiments.
The UK is one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world. Our ways of working in RENEW, the knowledge we develop, and the solutions we propose, will be of international importance. The lessons we learn will enable future biodiversity researchers and practitioners around the world to do better science, and deliver fairer outcomes.
The Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach (RENEW) programme will develop solutions to the renewal of biodiversity. We will work, with a sense of urgency, to reshape understanding and action on biodiversity renewal across scales, creating knowledge at the cutting edge of global debates and policy development, and influencing national institutions, communities and individuals. We know that understanding of, and action on, renewal must take a step change and we will focus on the agency of people in nature, both as part of the problem and as the solution. We focus on a set of challenges: how popular support for biodiversity renewal can be harnessed; how populations that are disengaged, disadvantaged, or disconnected from nature can benefit from inclusion in solutions development; how renewal activities can be designed and delivered by diverse sets of land-managers and interest groups; and how biodiversity renewal can most effectively be embedded in finance and business activities (as has occurred with carbon accounting and climate change). This sits alongside the scientific and technical development necessary to underpin solutions options.
Biodiversity renewal is a complex and whole system problem. The solutions require the creation of a new kind of inclusive and diverse research community, one that transcends traditional boundaries between the disciplines needed to tackle the environmental crises of the Anthropocene. Solutions also need to address the inequalities and lack of diversity found in current renewal practices. RENEW has therefore prioritised partnership building, to allow us to combine research with experiment, learning, sharing, outreach and impact, across relevant organisations and wider communities.
Our approach means that practical impact is guaranteed. With the National Trust as co-owners of RENEW, we will have significant reach through their membership, outreach programs and public voice. Alongside other key partners in RENEW, our links are responsible for or have influence over much of the UK landscape in which biodiversity renewal activities need to occur. We will use the many landscape-scale nature activities currently underway (or planned in the near future) to develop learning, as if they were 'real time' experiments.
The UK is one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world. Our ways of working in RENEW, the knowledge we develop, and the solutions we propose, will be of international importance. The lessons we learn will enable future biodiversity researchers and practitioners around the world to do better science, and deliver fairer outcomes.
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Lead Research Organisation)
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (Collaboration)
- Duchy of Cornwall (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Collaboration)
- Yorkshire Water (Collaboration)
- FareShare (Collaboration)
- Cornwall College (Collaboration)
- Forestry Commission (Collaboration)
- British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Collaboration)
- UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY (Collaboration)
- The Wildlife Trusts (Collaboration)
- Church of England (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Amazon.com (Collaboration)
- The British Library (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL TRUST (Collaboration)
- Foundation for Common Land (Collaboration)
- University of Exeter (Collaboration)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (Collaboration)
- NatureScot (Collaboration)
- South Downs National Park (Collaboration)
- The Eden Project (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- NATURAL ENGLAND (Collaboration)
- Severn Trent Water (Collaboration)
- Confederation of British Industry (CBI) (Collaboration)
- West Sussex County Council (Collaboration)
- Cornwall Council (Collaboration)
- Forestry England (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- National Farmers Union (Collaboration)
- British Ecological Society (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Woodland Trust (Collaboration)
- The Poetry Society (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) (Collaboration)
- Plymouth City Council (Collaboration)
- Forest Research (Collaboration)
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (Collaboration)
- Federated Hermes (Project Partner)
- British Library (Project Partner)
- Ministry of Defence (Project Partner)
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Project Partner)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Project Partner)
- Severn Trent Water (Project Partner)
- NatureScot (Project Partner)
- National Trust for Scotland (Project Partner)
- NatWest Group (Project Partner)
- The Wildlife Trusts (UK) (Project Partner)
- Future Parks Accelerator (Project Partner)
- WBCSD (World Business Council Sust Dev) (Project Partner)
- Triodos Bank (Project Partner)
- Amazon Web Services (Not UK) (Project Partner)
- Wells Fargo Asset Management (Project Partner)
- Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA (Project Partner)
- National Biodiversity Network Trust (Project Partner)
- Natural England (Project Partner)
- HSBC Bank Plc (Project Partner)
- Backbone (Project Partner)
- Lloyds Banking Group (Project Partner)
- BookTrust (Project Partner)
- National Farmers Union (NFU) (Project Partner)
- Yorkshire Water (Project Partner)
- Confederation of British Industry (Project Partner)
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Project Partner)
Publications
Anon
(2022)
The nature of business
Baker D
(2024)
Effective strategies for correcting spatial sampling bias in species distribution models without independent test data
in Diversity and Distributions
Baker D
(2025)
Aligning strategic and participatory approaches to agri-environment scheme design and implementation to enhance nature recovery outcomes
in People and Nature
Bavin D
(2024)
Seeing the Forest for the Deer
Delacote P
(2024)
Strong transparency required for carbon credit mechanisms
in Nature Sustainability
Delahay R
(2023)
Biodiversity in residential gardens: a review of the evidence base
in Biodiversity and Conservation
Gardner A
(2023)
The effectiveness of UK protected areas in preventing local extinctions
in Conservation Letters
Gaston K
(2023)
Personalised ecology and the future of biodiversity
in Cambridge Prisms: Extinction
Gaston K
(2024)
The Parliamentarians' Guide to Climate Change
Gaston K
(2024)
Characterizing personalized ecologies
in Journal of Zoology
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/W004941/1 | 31/01/2022 | 30/01/2027 | |||
| 2739420 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2026 | Daveron Smith |
| 2777584 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/01/2027 | Sophie Stenson |
| 2777573 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 31/12/2027 | Rebecca Edgerley |
| 2777562 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/01/2027 | Caleb Parkin |
| 2739371 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/10/2027 | Emma Squire |
| 2760615 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/01/2027 | Anqi Liu |
| 2760684 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/01/2027 | Shashanika Wijekoon Herath Mudiyanselage |
| 2783455 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 09/01/2023 | 08/01/2027 | Patrick Quaye |
| 2808333 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 31/03/2023 | 30/03/2027 | Joanna Furtado |
| 2863763 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 30/06/2023 | 29/06/2027 | Will Bugg |
| 2947236 | Studentship | NE/W004941/1 | 30/09/2024 | 29/09/2028 | Zdenek Plesek |
| Description | Collaboration in practice (Call for evidence on Engineering Biology) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-vision-for-engineering-biology |
| Description | Defra Science Advisory Council and Biodiversity Expert Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/people/rosie-hails |
| Description | Independent evidence review of protected site management on Dartmoor |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-independent-evidence-review-on-dartmoor |
| Description | Local Nature Recovery Strategy - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| URL | https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/nature-recovery-plan-overview |
| Description | NERC Council - Kevin Gaston |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Treasury Green Book Biodiversity Working Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-govern... |
| Description | UoE Biodiversity Task and Finish Group |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/specificsites/sustainability/docs/Biodiversity_Task_and_Finish_Grou... |
| Description | AHRC IAA - Agriculture and conservation in conversation: mobilising the power of oral history for knowledge exchange and exploring common ground |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Description | Policy Support Fund LNRS |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Cornwall Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | RENEW Biodiversity Natural England Partnership |
| Amount | £880,865 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | RENEW Biodiversity Natural England Studentships |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | RENEW National Trust Studentship |
| Amount | £25,422 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | RENEW studentship - Generative AI for Biodiversity/Conservation |
| Amount | £60,128 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 09/2028 |
| Title | Data for: The meta-analysis of the effects of spatial sampling bias correction on presence only species distribution models |
| Description | This dataset contains information extracted from 70 studies identified through a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature (Web of Science and SCOPUS databases both searched on the 13/02/2023) to evaluate the effect of spatial sampling bias correction methods in presence-only species distribution models. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | New insight into species distribution modelling |
| URL | https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.9zw3r22j1 |
| Title | Ebrel: species mapping model |
| Description | Drawing together multiple datasets relating to species distribution and habitat types, the mapping tool will inform conservation management decisions. It is currently being tested with farmers and land managers to understand its usefulness and refine the presentation of data. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The model has been used to support engagement with groups of farmers and land managers around opportunities for landscape scale conservation planning. |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/mapping-farmer-led-opportunities-for-nature-recovery/ |
| Title | LCA analysis |
| Description | Using a Life Cycle Assessment approach, RENEW has developed a methodology for business to understand their biodiversity impact across different areas of operation. An initial pilot with the National Trust is near completion, screening analysis is complete and has provided a 'heatmap' of biodiversity impacts which can be used to inform decisions around interventions. A second pilot with the University of Exeter will commence shortly and we are currently finalising the agreement with a third pilot organisation. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The analysis allows organisations to identify their biggest biodiversity impacts, inform decision-making and prioritisation around interventions. |
| Title | Oral histories of biodiversity and environmental science collaboration |
| Description | Oral histories of biodiversity collaboration and of wider environmental science collaboration, which will be formally deposited with the British Library's oral history archival collections later this year. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The dataset is being used in RENEW research and constitutes a significant body of data which will be available to researchers when published later this year. |
| Description | AWS/RENEW |
| Organisation | Amazon.com |
| Department | Amazon Web Services |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | BES/RENEW |
| Organisation | British Ecological Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. Members of the RENEW team had a popular stand at BES conference showcasing work from across the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. Two BES colleagues attended RENEW Biodiversity Parliament 2024. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Bog Talk |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This work which spans RENEW Themes 2 (Communities) and 3 (Land managers) involves creative and deliberative work with communities in different parts of the country. RENEW Theme 2 are commissioning new creative work connected to the bogs, and have worked with the Poetry Society to shape creative work with communities on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. In partnership with the South West Peatland Partnership, they have worked with approximately 120 children across three different primary schools in Plymouth. These were with children in Years 4 and 6, and included the use of education resources from the project (sound archives and exercises, bog information) and a bog-in-a-box and resources from the South West Peatland Partnership. We are in the process of organising for these schools to carry out a fieldtrip to Dartmoor with the SWPP in the spring when the weather is more appropriate and predictable for children to be out on the moor. A Peat Poetry event was held at Customs House in Exeter with Literature Works, bringing together peat practitioners, scientific peat monitoring staff from the University of Exeter, poets, staff from the Poetry Society, young poets, archaeologists, literature academics from the University of Exeter. An evening poetry event attracted an audience of 100 people (in person and online), and included readings from Fiona Benson, Ella Duffy, Melanie Giles, Philippa Johnson, Richard Scott, Clare Shaw and John Wedgwood Clarke. RENEW Theme 3 have run deliberative workshops with land managers in the Peak District. These have provided rich insight which has been shared informally with Natural England via meetings and presentations, as well as a written report. We are in discussion with Natural England about potential practical responses and next steps. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work, through their Protected Sites Strategy programme. The Poetry Society and South West Peatland Partnership are involved in the creative elements, working with RENEW's Theme 2 (Communities). The Poetry Society have commissioned new work on bogs by poets and led workshops with schools, and are creating school resource packs for wider use. |
| Impact | Findings from the deliberative work are being shared with Natural England; details of any publication are tbc. Some creative outputs have been published, with more to follow. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Bog Talk |
| Organisation | The Poetry Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This work which spans RENEW Themes 2 (Communities) and 3 (Land managers) involves creative and deliberative work with communities in different parts of the country. RENEW Theme 2 are commissioning new creative work connected to the bogs, and have worked with the Poetry Society to shape creative work with communities on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. In partnership with the South West Peatland Partnership, they have worked with approximately 120 children across three different primary schools in Plymouth. These were with children in Years 4 and 6, and included the use of education resources from the project (sound archives and exercises, bog information) and a bog-in-a-box and resources from the South West Peatland Partnership. We are in the process of organising for these schools to carry out a fieldtrip to Dartmoor with the SWPP in the spring when the weather is more appropriate and predictable for children to be out on the moor. A Peat Poetry event was held at Customs House in Exeter with Literature Works, bringing together peat practitioners, scientific peat monitoring staff from the University of Exeter, poets, staff from the Poetry Society, young poets, archaeologists, literature academics from the University of Exeter. An evening poetry event attracted an audience of 100 people (in person and online), and included readings from Fiona Benson, Ella Duffy, Melanie Giles, Philippa Johnson, Richard Scott, Clare Shaw and John Wedgwood Clarke. RENEW Theme 3 have run deliberative workshops with land managers in the Peak District. These have provided rich insight which has been shared informally with Natural England via meetings and presentations, as well as a written report. We are in discussion with Natural England about potential practical responses and next steps. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work, through their Protected Sites Strategy programme. The Poetry Society and South West Peatland Partnership are involved in the creative elements, working with RENEW's Theme 2 (Communities). The Poetry Society have commissioned new work on bogs by poets and led workshops with schools, and are creating school resource packs for wider use. |
| Impact | Findings from the deliberative work are being shared with Natural England; details of any publication are tbc. Some creative outputs have been published, with more to follow. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CBI/RENEW |
| Organisation | Confederation of British Industry (CBI) |
| Department | Confederation of British Industries |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on report. RENEW Theme 4 (Business and Finance) team helped design the survey questions, and helped with drafting of the report. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Carried out survey of businesses. Led the drafting of report and communications on publication. CBI are also working with RENEW Theme 4 (Finance and Business) to help recruit participants for work on barriers/enablers for businesses in biodiversity management and reporting. |
| Impact | Contributed to the joint CBI Economics/University of Exeter report 'The Nature of Business'. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Church Commissioners/RENEW |
| Organisation | Church of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities, particularly in relation to biodiversity dashboard for business (RENEW Theme 4). |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Duchy/RENEW |
| Organisation | Duchy of Cornwall |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities, particularly in relation to RENEW Theme 3 (Land Managers) work on modelling of species data and biodiversity recovery opportunities. PSS filming took place on Duchy land, facilitated by tenant farmers (see separate record). |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | EDI work (NERC/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Working with the environmental and conservation sector on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Working with the environmental and conservation sector on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. |
| Impact | Draft briefing paper produced and presented at RENEW's Biodiversity Parliament 2024. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | EXPLORE pilot |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) are working with Natural England on their EXPLORE tool to help local authority decision-making (Note: EXPLORE was previously known as the HWNS (Health, Wellbeing, Nature and Sustainability) tool). RENEW researchers are advising and contributing to aspects of design and working alongside Natural England, digital contractor (Panlogic Ltd) and local authority stakeholders. They work on a week-to-week basis with the development team and partners within Natural England, and have produced guidance for Natural England to inform the digital development of HWNS/EXPLORE, with Natural England and Panlogic. RENEW's Jamie Macauley has begun work on the Facilitation Steering Group (group includes representatives from Natural England, Environment Agency, Local Partnerships and Risk Solutions). Jamie Macauley and Professor Oliver James continue to engage with EXPLORE partners including colleagues in Natural England, local government officers and policy area specialists to continue to develop the tool and are undertaking a process evaluation with Natural England. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England are funding and leading the conceptualisation and development of the EXPLORE tool, and have engaged local authorities in the process. They meet with RENEW team members on a regular basis. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Guidance documents have been produced for Natural England to inform development of the tool. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Eden/RENEW |
| Organisation | The Eden Project |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. RENEW researchers have run a seminar on systematic conservation planning for nature recovery. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. Eden Project Communities are participating in ExCASES mission on care for urban trees, and a representative from Eden's National Wildflower Centre attended RENEW's Biodiversity Parliament in 2022 and 2023. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Evaluating access interventions on UK coastline (RENEW Theme 1) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Researchers on RENEW Theme 1 are analysing access interventions on the UK coastline. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England are funding the work and working closely with RENEW on the methodology and analysis. National Trust fed in to scoping and development of the proposal, and are providing data and expert input as the research progresses. |
| Impact | Work is nearing completion. Emerging findings are being discussed with Natural England as part of our ongoing partnership. The work has been presented to Natural England and Defra colleagues (see Engagement section) with roles in access to nature policy. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Evaluating access interventions on UK coastline (RENEW Theme 1) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Researchers on RENEW Theme 1 are analysing access interventions on the UK coastline. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England are funding the work and working closely with RENEW on the methodology and analysis. National Trust fed in to scoping and development of the proposal, and are providing data and expert input as the research progresses. |
| Impact | Work is nearing completion. Emerging findings are being discussed with Natural England as part of our ongoing partnership. The work has been presented to Natural England and Defra colleagues (see Engagement section) with roles in access to nature policy. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | British Association for Shooting and Conservation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Duchy of Cornwall |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Fareshare |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Forest Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Forestry Commission |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | National Farmers Union |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | South Downs National Park |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Department | Sussex Wildlife Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 1: Sustainable deer management |
| Organisation | West Sussex County Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team led a collaboration exploring tricky issues in relation to deer management. Our team scoped the project and facilitated a process by which stakeholders from a diverse range of perspectives could explore barriers and opportunities for landscape-scale deer management. The team planned, organised and facilitated three deliberative workshops. A full report, 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer', and shorter policy briefing note were published in 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners participated in three deliberative workshops, contributing their time, experience and perspectives to the work. |
| Impact | - 3 deliberative, participatory workshops held bringing together partners and stakeholders from a wide range of perspectives. - Written report has been published and is available online: https://zenodo.org/records/12795161 Also featured in National Trust annual research report. - New relationships and connections made between partners and across different sectors. - Working with Forest Research, Natural England and South Downs National Park Authority to ensure legacy. - Feedback received following the conclusion of the mission: "I just wanted to let u know a nice outcome of the Excases piece u guys did down this way was - by introducing new and interesting partners like Dan from FareShare (who I wouldn't have come across otherwise) it has enabled Sussex Woods pilot to plug a small hole in the venison supply chain. Last year we worked with FareShare to fund and supply them with 2 tonne of venison mince - all does, at fair price to stalker, and from local stalkers in problematic areas around key SSSIs. This year we're aiming to expand the trial to 10T and I have another food charity possibly interested. From tiny seeds grow mighty trees! And also some good replication through the FairGame project which hopefully will deliver that holy grail of some common DM messaging amongst key partners!" - The National Trust, which cares for 24,000ha of woodland and has all 6 deer species present on its land, is exploring how to embed the recommendations into their wildlife management framework. - Fair Game project: National Trust are also now starting to investigate deer management from a food justice perspective through their involvement in Fair Game, an £81k, AHRC-funded project, matched collectively by University of Exeter, Natural England, National Trust, South Downs National Park and British Deer Society. This new project seeks to address some of the themes raised through this mission, namely the diversity of deer stalking; infrastructure needs for establishing a venison supply chain; and engaging with the messaging and communication around venison and deer culling. It will use Sussex as a proof-of-concept region - establishing training, infrastructure, marketing, and public engagement in traditions of deer hunting. It is thanks to ExCASES' work that Kristin Waeber from National Trust and Dan Slater from the charity FareShare joined the project, becoming "critical to the bid" according to PI Naomi Sykes (Univ. Exeter), who said "I don't think we would have got the funding without them". The project won the sustainability category at the Council for British Archaeology Awards. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ExCASES 2: Paws for Thought |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW's ExCASES team have led the scoping, design and facilitation of this mission, focusing on the evidence around the impact of dogs and different stakeholder perspectives. The mission is complete and outputs drafted, to include mission report and recommendations, intervention guidance, 'A Good Walk for All' infographic, and GIS storyboard. Publication date and dissemination plans TBC. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners were involved in scoping, mission design and as participants in workshops to review the evidence and explore perspectives; a full list of partners will be updated here when mission outputs are published. We are in discussion with partners and collaborators regarding the report launch plans. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Report publication date TBC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | ExCASES 3: Cultivating communities who care for urban trees |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This mission is exploring what works well in cultivating community participation in the management and care of urban trees. The RENEW team have led scoping, design and facilitation of the research which has involved multiple partners and collaborators. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A wide range of RENEW partners and wider collaborators have been involved in this mission. This involvement includes conversations that have shaped the scoping and research design, participation in workshops and walking interviews to produce good news stories. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | ExCASES 3: Cultivating communities who care for urban trees |
| Organisation | The Eden Project |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This mission is exploring what works well in cultivating community participation in the management and care of urban trees. The RENEW team have led scoping, design and facilitation of the research which has involved multiple partners and collaborators. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A wide range of RENEW partners and wider collaborators have been involved in this mission. This involvement includes conversations that have shaped the scoping and research design, participation in workshops and walking interviews to produce good news stories. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | ExCASES 4: Who Decides for Nature? |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | In this RENEW mission we are exploring lessons from the People's Plan for Nature and other examples of deliberative process, to better understand how to embed deliberation in the environment and nature sector. The RENEW team have led scoping, design, research and facilitation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A wide range of RENEW partners and wider collaborators have been involved in this mission through scoping conversations and participation in workshops, and will be listed here once the mission outputs are published. National Trust's urban green team and policy and advocacy team have been involved in the work. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | ExCASES 5: Future of Biodiversity Renewal |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This RENEW mission is exploring the diversity of values, worldviews and understandings that shape multistakeholder aspirations for 'biodiversity renewal'. The RENEW team has led scoping, design and facilitation of the process, which has included an online survey and deliberative stakeholder workshops at RENEW's annual Biodiversity Parliament in November 2024 where we used the Restoration Partnership Development Tool developed by the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This RENEW mission is exploring the diversity of values, worldviews and understandings that shape multistakeholder aspirations for 'biodiversity renewal'. A wide range of RENEW partners have been involved in scoping conversations and participated in the online survey and two-day residential deliberative workshops, and will be listed when the mission outputs are published. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Forestry England/RENEW |
| Organisation | Forestry England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Ongoing conversations regarding joint working around biodiversity renewal. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ongoing conversations regarding joint working around biodiversity renewal. |
| Impact | Conversations are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Integrating social data into conservation planning (RENEW Theme 1) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | PhD research project within RENEW Theme 1. Supervised by RENEW researchers and ongoing dialogue within RENEW and with Natural England as the work develops. |
| Collaborator Contribution | PhD research project within RENEW Theme 1, co-funded by Natural England. Supervised by RENEW researchers and ongoing dialogue within RENEW and with Natural England as the work develops. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Learning From Best Practice in Sustainable Governance Performance (RENEW Theme 2) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | University of Exeter is co-funding this PhD which sits within RENEW Theme 2. RENEW is supervising and colleagues from across the project have opportunities to feed in to the work. The work will provide insights that will also contribute to work ongoing in RENEW Theme 2 on the EXPLORE tool (see separate record regarding EXPLORE). There is ongoing dialogue between Natural England and RENEW as the work develops. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is co-funding this PhD. There is ongoing dialogue between Natural England and RENEW as the work develops. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. An initial briefing paper has been produced and presented to Natural England. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Local Nature Recovery Strategy (RENEW Theme 3) |
| Organisation | Cornwall Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 have been working to integrate datasets and create a model, 'Ebrel', that can help users to identify and prioritise intervention opportunities for nature recovery. Researchers have worked with Cornwall Council and partners to develop the mapping required as part of the Local Nature Recovery Scheme, producing nature recovery opportunity maps for consultation, and have also presented at webinars and team meetings about the approach. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cornwall Council are leading the LNRS process as the responsible authority. They have worked closely with RENEW to ensure that our work fits with the wider LNRS development and consultation process. |
| Impact | Nature recovery opportunity maps produced and published for consultation; will form part of the local nature recovery strategy due for formal adoption in Spring 2025. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Local Nature Recovery Strategy (RENEW Theme 3) |
| Organisation | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 have been working to integrate datasets and create a model, 'Ebrel', that can help users to identify and prioritise intervention opportunities for nature recovery. Researchers have worked with Cornwall Council and partners to develop the mapping required as part of the Local Nature Recovery Scheme, producing nature recovery opportunity maps for consultation, and have also presented at webinars and team meetings about the approach. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cornwall Council are leading the LNRS process as the responsible authority. They have worked closely with RENEW to ensure that our work fits with the wider LNRS development and consultation process. |
| Impact | Nature recovery opportunity maps produced and published for consultation; will form part of the local nature recovery strategy due for formal adoption in Spring 2025. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Local Nature Recovery Strategy (RENEW Theme 3) |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Department | Cornwall Wildlife Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 have been working to integrate datasets and create a model, 'Ebrel', that can help users to identify and prioritise intervention opportunities for nature recovery. Researchers have worked with Cornwall Council and partners to develop the mapping required as part of the Local Nature Recovery Scheme, producing nature recovery opportunity maps for consultation, and have also presented at webinars and team meetings about the approach. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cornwall Council are leading the LNRS process as the responsible authority. They have worked closely with RENEW to ensure that our work fits with the wider LNRS development and consultation process. |
| Impact | Nature recovery opportunity maps produced and published for consultation; will form part of the local nature recovery strategy due for formal adoption in Spring 2025. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Local Nature Recovery Strategy (RENEW Theme 3) |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Department | Devon Wildlife Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 have been working to integrate datasets and create a model, 'Ebrel', that can help users to identify and prioritise intervention opportunities for nature recovery. Researchers have worked with Cornwall Council and partners to develop the mapping required as part of the Local Nature Recovery Scheme, producing nature recovery opportunity maps for consultation, and have also presented at webinars and team meetings about the approach. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cornwall Council are leading the LNRS process as the responsible authority. They have worked closely with RENEW to ensure that our work fits with the wider LNRS development and consultation process. |
| Impact | Nature recovery opportunity maps produced and published for consultation; will form part of the local nature recovery strategy due for formal adoption in Spring 2025. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Natural England/RENEW |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal issues. There is lots of engagement from colleagues right across RENEW, as demonstrated by the different collaborations underway (see separate records). Colleagues from different parts of RENEW are meeting with Natural England on a recurring basis to present their research, share learning to date and develop future plans. This offers an opportunity both to inform Natural England staff's thinking and decision-making, to field questions and learn more about their areas of interest, and to explore opportunities for further collaboration. Natural England is a partner working with RENEW on different strands of the project, and also an audience for the impacts we want to have in shaping policy-making. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal issues. This partnership through RENEW is the flagship collaboration of University of Exeter and Natural England's wider strategic partnership. Colleagues from different parts of RENEW meet with Natural England on a regular basis to share learning to date and develop future plans. We are really delighted with the level of interest and engagement in the project, including from senior staff. During 2023 Natural England assigned a member of staff (Jemma Sharman, Principal Specialist, Science Directorate) to oversee their engagement with RENEW, and also established an internal RENEW strategy group as a forum to provide input and engagement from across the organisation. Jemma left her post in Autumn 2024, but Natural England staff and projects are embedded across every theme in RENEW (see separate records relating to specific strands of work), with significant additional investment since the project's inception. There continues to be a substantial commitment of time from colleagues at all levels of the organisation, including senior levels, with huge potential for enhancing knowledge and capacity and influencing policy and practice. |
| Impact | Part-funding for two PhD studentships. A new PhD (through University of Exeter/Natural England) has been agreed evolving out of conversations with RENEW Theme X1 Co-funding of a longitudinal cohort study (ReBLS) Co-funding of an assessment of Natural England's Coastal Access Programme. Joint working on NE's Protected Sites Strategy, funded by Natural England (including systematic review, PSS films and 'Bog Talk', a programme involving deliberative work with farmers and creative work with schools) Additional project, Recreation & Engagement Activity Monitoring (REAM) using Strava data This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving natural scientists, social scientists, humanities and creative practitioners. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | NatureScot/RENEW |
| Organisation | NatureScot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. NatureScot have also been involved in ExCASES missions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. Dr Clive Mitchell (Head of Terrestrial Science) was one of the provocateurs at RENEW Biodiversity Parliament 2022. NatureScot have also been involved in ExCASES missions. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Oral histories of the environmental sector (British Library/RENEW) |
| Organisation | The British Library |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on oral histories. RENEW's Collaboration in Practice team (Angela Cassidy, Susan Molyneux Hodgson, Ryan Shum and Eleanor Hadley Kershaw) have been working with National Life Stories to collect oral history interviews on experiences of biodiversity collaboration, which will contribute to the British Library's oral history archival collections of national significance. RENEW colleagues have informed the selection of interviewees and facilitated connections. We are now working with the British Library to engage people with the work, funded by AHRC Impact Acceleration funding through the University of Exeter. |
| Collaborator Contribution | British Library team have participated in X3 team monthly meetings online since the start of the project, and have been visiting Exeter two to three times a year to engage in in person discussions of shared data analysis and mutual reflections on our own interdisciplinary interactions and collaborations, which we are writing up as a jointly authored paper. Joint working on oral histories. RENEW's Collaboration in Practice team have been working with the British Library to contribute an oral history of the environmental conservation sector to its National Life Stories archive. British Library colleagues Paul Merchant and Mary Stewart have worked with the RENEW team to identify interviewees, conduct interviews and manage the project. British Library in-kind contribution is hosting and managing archival material and helping promote it. Paul Merchant was the dinner speaker at RENEW's 2023 Biodiversity Parliament where he spoke about the partnership, shared archive audio material and reflected on the role of oral histories within environmental research. Paul also attended our 2024 Biodiversity Parliament. He is now working with RENEW colleagues to engage people with the work, funded by AHRC Impact Acceleration funding through the University of Exeter. |
| Impact | Protocols for joint working developed. Impact Accelerator funding secured. Listening post has been developed for engagement at events. Virtual exhibition held at Oxford Real Farming Conference: https://orfc.org.uk/exhibitor/national-life-stories-the-british-library/ |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | PSS filming for social media (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Duchy of Cornwall |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | John Wedgwood Clarke, Co-Investigator of RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) is working with Natural England around their protected sites. As part of RENEW's work exploring creative engagement with nature, we have commissioned a series of short films for social media. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work through their Protected Sites Strategy (PSS) programme. They have worked with RENEW to shape the commission and will lead on communication. Filming took place on land owned by the RSPB, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | PSS filming for social media (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | John Wedgwood Clarke, Co-Investigator of RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) is working with Natural England around their protected sites. As part of RENEW's work exploring creative engagement with nature, we have commissioned a series of short films for social media. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work through their Protected Sites Strategy (PSS) programme. They have worked with RENEW to shape the commission and will lead on communication. Filming took place on land owned by the RSPB, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | PSS filming for social media (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | John Wedgwood Clarke, Co-Investigator of RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) is working with Natural England around their protected sites. As part of RENEW's work exploring creative engagement with nature, we have commissioned a series of short films for social media. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work through their Protected Sites Strategy (PSS) programme. They have worked with RENEW to shape the commission and will lead on communication. Filming took place on land owned by the RSPB, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | PSS filming for social media (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | John Wedgwood Clarke, Co-Investigator of RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) is working with Natural England around their protected sites. As part of RENEW's work exploring creative engagement with nature, we have commissioned a series of short films for social media. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work through their Protected Sites Strategy (PSS) programme. They have worked with RENEW to shape the commission and will lead on communication. Filming took place on land owned by the RSPB, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | PSS filming for social media (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | John Wedgwood Clarke, Co-Investigator of RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) is working with Natural England around their protected sites. As part of RENEW's work exploring creative engagement with nature, we have commissioned a series of short films for social media. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England is funding this work through their Protected Sites Strategy (PSS) programme. They have worked with RENEW to shape the commission and will lead on communication. Filming took place on land owned by the RSPB, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and Duchy of Cornwall. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Perceptions of green and natural spaces (RENEW/NE) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 1 are using Natural England's People and Nature (PANS) datasets and the Living England Habitat Map to explore perceptions of biodiversity renewal and green and natural spaces. This is part of our research theme around individuals' personalised ecologies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England have shared datasets and are advising on the research. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Poetry Society/RENEW |
| Organisation | The Poetry Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on using poetry to help shape relationships with biodiversity. Working together on Bog Talk and Pond Beats projects (see separate records). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on using poetry to help shape relationships with biodiversity. Working together on Bog Talk and Pond Beats projects (see separate records). Poetry Society have also attended Biodiversity Parliaments in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and are currently in conversation with RENEW regarding the focus of Biodiversity Parliament 2025. |
| Impact | Planning on joint working. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Pond Beats (RENEW/NT) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration with the Freshwater Renaissance programme at the National Trust, funded by Defra's Species Survival Fund. RENEW are funding a freelance creative team to undertake a substantial strand of schools engagement work at National Trust's Quarry Bank site. 3 schools have been identified and signed up to the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NT are leading the Freshwater Renaissance programme which is funded by Defra's Species Survival Fund. NT and Poetry Society (including freelancers) are delivering the majority of work (schools workshops and classroom resources), with project oversight and freelance creative team (poets, acoustic ecologist) funded by RENEW. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Pond Beats (RENEW/NT) |
| Organisation | The Poetry Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration with the Freshwater Renaissance programme at the National Trust, funded by Defra's Species Survival Fund. RENEW are funding a freelance creative team to undertake a substantial strand of schools engagement work at National Trust's Quarry Bank site. 3 schools have been identified and signed up to the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NT are leading the Freshwater Renaissance programme which is funded by Defra's Species Survival Fund. NT and Poetry Society (including freelancers) are delivering the majority of work (schools workshops and classroom resources), with project oversight and freelance creative team (poets, acoustic ecologist) funded by RENEW. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Predicting future cultural and natural heritage scenarios on common land (RENEW Themes 2&3) |
| Organisation | Foundation for Common Land |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal. Supervisors from University of Exeter, National Trust, and Foundation for Common Land. PhD Jo Furtado has held interviews with commoners, training workshops with farmers so that they can undertake environmental surveys, and is doing modelling work to use in future deliberative workshops. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal. Supervisors from University of Exeter, National Trust, and Foundation for Common Land. Partners have facilitated connections and continue to inform the work. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Predicting future cultural and natural heritage scenarios on common land (RENEW Themes 2&3) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal. Supervisors from University of Exeter, National Trust, and Foundation for Common Land. PhD Jo Furtado has held interviews with commoners, training workshops with farmers so that they can undertake environmental surveys, and is doing modelling work to use in future deliberative workshops. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal. Supervisors from University of Exeter, National Trust, and Foundation for Common Land. Partners have facilitated connections and continue to inform the work. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Protected Sites Strategy (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on issues relating to protected sites. To date this includes the systematic review, 'Bog Talk' and film projects listed separately. NE has also funded two new arts commissions to investigate the value of Protected Sites through the PSS. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on issues relating to protected sites. To date this includes the systematic review, 'Bog Talk' and film projects listed separately. NE has also funded two new arts commissions to investigate the value of Protected Sites through the PSS. |
| Impact | None yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | RSPB / RENEW |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal issues. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on biodiversity renewal issues. RSPB are engaged particularly with RENEW's work on land management, which aligns with their own priority landscapes work. We have also worked together to engage with farmer networks. RSPB have engaged with ExCASES missions and the PSS film work (see separate records). |
| Impact | Joint working on biodiversity renewal issues. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Recreation and Engagement Activity Monitoring (RENEW/NE) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme X1 (Environmental Intelligence) are designing the research and undertaking data analysis and modelling. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England are funding this work and are shaping the research questions and research design. Strava are providing anonymised data. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Renewing Biodiversity Longitudinal Survey (ReBLS) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 1 (Individual actors) have developed a longitudinal panel survey to understand how biodiversity renewal impacts people's attitudes towards nature and renewal efforts, nature-related behaviours, health, and well-being, and how this may change over time. Following a competitive procurement process, YouGov are delivering the survey and have supplied 1 year's worth of data, which the RENEW team are currently analysing. We have prepared an internal report for Natural England describing the first year of responses to ReBLS and a protocol paper has been accepted for publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England have brought additional funding to the survey and worked with RENEW to design the survey and procure survey company. Following a competitive procurement process, YouGov are delivering the survey and have supplied 1 year's worth of data, which the RENEW team are currently analysing with input from Natural England. Natural England have co-authored the protocol paper which has recently been accepted for publication. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. The first wave of data is currently being analysed. A protocol paper has recently been accepted for publication in People and Nature. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Severn Trent/RENEW |
| Organisation | Severn Trent Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. Severn Trent have attended all of RENEW's Biodiversity Parliaments and engaged with ExCASES missions. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Shaping the next generation of children's literature (BookTrust/RENEW) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. Co-I John Wedgwood Clarke has been leading RENEW's work with partner BookTrust aimed at inspiring the next generation of authors, illustrators, and ultimately children and families. In October 2023 RENEW and BookTrust hosted the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit at Kew Gardens. This interdisciplinary event gathered leading authors, illustrators, publishers, and scientists to identify the barriers faced by low-income families wishing to access and learn about nature through books. RENEW postdoctoral researchers Bethan Stagg and David Bavin presented and creative writing PhD student Caleb Parkin participated. University of Exeter colleagues from beyond RENEW, research fellow Dr Emmanuelle Briolat and research technician Maisy Inston also presented at the event. Also participating from RENEW were: Lucy Mercer, Ben Phillips, Jo Garrett, Regan Early and Kevin Gaston from the University of Exeter; Stewart Clarke and Emma Zimmerman from the National Trust. Nazneen Pathak (lecturer in creative writing at the University of Exeter) also participated, leading a storyboarding session. Eleanor Hadley Kershaw attended from RENEW's Theme X3 Collaboration in Practice team, to observe the event for X3 research purposes. The RENEW secretariat provided administrative and communications support for the event. The summit was followed by an online programme of support, jointly delivered by RENEW and BookTrust, for authors and illustrators. A second summit was held in September 2024, this time in Manchester, with over 50 participants and a keynote speech from Dara McAnulty, author of Diary of a Young Naturalist. RENEW and University of Exeter scientists Maisie Instow, Emmanuelle Briolat, Regan Early and David Bavin all spoke at the event which was co-hosted by John and Annie Crombie (Deputy CEO) from BookTrust. We have since been facilitating a second cohort of online support and networking for early career authors and illustrators. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. BookTrust colleagues worked with John Clarke to co-design and deliver the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit, partnering on the idea development, planning and organisation of the event itself, and follow-up. As well as the BookTrust, other RENEW partners have also contributed to this work. Cordelia Spalding from Natural England sat on the working group which collaboratively developed the event. She and Chris Hogarth both participated in the 2023 event for Natural England; Judith Palmer and Billie Manning participated from the Poetry Society, another RENEW project partner. BookTrust brought in keynote speaker, zoologist and author Nicola Davies, participants from the worlds of literature, illustration and publishing, and ensured that the event was designed with this audience in mind. BookTrust's Director of Design, Development and Strategic Planning, Claire Goodall, opened the event. Kiran Sunil (Former Product Developer) and Sofia Rewlik (Proposition Development Manager) were instrumental to the event planning and delivery; Sofia led follow up with attendees. Link: https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/art-science-collide-at-the-renew-x-booktrust-biodiversity-storytelling-summit-2023/ See also this story about how the Storytelling Summit inspired attendees: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ Annie Crombie, BookTrust deputy CEO, has championed this work - she and Sofia attended the 2023 RENEW Biodiversity Parliament in November, where Annie and John presented about the partnership. The BookTrust team were once again instrumental in the conceptualisation, planning and delivery of the 2024 storytelling summit in Manchester, a successful networking and creative event with attendees including writers, illustrators, early years specialists and natural scientists. Deputy CEO Annie Crombie co-chaired the event, while speakers included writer, poet and performer Mike Barfield; Caroline Hill-Trevor, Head of Book Selection and Purchasing; and Helen Tan, Early Years Areas Lead for Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, Department of Education (a BookTrust partner). Once again, BookTrust are working with RENEW to plan, facilitate and delivery the support programme which continues to bring together natural scientists and creatives to explore and develop how biodiversity can be represented in children's literature. 2024 also saw the National Trust's publishing team become part of the collaboration through contributing to the support programme publishing industry session, with conversations ongoing about possible opportunities. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration which has drawn on expertise from across RENEW's team of creative writers and ecologists. It has had ripple effects with those attending the Summit, leading to a biodiversity-themed event at Sandwell Libraries and the publication of a book written with the children at that event - see https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ and https://www.unclebrowbrows.com/book-in-a-day Sophie Hallam from Bonnier Books attended RENEW's Biodiversity Parliament, as a result of her participation in the event at Kew, and has expressed interest in working with the University. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Shaping the next generation of children's literature (BookTrust/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. Co-I John Wedgwood Clarke has been leading RENEW's work with partner BookTrust aimed at inspiring the next generation of authors, illustrators, and ultimately children and families. In October 2023 RENEW and BookTrust hosted the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit at Kew Gardens. This interdisciplinary event gathered leading authors, illustrators, publishers, and scientists to identify the barriers faced by low-income families wishing to access and learn about nature through books. RENEW postdoctoral researchers Bethan Stagg and David Bavin presented and creative writing PhD student Caleb Parkin participated. University of Exeter colleagues from beyond RENEW, research fellow Dr Emmanuelle Briolat and research technician Maisy Inston also presented at the event. Also participating from RENEW were: Lucy Mercer, Ben Phillips, Jo Garrett, Regan Early and Kevin Gaston from the University of Exeter; Stewart Clarke and Emma Zimmerman from the National Trust. Nazneen Pathak (lecturer in creative writing at the University of Exeter) also participated, leading a storyboarding session. Eleanor Hadley Kershaw attended from RENEW's Theme X3 Collaboration in Practice team, to observe the event for X3 research purposes. The RENEW secretariat provided administrative and communications support for the event. The summit was followed by an online programme of support, jointly delivered by RENEW and BookTrust, for authors and illustrators. A second summit was held in September 2024, this time in Manchester, with over 50 participants and a keynote speech from Dara McAnulty, author of Diary of a Young Naturalist. RENEW and University of Exeter scientists Maisie Instow, Emmanuelle Briolat, Regan Early and David Bavin all spoke at the event which was co-hosted by John and Annie Crombie (Deputy CEO) from BookTrust. We have since been facilitating a second cohort of online support and networking for early career authors and illustrators. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. BookTrust colleagues worked with John Clarke to co-design and deliver the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit, partnering on the idea development, planning and organisation of the event itself, and follow-up. As well as the BookTrust, other RENEW partners have also contributed to this work. Cordelia Spalding from Natural England sat on the working group which collaboratively developed the event. She and Chris Hogarth both participated in the 2023 event for Natural England; Judith Palmer and Billie Manning participated from the Poetry Society, another RENEW project partner. BookTrust brought in keynote speaker, zoologist and author Nicola Davies, participants from the worlds of literature, illustration and publishing, and ensured that the event was designed with this audience in mind. BookTrust's Director of Design, Development and Strategic Planning, Claire Goodall, opened the event. Kiran Sunil (Former Product Developer) and Sofia Rewlik (Proposition Development Manager) were instrumental to the event planning and delivery; Sofia led follow up with attendees. Link: https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/art-science-collide-at-the-renew-x-booktrust-biodiversity-storytelling-summit-2023/ See also this story about how the Storytelling Summit inspired attendees: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ Annie Crombie, BookTrust deputy CEO, has championed this work - she and Sofia attended the 2023 RENEW Biodiversity Parliament in November, where Annie and John presented about the partnership. The BookTrust team were once again instrumental in the conceptualisation, planning and delivery of the 2024 storytelling summit in Manchester, a successful networking and creative event with attendees including writers, illustrators, early years specialists and natural scientists. Deputy CEO Annie Crombie co-chaired the event, while speakers included writer, poet and performer Mike Barfield; Caroline Hill-Trevor, Head of Book Selection and Purchasing; and Helen Tan, Early Years Areas Lead for Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, Department of Education (a BookTrust partner). Once again, BookTrust are working with RENEW to plan, facilitate and delivery the support programme which continues to bring together natural scientists and creatives to explore and develop how biodiversity can be represented in children's literature. 2024 also saw the National Trust's publishing team become part of the collaboration through contributing to the support programme publishing industry session, with conversations ongoing about possible opportunities. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration which has drawn on expertise from across RENEW's team of creative writers and ecologists. It has had ripple effects with those attending the Summit, leading to a biodiversity-themed event at Sandwell Libraries and the publication of a book written with the children at that event - see https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ and https://www.unclebrowbrows.com/book-in-a-day Sophie Hallam from Bonnier Books attended RENEW's Biodiversity Parliament, as a result of her participation in the event at Kew, and has expressed interest in working with the University. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Shaping the next generation of children's literature (BookTrust/RENEW) |
| Organisation | The Poetry Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. Co-I John Wedgwood Clarke has been leading RENEW's work with partner BookTrust aimed at inspiring the next generation of authors, illustrators, and ultimately children and families. In October 2023 RENEW and BookTrust hosted the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit at Kew Gardens. This interdisciplinary event gathered leading authors, illustrators, publishers, and scientists to identify the barriers faced by low-income families wishing to access and learn about nature through books. RENEW postdoctoral researchers Bethan Stagg and David Bavin presented and creative writing PhD student Caleb Parkin participated. University of Exeter colleagues from beyond RENEW, research fellow Dr Emmanuelle Briolat and research technician Maisy Inston also presented at the event. Also participating from RENEW were: Lucy Mercer, Ben Phillips, Jo Garrett, Regan Early and Kevin Gaston from the University of Exeter; Stewart Clarke and Emma Zimmerman from the National Trust. Nazneen Pathak (lecturer in creative writing at the University of Exeter) also participated, leading a storyboarding session. Eleanor Hadley Kershaw attended from RENEW's Theme X3 Collaboration in Practice team, to observe the event for X3 research purposes. The RENEW secretariat provided administrative and communications support for the event. The summit was followed by an online programme of support, jointly delivered by RENEW and BookTrust, for authors and illustrators. A second summit was held in September 2024, this time in Manchester, with over 50 participants and a keynote speech from Dara McAnulty, author of Diary of a Young Naturalist. RENEW and University of Exeter scientists Maisie Instow, Emmanuelle Briolat, Regan Early and David Bavin all spoke at the event which was co-hosted by John and Annie Crombie (Deputy CEO) from BookTrust. We have since been facilitating a second cohort of online support and networking for early career authors and illustrators. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on using children's literature to help shape relationships with biodiversity. BookTrust colleagues worked with John Clarke to co-design and deliver the Biodiversity Storytelling Summit, partnering on the idea development, planning and organisation of the event itself, and follow-up. As well as the BookTrust, other RENEW partners have also contributed to this work. Cordelia Spalding from Natural England sat on the working group which collaboratively developed the event. She and Chris Hogarth both participated in the 2023 event for Natural England; Judith Palmer and Billie Manning participated from the Poetry Society, another RENEW project partner. BookTrust brought in keynote speaker, zoologist and author Nicola Davies, participants from the worlds of literature, illustration and publishing, and ensured that the event was designed with this audience in mind. BookTrust's Director of Design, Development and Strategic Planning, Claire Goodall, opened the event. Kiran Sunil (Former Product Developer) and Sofia Rewlik (Proposition Development Manager) were instrumental to the event planning and delivery; Sofia led follow up with attendees. Link: https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/art-science-collide-at-the-renew-x-booktrust-biodiversity-storytelling-summit-2023/ See also this story about how the Storytelling Summit inspired attendees: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ Annie Crombie, BookTrust deputy CEO, has championed this work - she and Sofia attended the 2023 RENEW Biodiversity Parliament in November, where Annie and John presented about the partnership. The BookTrust team were once again instrumental in the conceptualisation, planning and delivery of the 2024 storytelling summit in Manchester, a successful networking and creative event with attendees including writers, illustrators, early years specialists and natural scientists. Deputy CEO Annie Crombie co-chaired the event, while speakers included writer, poet and performer Mike Barfield; Caroline Hill-Trevor, Head of Book Selection and Purchasing; and Helen Tan, Early Years Areas Lead for Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire, Department of Education (a BookTrust partner). Once again, BookTrust are working with RENEW to plan, facilitate and delivery the support programme which continues to bring together natural scientists and creatives to explore and develop how biodiversity can be represented in children's literature. 2024 also saw the National Trust's publishing team become part of the collaboration through contributing to the support programme publishing industry session, with conversations ongoing about possible opportunities. |
| Impact | This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration which has drawn on expertise from across RENEW's team of creative writers and ecologists. It has had ripple effects with those attending the Summit, leading to a biodiversity-themed event at Sandwell Libraries and the publication of a book written with the children at that event - see https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2024/april/bringing-nature-into-a-library/ and https://www.unclebrowbrows.com/book-in-a-day Sophie Hallam from Bonnier Books attended RENEW's Biodiversity Parliament, as a result of her participation in the event at Kew, and has expressed interest in working with the University. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Synthesising collaborative practice for environmental research (CtE/X3) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme X3 (Collaboration in Practice) are working with NERC to explore collaboration in practice across NERC's Changing the Environment programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | RENEW Theme X3 (Collaboration in Practice) are working with NERC to explore collaboration in practice across NERC's Changing the Environment programme. |
| Impact | Since starting the project in December 2023, the X3 team have: - Started the extended programme of oral history work with National Life Stories, capturing oral history interviews about lifetime experiences of inter+transdisciplinary collaboration across the broader environmental sphere. This material will be added to the existing RENEW interviews on biodiversity collaboration, together forming a substantial contribution to the British Library's oral history collections of national significance - Started a synthesis of documentary sources and visited other CtE projects - Organised a series of cross CtE online workshops |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Systematic review of interventions to address ecological impact of visitors in protected areas (NE/RENEW) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW researchers have undertaken a systematic review of the 'Effects of behaviour-change-based interventions on recreational pressures'. The work aims to inform work address the ecological impact of visitors in protected areas. It covers international evidence in places like the UK, and addresses key questions such as what interventions have been used to address ecological impacts of visitors in protected areas and other similar natural sites? What types of interventions were used ? How effective were they, and what were the explanatory factors? What are the implications, including for social inclusion? The systematic literature review has been completed and the RENEW team are now disseminating the findings among Natural England's team and networks. Thework has also been presented at the Outdoor Recreation Network Academic Research Group. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Natural England are funding this review which will inform their thinking around the Protected Sites Strategy. The work has been presented at their Social Science Network and we are developing plans for a joint webinar to further promote the work. |
