In the effort to restore Europe’s landscapes, evidence-based approaches play a crucial role in achieving effective and sustainable outcomes. The Centre for Landscape Regeneration is a research centre led by the University of Cambridge, collaborating with the RSPB, NIAB, and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, dedicated to advancing knowledge and tools for restoring the British countryside through practical, nature-based solutions.
Its work focuses on three key regions: the East Anglian Fens, Cumbria and the Cairngorms. In Cumbria and the Cairngorms, the Centre for Landscape Regeneration is working closely with Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme projects Cairngorms Connect and Cumbria Connect. Research topics include assessing the impact of restoration on greenhouse gas emissions, developing new methods to monitor biodiversity evaluating and assessing the impacts of different land use management, and navigating the balance between conservation efforts and stakeholder interests.
As part of its mission to restore the UK’s natural landscapes, the Centre for Landscape Regeneration is working with CambridgeZero, the University of Cambridge’s ambitious climate change initiative, to run the Future Leaders Programme to offer opportunities for research placements to support diversity and inclusion in environmental sciences. This summer, seven project assistants gained hands-on experience in key areas like biodiversity, climate change, and ecosystem restoration.
During the Future Leaders Programme, participants created a series of “field notes” and photographic documentation that captured their experiences and observations throughout their placements. Guided by written and photographic prompts provided by CLR’s Communications Coordinator, Lillian Bixler, they documented their time working in the restoration landscapes. Below are the observations from the project assistants who spent their summer living and working in the Cairngorms.
Alex Cristobal
If I could sum up my first week with one thing, it would be… blaeberries! Whilst it is the season for these berries, I have never seen so many! They form an important part of the Cairngorms’ flora, especially as they are a key food source for much of the wildlife. Most excitingly, they are the perfect thing to snack on when walking to and from fieldwork sites!
The project I am part of involves measuring soil respiration, collecting litterfall, taking soil moisture, temperature and other abiotic readings, as well as looking at root growth and turnover over time using minirhizotrons. We also get to join others to get a taste of their fieldwork. Whilst we are all working on different projects, they are all connected in some way! One example is when I helped Elif with some Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)—this was a very fun and insightful experience!
We did a group walk along the Spey River that runs through Cromdale. It was a very peaceful and scenic route, and it was a lovely way to get to know everyone a bit more! I was very lucky to be able to visit sites such as Abernethy Forest NNR, Glen Feshie, and Ballater, which was by far my favourite site to sample at. It felt unreal to be taking soil respiration measurements whilst looking over Loch Muick; I will never forget it!
I look forward to taking part in more fieldwork, visiting some more incredible sites, and continuing to learn more about all the ongoing projects and research that is taking place in the area!
Issy Stuart
I feel I am learning just as much from the people around me as I am learning in the field. Each person in the group has their own special interests and knowledge, and I’m finding my passion for nature only grows in this environment.
Challenges of the placement so far have been the classic technical difficulties: equipment playing up, cars stuck in the mud, run-ins with pesky midges and ticks, soggy walking boots from grass-hidden bogs, and sweaty uphill hikes. But every challenge turns into a funny moment being amongst such a hilarious and supportive group.
The landscape we are lucky enough to live and work in within the Cairngorms is even more breath taking than I thought it would be, bursting with life, and surrounded by mountains and lochs as we study the peatlands. I am so excited to explore and learn more about the environment here, and hopefully spot a red squirrel soon.
Elif Nur Yildirim
I have always liked being away on research projects because I enjoyed living with other researchers. We all love different aspects of ecology and have certain specialities; being able to have such interdisciplinary discussions is important and fun, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing here.
So far, I’d say the biggest challenge is technical difficulties in the field. Access to certain areas is very limited, so when you’re on site, you are committed to getting the data you came for. In scenarios where something breaks or isn’t working (most of the time), you must be resilient and also a bit creative to come up with a solution.
Moving forward, I’m most excited about seeing everybody else’s data once it’s complete! Oftentimes, we all go out to the same sites at once but work on our own things, so I get to see what the others are doing, but I would really like to see the finalised results.
Gabriel Rowland
During work time, the surprises have come from interesting conversations with landowners and land managers. They have challenged many of my views and opinions on conservation and provided a new, fascinating perspective on key issues in the field. Some of what they have said has caused me to reflect on the views I held coming into this project, on topics such as economic security, localism, and mechanisms of funding conservation.
Outside of work time, the surprises have mostly been spotting interesting wildlife, like ospreys, seals, dolphins, red squirrels, and deer, to name a few. I am excited to talk to more landowners, visit their estates, and gain a wider perspective on conservation. I think that this will enrich my understanding of key issues and help me consider human-wildlife coexistence more holistically. Additionally, I am looking forward to exploring more of the surrounding area in my free time and hopefully getting pictures of more wildlife!
To find out more about the Centre for Landscape Regeneration, visit their website. This programme was supported by UKRI NERC.
