Connecting People and Landscapes

Connecting people and Landscapes

Connecting People and Landscapes in a Changing Climate brings together farmers, landowners and communities across the South-West.

We are proud to be working with the Bat Conservation Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, and Devon Communities Together on this project. Made possible by a £1.5m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this £3.6m partnership will help create a countryside where wildlife and communities can thrive.

Changing farming practices have put pressure on Devon’s precious farmland – a vital home for nocturnal species such as greater horseshoe bats, hedgehogs, and hazel dormice. This ambitious project will work with local farmers to support the adoption of regenerative farming practices through 1:1 advice, training, and funding.

Developing connected communities that understand farming and value nature is essential to achieve a sustainable future. This project will offer local communities’ the opportunity to learn about land management, food production and nature on their doorstep.

This projects follows on from a 2-year development phase (also supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund). Some highlights include:

97 farmers supported to improve over 580 hectares of farmland for nature.
18 different farming projects such as planting native trees, creating species-rich grasslands and restoring traditional orchards
240 people attended training days, farmer support and hands-on conservation activities

Delivered in partnership with:

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.

Connecting People and Landscapes in a changing environment is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is a Partnership project. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are looking at the impact that climate change is having on wildlife in farming landscapes, focusing on nine threatened nocturnal mammal species. It aims to build understanding of how nature-friendly regenerative farming supports biodiversity and creates resilient landscapes, bringing communities and farmers together to connect and learn through events, activities, and wildlife monitoring.