| Impact | Work including dissemination of findings is ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | The Wildlife Trusts/RENEW |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working on biodiversity renewal. Work on a study of views from windows has been paused due to personnel changes. Joint working on EDI and youth engagement continues. RENEW's EDI team worked as a key partner with the Wildlife Trusts in March-June 2023 to contribute to their first ever National Youth Festival, which was planned for August 2023 in Nottinghamshire. Activities scoped and organised included: survey work with young festival goers to unpack their perspectives on the future of the conservation sector; a 'tree of hope' engagement exercise; letterboxes for 'letters to nature' and 'letters to the Wildlife Trusts'; facilitated biodiversity problem-solving activities. In mid-June the Wildlife Trusts had to cancel the festival as it proved to be not financially viable given their ticket sales. However, conversations around these issues have remained open and we are currently in discussion with youth activism and education leads to explore building on insights from their commissioned Uprising research to inform a youth focus for RENEW's 2025 Biodiversity Parliament. Discussion of County Wildlife Sites in the context of work on land management. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint working on study of views from windows. The Wildlife Trusts supported promotion of the study including through their '30 Days Wild' campaign. Joint working on EDI and youth engagement: we are currently in discussion with youth activism and education leads to explore building on insights from their commissioned Uprising research to inform a youth focus for RENEW's 2025 Biodiversity Parliament. Discussion of County Wildlife Sites in the context of work on land management. |
| Impact | Conversations are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | UKCEH/RENEW |
| Organisation | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | RENEW colleagues are using UKCEH data as part of the input to a new decision-support tool for land managers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UKCEH has made data available to RENEW colleagues developing a decision-support tool for land managers. Prof James Bullock was a provocateur at RENEW's 2024 Biodiversity Parliament. |
| Impact | Decision support tool materials |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Understanding business biodiversity impacts using LCA approach (RENEW Theme 4) |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW researchers have developed a data analysis methodology to assess biodiversity impacts using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach |
| Collaborator Contribution | National Trust has been the first case study, providing data and working with RENEW colleagues to develop and test the methodology and heatmap which can inform decision-making. NatWest Group is a second case study (see p63 of their sustainability report: https://investors.natwestgroup.com/~/media/Files/R/RBS-IR-V2/results-center/14022025/nwg-sustainability-report-2024.pdf ). University of Exeter has been a third case study, the sustainability team providing data and working with RENEW colleagues to develop and test the methodology. |
| Impact | Research datasets, databases and models: LCA analysis methodology to assess biodiversity impact Funding: we have secured funding from the University of Exeter for Maru Correa Cano, who is leading this work, to deliver a 2-day training to the University's sustainability team. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving practitioners from National Trust, ecologists and mathematicians from University of Exeter. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Understanding business biodiversity impacts using LCA approach (RENEW Theme 4) |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | RENEW researchers have developed a data analysis methodology to assess biodiversity impacts using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach |
| Collaborator Contribution | National Trust has been the first case study, providing data and working with RENEW colleagues to develop and test the methodology and heatmap which can inform decision-making. NatWest Group is a second case study (see p63 of their sustainability report: https://investors.natwestgroup.com/~/media/Files/R/RBS-IR-V2/results-center/14022025/nwg-sustainability-report-2024.pdf ). University of Exeter has been a third case study, the sustainability team providing data and working with RENEW colleagues to develop and test the methodology. |
| Impact | Research datasets, databases and models: LCA analysis methodology to assess biodiversity impact Funding: we have secured funding from the University of Exeter for Maru Correa Cano, who is leading this work, to deliver a 2-day training to the University's sustainability team. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving practitioners from National Trust, ecologists and mathematicians from University of Exeter. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Urban trees ecosystem services |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area; the city council have given their approval for the project. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Urban trees ecosystem services |
| Organisation | Plymouth City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area; the city council have given their approval for the project. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Urban trees ecosystem services |
| Organisation | Woodland Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Assessment of ecosystem services and wellbeing provided by all urban trees in England, Scotland, Wales, along with equity of access to those services. We have undertaken UK-wide analysis of Tree Equity with the Woodland Trust. We are asking which social groups (e.g. related to ethnicity, income, health) live surrounded by the most trees, within urban and suburban areas. Survey work is upcoming in the Plymouth area; the city council have given their approval for the project. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | WBSCD/RENEW |
| Organisation | World Business Council for Sustainable Development |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Willow tit occupancy for land management interventions (PhD Theme 3) |
| Organisation | Cornwall College |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 (Land managers) PhD student Daveron Smith is working in partnership with Cornwall Birds to gather baseline data on the extent and health of the willow tit population on Goss Moor in Cornwall. Predictive modelling will then be used to identify the most promising sites for management interventions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been supported by funding from the G7 Legacy Fund administered by Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are working on sites managed by Natural England (Goss Moor) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Helman Tor). Volunteers with local birding group Cornwall Birds are helping with field survey work. RSPB shared insight and expertise which materially affected the approach taken. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Volunteers have been trained in field survey skills. Modelling work has been done to identify land where management changes could make a big difference. Discussions with land managers are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Willow tit occupancy for land management interventions (PhD Theme 3) |
| Organisation | Natural England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 (Land managers) PhD student Daveron Smith is working in partnership with Cornwall Birds to gather baseline data on the extent and health of the willow tit population on Goss Moor in Cornwall. Predictive modelling will then be used to identify the most promising sites for management interventions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been supported by funding from the G7 Legacy Fund administered by Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are working on sites managed by Natural England (Goss Moor) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Helman Tor). Volunteers with local birding group Cornwall Birds are helping with field survey work. RSPB shared insight and expertise which materially affected the approach taken. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Volunteers have been trained in field survey skills. Modelling work has been done to identify land where management changes could make a big difference. Discussions with land managers are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Willow tit occupancy for land management interventions (PhD Theme 3) |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 (Land managers) PhD student Daveron Smith is working in partnership with Cornwall Birds to gather baseline data on the extent and health of the willow tit population on Goss Moor in Cornwall. Predictive modelling will then be used to identify the most promising sites for management interventions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been supported by funding from the G7 Legacy Fund administered by Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are working on sites managed by Natural England (Goss Moor) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Helman Tor). Volunteers with local birding group Cornwall Birds are helping with field survey work. RSPB shared insight and expertise which materially affected the approach taken. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Volunteers have been trained in field survey skills. Modelling work has been done to identify land where management changes could make a big difference. Discussions with land managers are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Willow tit occupancy for land management interventions (PhD Theme 3) |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Department | Cornwall Wildlife Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 (Land managers) PhD student Daveron Smith is working in partnership with Cornwall Birds to gather baseline data on the extent and health of the willow tit population on Goss Moor in Cornwall. Predictive modelling will then be used to identify the most promising sites for management interventions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been supported by funding from the G7 Legacy Fund administered by Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are working on sites managed by Natural England (Goss Moor) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Helman Tor). Volunteers with local birding group Cornwall Birds are helping with field survey work. RSPB shared insight and expertise which materially affected the approach taken. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Volunteers have been trained in field survey skills. Modelling work has been done to identify land where management changes could make a big difference. Discussions with land managers are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Willow tit occupancy for land management interventions (PhD Theme 3) |
| Organisation | The Wildlife Trusts |
| Department | Cornwall Wildlife Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | RENEW Theme 3 (Land managers) PhD student Daveron Smith is working in partnership with Cornwall Birds to gather baseline data on the extent and health of the willow tit population on Goss Moor in Cornwall. Predictive modelling will then be used to identify the most promising sites for management interventions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project has been supported by funding from the G7 Legacy Fund administered by Natural England and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. We are working on sites managed by Natural England (Goss Moor) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Helman Tor). Volunteers with local birding group Cornwall Birds are helping with field survey work. RSPB shared insight and expertise which materially affected the approach taken. |
| Impact | Work is ongoing. Volunteers have been trained in field survey skills. Modelling work has been done to identify land where management changes could make a big difference. Discussions with land managers are ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Yorkshire Water/RENEW |
| Organisation | Yorkshire Water |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Impact | Conversations ongoing regarding joint working opportunities. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Agile Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | RENEW's X3 (Collaboration in Practice) team presented their work at the Agile Summer School. This led to further conversations with other CtE programmes and a successful bid for Enhancement Funding to NERC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | All themes (Spotlight on NT projects and programmes) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event brought RENEW colleagues together with teams from the wider National Trust to explore opportunities for collaboration. 6 NT teams presented (Killerton Estate, 8 Hills Regional Park, Stepping Stones, Future Parks Accelerator, Changing Chalk, Riverlands) with Q&A sessions to highlight the scale of opportunity across the organisation, and bring teams together with relevant RENEW themes. There was considerable interest among RENEW Theme 2 (Communities) and the session kickstarted discussions between theme leads and NT projects including FPA, Changing Chalk, Riverlands about future collaboration. These conversations are ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | BES Roundtable (Theme 1 - Individual actors) |
| 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 | BES Roundtable: Conservation and Novel Ecosystems in a Changing Climate, held by the British Ecological Society in Exeter with attendees from National Trust, Natural England and researchers. Jo Garrett presented selected results from ReBLS from the first year. Summary of event will be produced by BES Policy and the event will feed into further work considering this topic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/rebls/ |
| Description | Biodiversity Parliament 2023 (Nov 2023) |
| 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 | The 2023 RENEW Biodiversity Parliament brought together RENEW colleagues, partners and stakeholders at a 2-day event held at Heelis, National Trust headquarters in Swindon. The event saw presentations from each of RENEW's research themes, with partners BookTrust and the British Library also sharing their experiences. PhD students showed posters, and the programme included plenty of time for informal, in-person networking for attendees to make and build connections across disciplines, professions and sectors. Partners commented on how the work has developed and many expressed an appetite for further involvement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/a-review-of-the-renew-parliament-2023-with-rebecca-edgerley/ |
| Description | Biodiversity Parliament 2024 |
| 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 | The Biodiversity Parliament was held in November 2024 at the London Wetland Centre, with over 70 attendees from across RENEW's partner organisations. The event featured talks from RENEW and talks from a series of provocateurs to stimulate fresh thinking and lively debate. The event also formed a key part of the ExCASES mission on the Future of Biodiversity Renewal (see separate record under Collaborations and Partnerships) which sought to explore different stakeholder perspectives and identify areas of common ground. Alongside workshop breakouts the event included networking, an optional tour of the Wetland Centre and an exhibition of RENEW's creative outputs and oral history listening station. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity-parliament/ |
| Description | Biodiversity Storytelling Summit, Kew (Oct 2023) |
| 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 | Biodiversity Storytelling Summit hosted by BookTrust and RENEW at Kew Gardens in London. Over 50 authors, illustrators and publishers joined together with scientists to explore how nature is - and could be - represented in children's literature. Zoologist and children's author Nicola Davies was keynote speaker at the event, which featured presentations from ecologists alongside collaborative creative activities. Participants reported making new connections and having their eyes opened to the weird and wonderful nature on our doorsteps. One author who attended the summit has been inspired to host a biodiversity event at his local library, while a RENEW scientist has been invited to join an online session for primary school children as part of Cambridge County Council's Festival of Stories, after one of their Early Years team attended the summit. BookTrust and RENEW are working together on follow-up activities to continue the conversations from the event and we expect to see further impacts develop over time. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Biodiversity Storytelling Summit, Manchester (Sept 2024) |
| 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 | The second national storytelling summit held in partnership between RENEW and BookTrust, to inspire authors and illustrators about how nature can be represented in children's literature.This year's summit had more of a focus on bringing early years practitioners into the discussion - they work at the interface with disadvantaged families and can help get books out into the world. BookTrust led this year's event which also saw more extensive presentations on their research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/renew-x-booktrust-biodiversity-storytelling-summit-24/ |
| Description | Biodiversity parliament I |
| 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 | Two-day event engaging partner organisations with research team to build understanding of biodiversity renewal and strengthen connections. Taking the 'Parliament' theme, we structured the event loosely around a 'select committee' model, creating 'provocations' and running deliberative workshops around the two main themes of the event, namely access/impact and food security. The event also feature invited guest speakers and creative practitioners. We worked with Foreground event management to facilitate the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/renew-biodiversity-parliament-2022/ |
| Description | Bog Talk podcast #1 (RENEW Theme 2) |
| 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 | As part of our 'Bog Talk' programme of work (see record under Collaboration and Partnerships), Rose Ferraby and John Wedgwood Clark have produced a podcast, as a way of appreciating and sharing the sounds of these landscapes. Rose Ferraby writes: As part of our work with Natural England on their Protected Sites Strategy, we've been coming out to a number of different peatland sites on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor to think about how to communicate these landscapes through shifting scales and perspectives. Some are sites currently undergoing restoration by the South West Peatland Partnership (our partner on the project), where ditches are being stitched back into the contours to hold back water and soak the peat once more. Others are cared for by the Wildlife Trust or are just small patches of marooned peatlands within broader agricultural landscapes. Each offers an eye, an ear, into the complex visible and submerged worlds of bogs. The podcast is available on the RENEW website, Soundcloud and has been circulated via the RENEW bulletin and newsletter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/bog-talk-with-rose-ferraby-john-wedgwood-clarke/ |
| Description | Bringing nature into decision-making (HMT event) |
| 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 | This meeting at the Royal Society focused on how the government can respond constructively to the recommendations made by the Dasgupta review and targets set by the Environment Act. Sponsored by the Royal Society, the Government Economics and Social Research Service, DEFRA and HM Treasury, it brought people together from private finance and industry, scientists and economists from academia, and subject specialists from across government. Professor Ben Groom discussed the work undertaken by the Treasury Biodiversity Working Group on valuing biodiversity for public policy and regulatory change, and how to treat the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the long-run for future generations. Tim Lenton was also a panellist. HMT are following up with Ben Groom and others, including RENEW/National Trust's Rosie Hails, about how this work will be taken forwards into the Green Book. Discussions are ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | CIEEM webinar (RENEW Theme 2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW PhD Sophie Stenson presented her work on conservation careers at a webinar for the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) special interest group on Academia. Event listing: http://events.cieem.net/Events/EventPages/17102024000000Learningfrombestpracticeinsustainablegovernanceperformance.aspx Event recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwf143CHlvo |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwf143CHlvo |
| Description | Changing the Environment website |
| 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 | RENEW colleagues contributed to the design and development of the new Changing the Environment website, a process led by the Climate Agency and funded by NERC. The website went live in February 2025 and showcases work from the four projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.changingtheenvironment.org/our-work/renew/ |
| Description | Co-production of EDI retreat - embedding and applying EDI in research |
| 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 | The delegates explored matters related to EDI as part of the four CtE projects: the Agile Initiative (University of Oxford), the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (Cambridge University), GALLANT (University of Glasgow), and RENEW (University of Exeter). The Retreat also served as an opportunity to collaborate and exchange knowledge and ideas. The event was designed to be relaxed, supportive and constructive, with plenty of opportunity for conversation, collaboration, learning and reflection. The EDI Retreat also supported some of the CtEs' commitments for the Supporting Community Diversity funding received from NERC. Objectives for the Retreat were: ? Embedding EDI in research. ? Collecting EDI-related data for research projects and programmes. ? Fostering inclusive stakeholder engagement. ? Developing inclusive communications frameworks. ? Balancing academic and grassroots EDI priorities, and more. ? Address barriers and challenges to embedding EDI into environmental research. ? Share project and research-specific knowledge. ? Enable problem solving strategies to support people in embedding EDI. ? Support the development and strengthening of new connections. ? Improve overall level of knowledge about EDI in research. The success metrics: ? Increased knowledge about how the Agile Initiative is currently pursuing EDI in research and programme operations. ? Improved understanding about the future of EDI within the Agile Initiative. ? Improved understanding about how EDI is being practically implemented in research projects and programmes. ? Strengthened relationships and networks between the CtE programmes and among EDI-focused academics and research staff from the University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coast path evaluation - presentation to Natural England and Defra |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Researcher Jim Lowe presented his work on RENEW's Coast Path Evaluation project, funded by Natural England. The presentation was organised by Natural England's Recreation and Access Specialist, Gavin Stark, and involved Defra and NE colleagues with a role in access to nature policy, including the Defra team leading on the Government's manifesto commitment to create 9 new National Rivers Walks. The findings from the evaluation, particularly the more general findings about implementing the programme, are of special relevance and interest to this group. This was a webinar held on 30th January 2025 and approx 10 people attended. There was lots of interest in the forthcoming report from the work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/evaluating-access-interventions-at-the-uk-coastline/ |
| Description | Coast paths presentation to Natural England network (Theme 1 - Individual actors) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Jim Lowe presented the findings of the coastal path evaluation work at a Natural England online seminar. The seminar provided conclusions and recommendations from the evaluation of relevance to policy and programme development to an audience of Natural England and DEFRA colleagues working in this space. The project focussed on the effectiveness of measures implemented as part of establishing the King Charles III England Coastal Path that seeks to manage the behaviour of visitors at locations with sensitive wildlife. There was positive feedback from attendees and an agreement that this work will be valuable for future trail/path management and development. Conclusions and recommendations will follow in the full report in the coming months |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/evaluating-access-interventions-at-the-uk-coastline/ |
| Description | Collaboration in Practice guide (UoE promotion/dissemination) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A meeting with Poppy Harrison, University of Exeter Networks Facilitation Manager, to raise awareness of the Collaboration in Practice guide and discuss routes to disseminate it among colleagues. As a result, the guide has been uploaded to the University's online Research and Impact Management Environment (RIME), making it available to colleagues from right across the university. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Collaboration in Practice guide (UoE promotion/dissemination) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented RENEW's Collaboration in Practice guide developed by the X3 team. This was a presentation as part of the HASS-STEM Environmental Pipeline Workshop, with an audience of approximately 50 University of Exeter colleagues from within HASS (Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) disciplines. The aim was to raise awareness of the guide and share good practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in Practice guide (partner engagement) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW X3 team presented their work and the Collaboration in Practice guide to Natural England's RENEW Strategy Group. The meeting discussed work to date, Natural England institutional culture, invited input on the practice guide and discussed avenues for future collaboration. The team has been invited to attend the Strategy Group meeting again in future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in Practice guide (partner engagement) |
| 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 | RENEW's X3 team presented the Collaboration in Practice guide at a RENEW Partner Forum event. 16 participants from 9 organisations attended, including the University of Exeter and National Trust, Natural England, The Poetry Society, JNCC, NBN, Future Parks Accelerator, UKCEH and British Library. The event was focused on 'What works for inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration?' and was aimed at sharing learning and gathering partner input for the next version of the guide. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in practice (4S conference) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | X3 (Collaboration in Practice) presented work on collaboration at 4S Society for Social Studies of Science Conference 2023, online/Hawaii (9/11/23) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in practice (Nordic STS conference) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Paper presented (Hadley Kershaw, E): 'Re-imagining research practice and policy for biodiversity' (7-9/6/23) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in practice (Nuffield Council on Bioethics) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | X3 (Collaboration in Practice) team delivered invited talk at workshop on interdisciplinary collaboration and responsible innovation in synthetic biology, Nuffield Council on Bioethics (5-6/9/23). Prompted requests for further information from BBSRC, DSIT, UKRI Comms & Engagement. Reported change in views or opinions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in practice (UoE presentation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | X3 (Collaboration in Practice) presented RENEW, and their work on collaboration, to University of Exeter research groups and centres: Egenis, Centre for the Study of Life Sciences - Away Day (19/5/23). Seminar delivered (Hadley Kershaw, E.): 'Interdisciplinarity, co-production and responsible innovation: from tick box to critical friendship' Centre for Rural Policy Research - Away Day (20/6/23) Symposium on Co-productive & Participatory Practices for Effective Environmental Governance (16/11/23). Panel presentation (Hadley Kershaw, E.): 'How do we promote best practices in co-production?' It has also been shared with the central Research Services directorate, and is now available on the Research Impact Management Environment and will be included in the new Project Management resource which is in development for managers and administrators across the University of Exeter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration in practice presentation (Oral History Society conference) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Paper presented (Merchant, P.): 'Oral histories of collaboration in nature conservation in Britain, 1960-present'. (23-24/6/23) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | College talk (Plumpton College, East Sussex) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Prof Kevin Gaston gave a talk about personalised ecology to approx 170 students at Plumpton College (East Sussex) on 7th February 2024 and 4th February 2025. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Conservation Careers Podcast (Kevin Gaston) |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Co-Director Kevin Gaston discussed his research into personalised ecologies and RENEW's nature recovery agenda on the Conservation Careers podcast with Nick Askew. Kevin shared personal experiences with the natural world, experiences that have shaped Kevin's career as a writer, teacher and practitioner of conservation biology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.conservation-careers.com/podcast/podcast-renewing-biodiversity-through-a-people-in-natur... |
| Description | Cornwall AONB engagement (ongoing) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW researchers have met with staff at the Cornwall Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to present our work and explore opportunities for collaboration. During 2022 we attended quarterly meetings of the Cornwall AONB partnership to introduce our work, and during 2023 have discussed how we might support the identification of priority locations for high nature value farming. Cornwall AONB has identified potential opportunities to engage farmer networks across parts of Cornwall. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Cornwall B Local event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Lewis Elliott (Theme 1 - Personalised Ecologies) gave a presentation at the Cornwall B Local event 'Mind, Body and Planet: Exploring our connection to the natural world and the wellbeing benefits of nature'. This was held at Truro's Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre, and was organised by a local group of B Corp businesses. Approx 50 business owners and business representatives attended, with Lewis speaking about coastal environments, public health and biodiversity renewal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.tickettailor.com/events/consciamlimited/1130653 |
| Description | Creative peninsula summit panel (J. Clarke) |
| 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 | Participation in expert panel discussing work on biodiversity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://creativepeninsula.org/programme/creative-peninsula-summit |
| Description | Crown Estate Nature Recovery Workshop |
| 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 | Rosie Hails participated in this workshop with the Crown Estate |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Ebrel/LNRS webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Theme 3 presented at a webinar on the application of RENEW work to Local Nature Recovery Strategies. 65 people from 35 organisations attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Emma Zimmerman (Presentation to NT Nature Conservation Advisors group) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW partnership manager Emma Zimmerman presented to National Trust's Nature Conservation Advisor group, at the request of the NCA group lead. This was held online with 30-40 NCAs, all of whom are based regionally across the National Trust. There was particular interest in ExCASES (Theme X2), which led to follow on conversations with ExCASES team. Attendees were keen to have access to the mission bank, which was shared (and also made available on the RENEW website), and at least two NCAs submitted mission ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Environmental justice and the biodiversity crisis symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW's Kevin Gaston spoke at this symposium on Environmental Justice and the Biodiversity Crisis, convened by the University of Exeter and the Environmental Law Foundation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://elflaw.org/news/environmental-justice-and-the-biodiversity-crisis-symposium/ |
| Description | Event with Cornwall National Landscape |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | RENEW hosted an event with the Cornwall National Landscape partnership to build relationships and explore areas of mutual interest and synergies in our work. Cornwall National Landscape is comprised of 12 separate sections totalling almost a third of Cornwall - an area bigger than Dartmoor National Park - and is governed by a Partnership of more than 20 organisations, including the University of Exeter and Environment and Sustainability Institute. Members of the RENEW team presented their work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HWNS conference presentation (IRSPM 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Oliver James and Jamie McCauley (Theme 2 - Communities) presented a paper at the International Research Society for Public Management conference in Budapest. The title of the IRSPM 2023 paper was: Local Environmental Policy Prioritisation and Outcome Performance Reporting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://irspm2023.exordo.com/programme/presentation/253 |
| Description | HWNS engagement (ongoing) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of RENEW's work on the Health, Wellbeing and Nature Sustainability (HWNS) tool, we meet quarterly with local authorities and with Natural England to progress the development of the HWNS tool to support sustainable governance. In 2023 we have worked with Liverpool Combined Authority, Norfolk County Council and Surrey Council. Further engagement activity is planned for 2024. During 2023 we engaged with stakeholders from Liverpool Combined Authority's planning, environment and data & insight teams to share our work and gain insight into the use of performance management tools. Liverpool Combined Authority subsequently hosted a workshop to test relevant factor diagrams with the Liverpool Regions Spatial Strategy Plan. A similar workshop was also held in Norfolk with the Greater Norfolk Growth Board, to test relevant factor diagrams with the new Green Infrastructure Strategy Plan. This dialogue informs decisions around the development of the HWNS tool, while also providing local authority stakeholders a space to reflect on their practice and decision-making. RENEW has also been involved in an advisory capacity (reported separately) and in the formal evaluation of bids as part of Natural England's digital procurement process. RENEW is now part of the steering group with responsibility for training of facilitators for HWNS roll-out. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | HWNS presentation to students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | RENEW team (Oliver James and Jamie Macauley) presented RENEW and the HWNS tool to a Masters class in Public Administration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | How diversified stakeholder collaboration can improve landscape-scale deer management (ExCASES mission report launch) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This webinar on 16 Sept 2024 invited reflections and discussion from the ExCASES deer mission and the mission report 'Seeing the Forest for the Deer'. The ExCASES team presented their findings and chaired a panel discussion with invited speakers from the University of Exeter, Forestry Commission, and National Trust Wildlife Management Unit. 42 attendees from RENEW partner organisations, collaborating organisations, and wider stakeholders joined the event. A recording of it is available online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/how-diversified-stakeholder-collaboration-can-improve-landscape-sca... |
| Description | IBBY conference: ways children connect with nature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lucy Mercer presented RENEW's work with the BookTrust at this annual gathering of all those involved in children's books: authors and illustrators, academics, librarians, teachers and publishers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ibby.org.uk/ibbyukconference2024blog2/ |
| Description | Introducing ExCASES |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | A RENEW Partner Forum event, 'Introducing ExCASES' was held online on 16 May 2024. The webinar gave RENEW partners and collaborators the chance to meet the ExCASES team and find out more about our agile research missions, including how to submit and comment on mission ideas through our open access online form and Padlet. 16 attendees joined. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/partner-forum-introducing-excases/ |
| Description | Keynote at Access Assembly (Theme X3 - Collaboration in Practice) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Angela Cassidy and Eleanor Hadley-Kershaw (Theme X3 - Collaboration in Practice) were keynote speakers at the University of Exeter's Access Assembly, speaking about working across disciplines & beyond academia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://accessnetwork.uk/access-assembly-2024/ |
| Description | LCA presentation (RENEW Theme 4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of RENEW's LCA work for the internal teams at a major financial institution. Audience of climate and data analytics teams, scientists and innovation networks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | LNP Board (R. Lovell) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | RENEW researcher Rebecca Lovell has been appointed to Cornwall's Local Nature Partnership Board, to bring health and wellbeing expertise. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | LNRS engagement in Devon and Cornwall |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | RENEW colleagues from Theme 3 (Land Managers) have engaged with Cornwall Council, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Devon County Council and their corresponding Wildlife Trusts around the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. They have met with council officers on multiple occasions through 2022-23 to discuss ways RENEW could contribute to the LNRS in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, and in Devon, particularly in relation to mapping. In September 2023 Cornwall's Local Nature Partnership, which includes representatives from Natural England, RSPB & Wildlife Trusts, signed off its approach to the LNRS which has been informed by the RENEW approach. This has included the development of workflows for modelling species distributions and conducting systematic conservation planning. We have shared our experiences with colleagues at Natural England (Celia Fallon) to discuss common approach for LNRS mapping across the South West. We have sought to share best practice, while recognising that this requires a fair degree of technical expertise to deliver. Our work has prompted requests for further information and technical support from responsible authorities, but unfortunately RENEW does not have the capacity to provide this follow up without either additional resource or reallocation of existing resource. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Literature x Ecology poetry events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A series of webinars featuring RENEW's Lucy Mercer in conversation with renowned international contemporary poets, held in partnership with the Biodiversity and People Network. Two events were held in 2023 (a third had to be cancelled due to illness) and there are more arranged for 2024. The poets (Sylvia Legris and Karen McCarthy Woolf) read from their work and discussed their writing in relation to ecology and ecological thinking. The events were promoted internally within the University of Exeter and National Trust, with project partners and via RENEW's social media channels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Meet and greet (Theme 3) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Info-sharing event facilitated by RENEW Partnership Forum. Brought together partners (Church Commissioners, Duchy of Cornwall, Natural England, NatureScot, The Wildlife Trusts, Yorkshire Water) with researchers to share areas of interest and discuss collaboration opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meet and greet (Theme 4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Info-sharing event with partners, with researchers and providing opportunity for discussion/debate. Peter White (RENEW Theme 4 - Business and Finance) tested out his dashboard survey with partners, aimed at assessing sector needs and preferences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meet and greet (Theme 4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Info-sharing event facilitated by RENEW Partner Forum. The event brought together partners (Church Commissioners, HSBC, JNCC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, and Natural England) and researchers to shares areas of interest, discuss upcoming work and collaboration possibilities, including around the biodiversity impact dashboard. Partners keen to know more about how to be involved, with some attending RENEW Biodiversity Parliament as a result and ongoing conversations about joint work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | NT Advisory Groups conference (Feb 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Theme 2 Co-I Catriona McKinnon recorded a short video presentation on intergenerational justice that was screened at conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | NT Nature Discovery Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 6th Nov 2024 - Nature Discovery Day (Heelis): Session for Land and Nature leaders to help National Trust's comms teams become more confident when talking and writing about nature and the role of the NT. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | National Trust Research Bulletin (quarterly) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW's work routinely features in the National Trust Research Bulletin, a quarterly e-newsletter that goes out to the NT research community, all NT colleagues and some external research partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | National Trust Research Report (annual) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW updates routinely feature in the National Trust Annual Research Report (2023, 2024, 2025 currently being drafted). The report goes out to the whole Trust and is available in the NT Research Repository. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://nt.iro.bl.uk/collections/386ba2d6-e4cb-4205-942e-bbf954e6b3a3?locale=en |
| Description | Nature Positive Task and Finish Group (RENEW Theme 4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Maru Correa Cano presented the preliminary results of her LCA work to the University of Exeter's Nature Positive Task and Finish Group. She is working with the University of Exeter to establish a baseline and recommendations for biodiversity renewal activities (see Collaborations and Partnerships record). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/helping-businesses-understand-their-biodiversity-footprint/ |
| Description | Nature's Nexus: Showcasing Collaboration (RENEW project/UoE) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | RENEW features in the National Centre for Universities and Business report, 'Nature's Nexus' published in Summer 2024. The report showcases the varied and impactful partnerships between universities and businesses that are addressing the urgent challenges of conservation, restoration, and the sustainable use of nature. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ncub.co.uk/insight/natures-nexus/ |
| Description | Network for Greening the Financial Sector (Zurich) |
| 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 | Invited to the Network for Greening the Financial Sector (NGFS) in Zurich to discuss scenarios for biodiversity for Central Banks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Northern Curlew Skills Share (RENEW Theme 2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Rose Ferraby presented on 'Curlews in Culture' at the Nothern Curlew Skills Share event hosted by the Nidderdale National Landscape. The event was attended by conservation groups and included information on sympathetic management, ecosystem repair, and improving invertebrate richness as well as cultural and creative contributions, including Rose's session on curlew's cultural significance. As Rose says, it was "A day of collective curlewing - sharing skills, thoughtful discussion and perspectives. It really showed the value of getting lots of people in the same room (with good food!). We had fascinating conversations around the role of culture and creativity in curlew conservation (and landscape change more broadly). It was wonderful to have such an inspiring bunch of people, including fantastic printmaker @hestercoxprint willow wizz @philbradleybasketmaker and curlew inspiration @marycolwell1, engagement officers from @thewildlifetrusts, amazing volunteers from curlew groups and the fantastic Katie Laidlow. We gathered words and phrases on curlew, bringing them together into a collective curlew poem. The language of curlew is so full of quiet connection and affection. Poetry and the arts give space for these less tangible, difficult to articulate attachments we have to the natural world." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/24898140.melbreak-curlew-recovery-project-attends-skill-share-ev... |
| Description | Oral History Festival 2024 |
| 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 | Interactive listening workshop ('Can oral history help save the planet?'). Event listing: https://www.ohs.org.uk/events/oral-history-festival/ Programme: https://www.ohs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OHS_BLNLS-festival2024_PROGRAMME.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ohs.org.uk/events/oral-history-festival/ |
| Description | Oral histories of the conservation sector (National Life Stories) |
| 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 | Participated in British Libraries National Life Stories Interviewers' Forum (16/5/23) and Symposium (30/6-1/7/23). Participation in order to learn from and exchange ideas with colleagues working in oral history. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ohs.org.uk/events/the-life-story-in-oral-history-practice-a-two-day-international-sympos... |
| Description | Peat Poetry event (RENEW Theme 2/Literature Works) |
| 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 | John Wedgwood Clarke was among the speakers at the Peat Poetry event at Exeter's Custom House https://exetercustomhouse.co.uk/event/quay-words-renew-presents-peat-poetry/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://poetrysociety.org.uk/projects/poetry-and-the-environment/young-poet-bog-talk/ |
| Description | Personalised ecologies (Kevin Gaston/Oppenheimer Conference) |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kevin Gaston was interviewed by South Africa's Daily Maverick, ahead of his speech on Personalised Ecology at the Oppenheimer Research Conference in Johannesburg. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-09-the-extinction-of-our-experience-of-nature-is-dim... |
| Description | Poetry and creative writing workshops (Lucy Mercer with BaPN) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Led by poet Lucy Mercer, these workshops explored reading poems about the natural world and offered group creative writing exercises to get people thinking in a poetic way about these subjects. Each workshop took a different theme: water, grass, and trees. The first two workshops were held online, the last one in-person. The workshops were held by RENEW in collaboration with the University of Exeter Biodiversity and People Network, aimed at colleagues and members of the network from across different disciplines. The workshops aimed to create an inclusive space for RENEW team members as well as colleagues from other departments to learn a little bit more about poetry, and to introduce new creative methodologies and ways of approaching subjects that might relate to their research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Poetry reading (Laurel Prize) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | John Wedgwood Clarke and Caleb Parkin spoke at the Poetry Book Society summit festival at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in October. This was a landmark inaugural ecopoetry, nature and climate writing festival held in collaboration with the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, the Laurel Prize, the National Poetry Centre, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and supported by Arts Council England, National Landscapes Association, and Leeds City Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://poetryschool.com/assets/uploads/2024/10/Summit-Festival-Programme-30-SEPT.pdf |
| Description | Presentation (B. Phillips) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation as part of a workshop of intra-disciplinary working |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation (Cornwall AONB partnership) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the partnership, which sparked questions and discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation (Eden Project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to the organisation on systematic conservation planning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation (K.J. Gaston) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation introducing RENEW to members of institution |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation (R. Hails) at Citizen's Assembly for Nature |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Citizens Assembly for Nature as part of People's Plan for Nature campaign |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://peoplesplanfornature.org/peoples-assembly-nature-second-weekend |
| Description | Presentation at ECEHH research day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Jo Garrett presented ReBLS at the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health research day, sharing the work with academic colleagues and a range of local and regional stakeholders with an interest in the intersections between the environment and health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to Short Story Support Network (Theme 2 - Communities) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW researcher Shari Mang gave a presentation to the Short Story Support Network on biodiversity and communities living in urban trees. Following the event an author reached out to say they wanted to develop a book based on some of the ideas presented. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | RENEW ExCASES presentation to National Trust Nature and Science team - deer mission focus |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW's ExCASES team presented their deer mission at an online meeting of the National Trust's Nature & Science team on 6 August 2024. The meeting was led by the Trust's Wildlife Management Unit and focused on how best to implement the findings from RENEW's deer mission within the National Trust. The ExCASES team presented their work and this was followed by discussion chaired by the Wildlife Management Unit. Approx 30 people attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | RENEW overview to Devon LNP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Partnerships Manager Emma Zimmerman gave an overview of RENEW to an online meeting of the Devon Local Nature Partnership (https://www.devonlnp.org.uk/) in September 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | RENEW presentation to National Trust Nature and Science team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW ran a session at the National Trust's Nature & Science directorate Full Team Meeting on 11 July 2024 at Heelis. It was chaired and content provided by RENEW staff situated within the Environmental Research & Evidence team (i.e. Matt Heard as NT Head of Environmental Research & Evidence, Emma Zimmerman, Clare Bissell, Dave Bavin, Michelle Twena and Olivia Bell). We gave an overview of RENEW and highlighted key workstreams (T1 ReBLS, T2 BookTrust work, T3 systematic conservation planning tool/mapping, T4 LCA work, X2 deer mission) and ExCASES ran interactive sessions (including an overview of Future of Biodiversity Renewal mission and other current missions including dogs, urban trees, people's plan for nature). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | RENEW website (ongoing) |
| 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 | The RENEW website is a 'shop window' for all of RENEW's work, and is regularly updated with news of our work, publications and blogs. It is promoted via RENEW social media channels and the regular RENEW enewsletter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/ |
| Description | Resilient Landscapes for People, Nature and Climate (BES Symposium/Rosie Hails) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Rosie Hails gave a keynote speech on lowlands and river systems at the BES Symposium in Birmingham. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Rosie Hails (Agile Nature Recovery Symposium) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Co-Director Rosie Hails was a panel member at the Oxford Nature Recovery Symposium held on 27th March 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.agile-initiative.ox.ac.uk/events/event/oxford-nature-recovery-symposium/ |
| Description | Rosie Hails (Cambridge Associates) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Co-Director Rosie Hails gave a talk at an Investment Fund discussion meeting at Cambridge Associates in London in November 2023, on the topic of 'Restoring Nature: The Business Case'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Rosie Hails (Institution of Civil Engineers Presidential Roundtable) |
| 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 | Private roundtable event chaired by ICE president Professor Anusha Shah, focused on "How can governments incorporate nature-based solutions in their infrastructure systems?". The event brought together a wide range of leading industry experts and infrastructure professionals from the UK and internationally. Insight from the roundtable (held under the Chatham House rule) fed into ongoing development of a paper by ICE policy team on this topic. The paper has been published and will be used to inform discussions with key stakeholders and decision-makers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ice.org.uk/news-insight/policy-and-advocacy/policy-engagement/pres-rt-how-governments-ca... |
| Description | Rosie Hails (National AONB Conference) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | RENEW Co-Director Rosie Hails was one of the speakers in the keynote session 'Disrupt' at the national AONB annual conference held at Bath University in September 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://national-landscapes.org.uk/events/annual-conference-2023 |
| Description | Royal Society of Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion meeting organised by Professor Philip Donoghue, Professor Anja Spang, Professor Tim Lenton, Professor Samir Okasha, and Professor Graham Shields. The meeting brought together philosophers and scientists from diverse backgrounds to address how stable biospheres evolve: whether they are a result of chance events or instead the inevitable consequence of the evolutionary interplay between the organisms and their environments. The meeting inevitably considered Earth history, but also exoplanets and simulated exobiospheres. Tim presented on risk and the role of nature in climate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2024/11/biospheres/ |
| Description | Soapbox Science (Theme 4 - LCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | RENEW's Maru Correa Cano presented her work on the LCA method at SoapBox Science in Exeter in June 2024. Her talk focused on 'The Extraordinary Life Cycle Stages of a Water Bottle'. This prompted an interview with BBC Radio Devon about her work and an interview on the University of Exeter's SoapBox Science web pages |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/events/soapboxscience/ |
| Description | Soapbox Science interview (Theme 4 - LCA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | As part of the University of Exeter's SoapBox Science activities, RENEW researcher Maru Correa Cano was profiled in relation to her talk on the life cycle of a water bottle. The University of Exeter also issued a release to media: https://news.exeter.ac.uk/staff-news/women-researchers-team-up-for-soapbox-science-exeter-2024/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/events/soapboxscience/drmariaeugeniacorreacano/ |
| Description | Systematic review presentation at NE Social Science Network (Theme 2 - Communities) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Bethan Stagg presented the findings from the systematic review in a webinar with Natural England's Social Science Network. The webinar was titled 'Behavioural CHange interventions for addressing recreational pressures' and was attended by 75 people from across the country. There were high levels of engagement and interest from participants, with questions during the webinar and additional follow-up questions from participants after the event responded to by email. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Systematic review presentation at the Outdoor Recreation Network Academic Research Group (Theme 2 - Communities) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Bethan Stagg presented the findings from the Systematic Review on the Effects of behaviour-change-based interventions on recreational pressures |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.outdoorrecreation.org.uk/events/orn-academic-research-group-3/ |
| Description | T2 Bethan Stagg (Symposium on Co-Productive Practices for Effective Environmental Governance) |
| 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 | Bethan Stagg (RENEW Theme 2 - Communities) participated in the Symposium on Co-Productive Practices for Effective Environmental Governance jointly hosted by the University of British Columbia and University of Exter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | T2 Caleb Parkin (Bad Lillies) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Two of Caleb Parkin's poems were published in digital poetry journal Bad Lilies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.badlilies.uk/caleb-parkin |
| Description | T2 Caleb Parkin (Cheltenham Literary Festival) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PhD student Caleb Parkin (Theme 2 - Communities) shared his work at Cheltenham Literary Festival. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/the-huddle-free-programme |
| Description | T2 Caleb Parkin (Ecopoetikon) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Caleb Parkin's work 'Ten Reflections on the Same Pond' was published in Ecopoetikon online poetry journal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ecopoetikon.org/public/poems/1cdf93bd2ca0ca406d4db1e87313ff97e19e5784d07847efcf0f9f05c83af0c... |
| Description | T2 Caleb Parkin (Ginkgo Prize) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | PhD student Caleb Parkin (RENEW Theme 2 - Communities) read his work at the Ginkgo Prize for Ecopoetry event at the South Bank Centre in London. Caleb was highly commended in the prize and his work features in the Ginkgo Prize Ecopoetry Anthology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://ginkgoprize.com/ginkgo-ceremony/ |
| Description | T2 Catriona McKinnon (WCL EDI Working Group) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Following publication of WCL's route map to improving diversity in the conservation sector, RENEW were invited to speak about our work with WCL's equality, diversity and inclusion working group. RENEW colleagues subsequently developed a draft concept paper, intended to underpin further engagement and a potential Partnership Forum workshop on this topic. The concept paper was presented to partners at the Biodiversity Parliament in November. This work is currently paused due to staff changes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | T2 Lucy Mercer (Small publishers book fair) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Lucy Mercer (Theme 2 - Communities) read her work at the Small Publishers Book Fair, the annual gathering of writers, artists, poets, book designers and publishers which takes place in London's Conway Hall. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | T3 Charlie Masquelier (MRF/Tay FM) |
| 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 | RENEW team member Charlie Masquelier (Theme 3, Land Managers) appeared on MFR and Tay FM hourly bulletins on Sunday 18 February 2024 speaking about RENEW. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The economics of biodiversity (Jefferies financial ratings agency) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Jefferies (financial ratings agency) at the Royal Society of Chemistry on the economics of biodiversity and how biodiversity impacts and risks can be measured . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Theme 3 Farm cluster engagement |
| 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 | Theme 3 (Land managers) have engaged with two separate farmer clusters, presenting the outputs of our models to date. The models developed by RENEW Theme 3 aim to provide useful data on the biodiversity value of a given area of land. Theme 3 have presented model outputs to the clusters, gathering feedback that will inform our work as we continue to develop the model to make it as relevant and useful as possible for farmers. Insights from this work in Devon, including modelled biodiversity uplift and estimates of value under Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), being analysed, particularly in the context of farmer-led vs systematic conservation planning led biodiversity benefits. Work with farm clusters has provided direct feedback on value of ecological models and additional information wanted by farmers. Landscape-scale management plans developed by Devon clusters have been valued by Mott MacDonald in terms of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and were presented to farmers in December 2023. This produced further insights and a further meeting has been schedule to discuss implementing land management approaches funded by BNG. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tim Lenton and Rosie Hails (NERC Nature Positive stakeholder roundtable) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Professor Tim Lenton spoke at the Nature Positive Business Leaders Roundtable convened by NERC. The roundtable brought together business leaders to explore challenges in enhancing biodiversity the context of an evolving policy and regulatory landscape. Tim spoke about his work with RENEW and the significance of tipping points. RENEW Co-Director Rosie Hails also participated in the stakeholder roundtable discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/events/nature-positive-workshop/ |
| Description | Towards an ecological mathematics: new correspondences with the natural world |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Towards an ecological mathematics: new correspondences with the natural world - RENEW 23 Sept 2024. Hybrid webinar jointly hosted by University of Exeter's Environmental Sustainability Institute and RENEW Partner Forum, providing insight into RENEW's cutting-edge interdisciplinary work using maths and ecology. Led by Dr Siddharth Kumar. Attendees from RENEW partner organisations and University of Exeter. 87 registered, approx 40+ attended. Recording available here https://youtu.be/3n5DuC5XrjQ?feature=shared |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n5DuC5XrjQ |
| Description | Tree equity presentation (Theme 2 - Communities) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Regan Early and Alice Drysdale presented their on tree equity, conducted in partnership with the Woodland Trust, at the Green Infrastructure Specialist Network. Natural England convenes the meeting though others attend, including the Environment Agency, Urban Forest Accelerator programmes, Forestry Commission |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | UKRI Sustainable Industrial Futures (UKRI/EPSRC) |
| 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 | Eleanor Hadley Kershaw (RENEW Theme X3) participated in a UKRI/EPSRC workshop on Sustainable Industrial Futures, part of the experimentation with proposal development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Virtual exhibition at Oxford Real Farming conference (X3 - Oral Histories) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Collaboration in Practice team of RENEW (Theme X3) were a featured exhibit in the Oxford Real Farming Conference virtual exhibition. Entitled 'What use are oral histories of agriculture and ecology?' the exhibit shared clips from our oral histories research (conducted in partnership with the British Library) that speak to agricultural practices past and present. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://orfc.org.uk/exhibitor/national-life-stories-the-british-library/ |
| Description | WWF Lovejoy Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tim Lenton spoke on tipping points at the 2024 Lovejoy Science for Nature symposium which convened leading experts to explore the state of knowledge on tipping points and how social change can be harnessed to reduce nature loss and address the climate crisis. See also: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/harnessing-positive-tipping-points-nature-climate-reflections-shaw-t0zmc/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/2024-lovejoy-symposium |
| Description | Willow tit habitat mapping |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PhD student Daveron Smith is building a community around willow tit habit mapping and restoration. Working with the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society (known as Cornwall Birds), and using funding secured from the G7 Legacy project, Daveron has established a Willow Tit Taskforce to monitor the species and restore habitats. Information about the taskforce was included in the Cornwall Birds newsletter and internal communications at Natural England. Daveron has delivered initial training sessions for taskforce volunteers, and the project is ongoing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Willow tits CWT magazine piece |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PhD student Daveron Smith's work with Cornwall Birds and Cornwall Wildlife Trust featured in the Summer 2024 edition of 'Wild Cornwall', the magazine for Cornwall Wildlife Trust members. The news in brief item highlighted the project which is mapping and restoring habitat for willow tits on Goss Moor and Helman Tor (see also Collaboration and Partnership record for more information about the work). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Willow tits interview |
| 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 | PhD student Daveron Smith was interviewed, along with partners from Cornwall Birds and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, about the work they are doing mapping and restoring habitat for willow tits on Goss Moor and Helman Tor (see also Collaboration and Partnership record for more information about the work). The piece was broadcast on BBC Radio Cornwall and featured on the BBC website. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74en5nj4elo https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kmkb14 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74en5nj4elo |
| Description | Windows study promotion |
| 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 and various other promotion, including via social media channels, of the windows study to recruit participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://news.exeter.ac.uk/environment-and-sustainability-institute/scientists-want-your-view-on-watc... |
| Description | Workshop (P. White) |
| 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 | Workshop on creating positive tipping points for nature and climate |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://global-tipping-points.org/programme/tipping-point-opportunities-breakout-sessions/ |
| Description | Workshop: targets for nature recovery (Theme 3 / Cornwall National Landscape) |
| 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 | RENEW Theme 3 helped run a workshop on targets for nature recovery with the Cornwall National Landscape. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | X2 and NT (BES Conference 2023) |
| 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 | National Trust colleagues hosted an exhibition stand at the British Ecological Society annual conference in Belfast, December 2023, to promote NT's IRO status, nature strategy and related environmental research and science ambitions. RENEW was showcased as NT's largest grant-funded research project and a key example of how partnership working is forging the way in developing solutions to the biodiversity crisis. We used RENEW's interactive 'Biodiversitymeter' to engage delegates through sharing their opinions on nature targets and experiences. The ExCASES (Theme X2) team also ran interactive sessions to elicit ExCASES mission ideas from conference attendees. Over 1500 delegates attended the conference, of whom the NT/RENEW team estimate they spoke to over 200. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |