Land Use

SSSIs: A Golden Thread Through My Career

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Land Use, Landscape, Natural England, Nature
Marian Spain with a field behind her.

In this blog, Marian Spain reflects on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as a golden thread through her time as Chief Executive of Natural England. Highlighting Dearne Valley Wetlands, West Penwith Moors and Downs, and Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast, Marian shows how SSSIs have evolved from academic curiosities into the backbone of nature recovery, …

Putting the wiggle back into the River Kemp

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Catchment Sensitive Farming, Ecosystem Services, Flood Management, Habitat, Land Use, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature-based solutions
Walcott wiggle after works completed. Credit: Severn Rivers Trust

By Denise Latham, Senior Officer, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural England What happens when a routine farm visit grows into something far more ambitious? Senior Officer Denise Latham shares the story of the Walcot Wiggle, how a conversation on a Shropshire …

The Paludiculture and Wetter Farming Fund – strengthening the case for farming on wetter peat soils

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming, Food, Land Use, Peat
Great Fen Trial - Phragmites (Common Reed). credit Jim Milner

Kim Owen and Steph Britton - Climate change, Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming, Food, Land use, Land Use Framework, Peat, Water Lowland Peat soils are vital to England’s food system, producing roughly 40% of all domestically grown vegetables, yet drainage-based agriculture …