Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT)

Text: RLAS Blog. Quote: Talks covered a range of case studies in landscape restoration/ transformation, addressing the need to work at scale, the importance of partnerships and community engagement, how we use language, and green finance. Ben Sykes, ECT.

ICYMI see the #RLASSymposium2026 summary #blog written by Ben Sykes, exec. dir. of the ECT:
bit.ly/4kF0BVV

#ResilientLandscapesAndSeas #RLASPartnership 🌏

ECT's Podcast Series: Engaging with the researchers working in the long-term experiments in ECT's network.Photo two white men sitting on the grass recording the interview. Photo of a white man standing and holding a microphone towards a white woman wearing a hat as he interviews her. Text: Find us on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcast and Google Podcast.

Subscribe to our podcast series to get notifications immediately whenever we upload a new #podcast episode.

Find us on SoundCloud bit.ly/ECTSoundcloud or on your favourite podcast platform.

#LTE #Ecology #LongTermExperiments #ClimateChange 🌏

Question overlaid on landscape image of grassland with sheep grazing and a hill in the background: Do you have a new ECT-registered LTE publication to tell us about?

Remember to tell us your new #publication if you work on an ECT-registered #LTE.

Comment below with the DOI of the new paper & let us do the rest.

This is the last of the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

If you missed a few LTEs, follow us on Facebook because we have just started it there, & tell your friends & family to join us there too bit.ly/ECTFb

Landscape ecological restoration. It can be done but we need to get a move on. This is Carrifran where the sheep were removed to allow this native woodland to take over.

LTE Site of the Week: Whim Bog, Scotland. An aerial photo showing the peatbog and wooden pathways breaking up the landscape. Running since 2002. Netty van Dijk & Matt Jones, UKCEH. Icons for peatbog and nutrients.

#WhimBog, #Scotland is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

Netty van Dijk & Matt Jones from @ukceh.bsky.social are looking at the effects of different amounts & forms of #nitrogen on #peatland
bit.ly/WhimBog

Watch this introduction #video too: bit.ly/IntroToWhimBog 🌏

Taking stock - the 2019 field season & four years of RainDrop — ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY TRUST - Laura McManus and Andy Hector from the University of Oxford take stock of the 2019 season of the RainDrop long-term experiment (LTE) registered with the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT)

In January 2020, Andy Hector & Lauren McManus at @ox.ac.uk wrote a #blog on the experiment updates on RainDrop after the third year of the #ClimateChange #grassland #LTE.

Read it here: bit.ly/3fR0hCr @openuniversity.bsky.social 🌏

Here Mike is looking at the effects of restoring ditch drained bog.

Text overlaid on a photo of blanket bog: Migneint Bog, Wales. New ECT grant awarded. Logo of the Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust.

We are pleased to have awarded a grant to Mike Peacock @peatymike.bsky.social at the @liverpooluni.bsky.social for work at the #LTE Migneint Bog #Wales which has been running since 2011.

This grant is also co-funded by @rambleworldwide.bsky.social.
@nationaltrust.org.uk 🌏

The Sussex Study: Impacts of Farming Changes Over 56 Years - Julie Ewald | ECT Webinar Julie Ewald from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) spoke at ECT's two-monthly webinar held on 23 May 2024 about the 56-year-long Sussex Study. The project has monitored the ecological impacts of changes in farming practices since 1968. The ECT hosts lunchtime webinars every 2 months on ecological topics on key issues surrounding long-term experiments which features speakers from various organisations, including partners and stakeholders. For more information and how to register for our webinars see https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/webinars #Webinar #GameAndWildlifeConservationTrust #Farming #Ecological #Ecology #LongTermExperiments ----------------------------------------------------------- We are a unique charity dedicated to preserving the national resource of long-term ecological field experiments (LTEs) across the UK by supporting those who collect scientific data. We use ecological evidence for action by harnessing this data for evidence-based policymaking, sustainable land use and education. What we do: - Provide financial, advocacy and management support to scientists and landowners for long-term experiments - Support scientists and landowners for the development of new experiments - Share the knowledge and outcomes gained through research with Government, other end users and wider society. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecological-continuity-trust X: https://twitter.com/ect_uk Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ecologicalcontinuitytrust Website: https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/ We receive core funding from the British Ecological Society. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/news Support us: Help us continue our work to secure long-term experiments https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/donate

In May 2024, @ja-ewald.bsky.social from the @gwct.org.uk
spoke about the Sussex Study: Impacts of #farming changes over 56 years at our lunchtime bi-monthly #webinar.

Watch it on YouTube bit.ly/463tljV 🌏

A poster advertising the BE20 conference 2026: Integrating emerging topics in long-term and large-scale biodiversity research. June 8-12, 2026. Berlin.

The Biodiversity Exploratories BE20: Emerging Topics in Long-Term & Large-Scale #Biodiversity Research conference is taking place in #Germany in June.

BE20 will provide the chance to discuss long-term & biodiversity challenges, & there will be an optional field trip to an #LTE site bit.ly/4aJftOv 🌏

LTE Site of the Week: Wardlow Hay Cop, England. A landscape photo showing fields and a hill in the background where there are blue skies. Running since 1990. Gareth Phoenix, University of Sheffield. Icons for grassland and nutrients.

Wardlow Hay Cop, #England is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

@garethphoenix.bsky.social from @sheffielduni.bsky.social is looking at the effects of #nitrogen on #grassland
bit.ly/WardlowHay

Listen to our #interview #podcast with Gareth bit.ly/3sQ7jNW

@naturalengland.bsky.social 🌏

LTE User Group Benefits: Participate in knowledge exchange; Become part of a wider network; We can raise your profile. Close up photo of the trefoil (yellow) flower.

Join our #LongTermExperiment #LTE user group if:

You are interested in LTEs
You want to become part of a wider network
You want to participate in knowledge exchange
& you want your LTE #ecology news to reach more people

More information & how to join is here: bit.ly/ECTUserG
🌏

LTE Site of the Week: Thursday Common, England. A photo of trees in a road with heath either side. Running since 1989. Jill Kowal, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Icons for heath and nutrients.

Thursley Common, #England is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

Jill Kowal at @kew-gardens.bsky.social is looking at the impacts of #nitrogen on #heath
bit.ly/ThursleyCommon
Listen to her #podcast bit.ly/3yTttDP

@naturalengland.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social @ukecn.bsky.social 🌏

Two posters with a table in between them.

A group of people milling and chatting. On the left, there is a table with food on it.

A group of people milling and chatting around posters.

Two men stand in front of a poster talking.

We have a new blog!

Ben Sykes (ECT exec. dir.) has written a blog summarising the 2026 #RLASSymposium that took place on the 10-11 February in Edinburgh, which was the first symposium hosted by the #RLASPartnership.

Read the blog here: bit.ly/4kF0BVV 🌏

James Rowson on Cors Fochno Interview with James Rowson about the climate change long-term experiment taking place at the bog site Cors Fochno in Wales. This interview took place on the 22 August 2019. To learn more about the

Listen on SoundCloud to the #podcast #interview we had with James Rowson in 2019 on the #LTE #CorsFochno, #Wales
bit.ly/3wCtGcZ

It’s a #climate experiment that is being run at this #bog site 🌏

Text- ECT Newsletter: Bringing you news on long-term experiments and from our partners. 4 photos from top left clockwise: Resilient Landscapes conference banner. Celebrating the installation of the interp board at Aston Rowant. 2 white men checking out the drone before use at North Wyke Farm Platform. 3 white women standing on heathland smiling at the camera.

Our two-monthly #newsletter is for anyone who likes to hear about new publications, events & updates from the #ecological #LongTermExperiments #LTEs in our network & from our partners.

Subscribe now: bit.ly/ECTNews 🌏

LTE Site of the Week: Somerford Mead, England. Landscape photo of a meadow showing cattle either side of a fence. Running since 1985, David Gowing, Open University. Icons for grassland and grazing.

Somerford Mead, #England is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

David Gowing at @openuniversity.bsky.social is the current custodian of this #LTE. He is testing how #grazing affects meadow #restoration.
bit.ly/SomerfordM
Read his blog bit.ly/3CLizBH

@floodplainmead.bsky.social @farmersweeklyuk.bsky.social

Wednesday 10 Feb. Photo on the right shows a stream and trees. Session 6: A Vision For the Future and Close. Dr Hannah Rudman James Hutton Institute & The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital Back to the future: the community play. Discussion and feedback Prof. Bridget Emmett OBE, British Ecological Society.

After hearing from Hannah Rudman’s reflection @hannahrudman.bsky.social @hutton.ac.uk & the concluding symposium discussion, what ONE key action will you take towards your #LandscapeScale project?

& what will you do when you’re back at work towards this action? 

Tell us below! 
#RLASSymposium 🌍

Wednesday 10 Feb. Photo on the right a stream with vegetation either side. Will Stephens (3Keel) Exploring Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) for resilient landscapes and stakeholder value. Melissa Swartz & Keith Davie (Environment Agency) Blending funding at scale – what is possible. Henry Leveson-Gower (Promoting Economic Pluralism) Relationships, adaptation and a just transition.

Funding the #LandscapeScale projects:

How do you think you can adapt the LENs for your landscape-scale project?

Which insight stood out to you about blended #finance? 

How could you use the co-design template for shared stewardship?
#RLASSymposium #GreenFinance 🌍

Harriet and Rob Fraser from somewhere nowhere arts practice now ask prompt the delegates again in their interactive session- Language Matters #RLASSymposium 🌍

Harriet and Rob Fraser from somewhere nowhere arts practice lead the interactive session Language Matters as the audience writes down the words they find problematic
#RLASSymposium 🌍

Wednesday 10 Feb. Photo on the top right shows a valley. Session 4: Engaging and involving communities and landowners. Diana Sandon (Dialogue Matters) Landscape governance & justice enabling positive and resilient landscape change. Dr Jan Hogarth (SCAMP Landscape Connections, Dumfries & Galloway Council) SCAMP Landscape Connections coastodians & custodians. Prof. Ellen Weerman (HAS University of Applied Sciences) Fast forward to sponge landscapes Experiences from a case study in the Netherlands

Engaging & involving communities & #landowners:

What will you do differently when connecting with others after hearing Diana’s talk? 

What is your biggest take-away from the SCAMP Landscape Connections #restoration project, & the Netherlands case study?

#RLASSymposium #Farmers #Restoration 🌍

As chair, Dr Julie Ewald @ja-ewald.bsky.social from the @gwct.org.uk kicks off day 2 of the #RLASSymposium 🌍

Tuesday 10 Feb. Photo on the right shows a landscape view of vegetation with trees in the distance. Session 3: Working in Partnership. A list of names, organisational affiliations, and talk titles for the session.

Tuesday 10 Feb. Photo on the right shows a landscape view of vegetation with trees in the distance. Session 3: Working in Partnership. A list of names, organisational affiliations, and talk titles for the session.

Partnership is essential if we are working at a #LandscapeScale. Which talk in session 3 was your personal highlight?

@hutton.ac.uk‬ @rspb.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social

 #RLASPartnership #RLASSymposium 🌍

Tuesday 10 Feb. Photo on the right shows a stream running through a valley. Session 2: Working at scale. A list of all the speakers, their affiliations and their talk titles.

Working at scale:

What do you think is the biggest challenge in resilient landscape #restoration? @cieem.bsky.social

Which of Caroline’s case studies did you find the most interesting?

What do you think of the Severn Treescapes project, & the Fens #landscape transition?
#RLASSymposium🌍

Where is your #LandscapeScale project? 

Delegates are encouraged to pin their project on the map & tell us about their project back in the conference room, & then afterwards, why not share more in the comments below on your project?
#RLASSymposium 🌍

Tuesday 10 Feb. Photo top right of a valley. Session 1: Setting the Scene. Jessica Findlay (NatureScot) Land and seascape scale nature restoration and climate adaptation in Scotland. Mike Morecroft (Natural England) Science for nature recovery: learning by doing in a changing climate.

"Setting the scene” with @naturescot.bsky.social & @naturalengland.bsky.social.
Which project in Jessica’s talk caught your eye?
& given the challenges that Mike presents, how can we ensure that #LTEs continue?
@mikemorecroft.bsky.social 
#RLASSymposium #LandscapeScale 🌍

Dr Tony Juniper CBE @tonyjuniper.bsky.social from @naturalengland.bsky.social delivers the symposium keynote A century of transformation: plotting Nature's recovery from the 1970s to the 2070s. #RLASSymposium #LandscapeScale #Nature 🌍

Dr Clive Mitchell from @naturescot.bsky.social welcomes everyone to #Scotland. #RLASSymposium #LandscapeScale 🌍