The Allerton Project: helping profitable farming make space for nature for thirty years

Farming with the Environment - Thirty Years of Allerton Project Research

A new book by agro-ecologist Professor Chris Stoate tells the remarkable story of the Allerton Project in Leicestershire and its pioneering research into sustainable land management.

For more than 30 years the Allerton Project, established by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), has been at the cutting edge of research into sustainable farming methods, biodiversity and habitat creation, and rural landscape management. Combining a modern, productive farm with a full-time research team, the Allerton Project has advised farmers and influenced policy since its inception.

Farming with the Environment presents and discusses 30 years of research into the challenges of integrating profitable farming with often competing environmental and societal objectives. The book is especially relevant to the implementation of the government’s Environmental Land Management scheme.

“The book draws together peer-reviewed research and some as yet unpublished work to tell a coherent story about the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment that is very relevant to the development of current policy,” said Chris Stoate.

Topics covered include soil health and management, farmland ecology, development of management practices to enhance biodiversity, natural flood management, water quality and aquatic ecology.

The book has been designed to provide accessible guidance and recommendations to farmers, conservationists and policymakers. It reveals complex topical debates about land and wildlife management, examining the historical context and pointing the way for future direction of travel.

“I hope I have demonstrated how the findings of the Allerton Project’s research relate to agricultural and conservation policy more broadly as well as how they are applicable to similar projects throughout Europe,” said Chris.

“The book is also a celebration of the collaboration between the Allerton Project’s small research team and the many PhD students, research organisations, universities and NGOs we have had the privilege of working with over thirty years.”

Farming with the Environment – Thirty Years of Allerton Project Research, is published by Routledge and available from the GWCT Shop www.gwctshop.org.uk for £29.99.

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Notes to editors

About Professor Chris Stoate

Chris Stoate is an agro-ecologist specialising in identifying synergies between agricultural and environmental objectives within lowland farming systems at a range of scales. He is Head of Research at the Allerton Project research and demonstration farm and has worked for the project since it was established by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in 1992. Chris is an Honorary Professor with the University of Nottingham; he has published more than a hundred research papers and has research experience in southern Europe and West Africa and was an author of the UK’s National Ecosystem Assessment. He is a farmer in his own right.

The GWCT Allerton Project allertontrust.org.uk/

The GWCT Allerton Project is a combination of commercial farming, research, demonstration and community engagement, based on a 320-hectare estate in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The Project researches the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment, sharing results of our research through advisory and educational activities. Visitors to the project include businesses, policy makers, non-government organisations, regulators, farmers, advisors, students and schools.

We identify management that delivers multiple benefits for our rural landscape. Our work covers natural capital accounting, agri-environment schemes and regenerative farming systems. From soil and water, to woodland and environmental habitat that increases biodiversity, our aim is to build farmland resilience. Our own research team collaborate with other research organisations and help co-supervise numerous PhD and MSc projects.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust gwct.org.uk – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies.