Bog Biographies: Combining high spatial and chronological resolution ecological modelling for understanding societal and cultural resilience

Iron Age ‘bog bodies’ have fascinated scholars and the public alike for over two centuries due to their exceptional preservation. Research has typically focused on forensic examination of the bodies themselves but, despite much revolutionary scientific research, debate surrounding why individuals were killed and deposited in bogs has stagnated. Consensus generally remains divided between two key themes originally suggested in the early 19th and 20th centuries: capital punishment, and ritual sacrifice.


Design and evaluation of peat-free blocking media

The production of field vegetables and salad crops is highly dependent on transplanted seedlings that are grown in media often containing peat.


Green Entrepreneurs in Cuba – Evaluation of a collaborative initiative to strengthen Small Scale Private Sector Initiatives in Rural Cuba

To evaluate the project participatory action learning cycle and the focus on small scale entrepreneurship in order to provide guidance and recommendations to donors for project follow up.


Welsh Mountain Equine Rescue – Ensuring Legacy, genetic Identity and continuing Nature based solutions (MERLIN)

Using native Welsh Mountain Ponies in conservation grazing, alongside strategic firebreak creation, offers a powerful naturebased solution to reduce wildfire risk, restore biodiversity, and support rural livelihoods.


Transitions and Transformations in the Rehabilitation, Retraining and Rehoming of Racehorses

This pilot project will explore spatial transitions and relational transformations experienced by animals due to interventions in their lives by humans


Evaluating the potential of intensive grazing and corralling to enhance ecosystem services in Africa’s communal rangelands

This study seeks to quantify the effectiveness of these practices by measuring changes in vegetation, soil quality and wildlife and livestock use, associated with livestock corral sites.


Subtle Agroecologies: Farming with the Hidden Half of Nature

This research programme comprises a growing number of research projects, doctoral studies, academic publications and outreach activities. Subtle Agroecologies “is not a farming system in itself, but superimposes a non-material dimension upon existing, materially-based agroecological farming systems. It is grounded in the lived experiences of humans working on, and with, the land, and with nature over thousand of years to the present.” (Wright, 2021)


SHIFFT: Supporting Holistic “Innovation” and the diFFusion of Agroecological innovaTion

This project will look at how processes of ‘innovation’ in agroecology and food sovereignty – what does it look like, is it different from other innovation approaches, and how do agroecological innovations spread around? The goal is to support farmers, communities and social movements in developing approaches to innovation that can help to develop agroecology as an alternative paradigm to corporate-industrial agriculture.


PLANET4B project - Better decisions for biodiversity and people

The PLANET4B research project aims to understand and influence decision making affecting biodiversity.


Collaborative Working for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Wales

This PhD project investigates the ways in which collaborative practices of natural resource planning, management and ownership are currently being pursued in Wales and with what effect.


Review of the evidence of outcomes and impact of Ruskin Mill Trust’s Practical Skills and Therapeutic Educational Programme

This project aims to review the way Ruskin Mill Trust evidence the effectiveness of their Practical Skills and Therapeutic Education programme and the impact on those involved.


Investigating stakeholder perspectives on the role of the semi-wild pony in maintaining biodiversity and agricultural sustainability in the uplands of Wales

The mountains, hills and valleys of Wales play a central role in the culture, recreation, economy and environment of the Welsh nation and yet they are declining. The semi-wild (or semi-feral pony) is native to Wales and can play a critical role in reversing that decline.


TOCASA (Trade-offs in communal areas in South Africa)

The overall aim of this project is to evaluate trade-offs between novel range management practices (intensified planned grazing, corralling and removal of woody plants).


True - TRansition paths to sUstainable legume based systems in Europe

True project aims to identify the best routes, or “transition paths” to increase sustainable legume cultivation and consumption across Europe.


Growing Connections

Growing Connections investigates the potential of alternative, more agroecological approaches to tree production in which many small community nurseries produce a diverse range of locally sourced, locally adapted trees.


Determining the performance of large biofiltration cells in treating contaminated runoff from a slum settlement and its reuse for urban food production South Africa

This project will determine the ability of purpose-built, large-scale biofiltration cells downstream from a large informal settlement to treat contaminated runoff resulting from dysfunctional sanitation and limited urban drainage infrastructure.


 Harnessing native pony power for local land management (Power Ponies)

This research project explores how the hill-bred Welsh Mountain Pony, a local and hardy breed that has graced our landscape for centuries, have undergone a dramatic decline such that there is only around 400 left now. 


AgroecologyNow!

Agroecology Now! is a research, action and communications project convened by the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience that focuses on understanding and supporting the societal transformations necessary to enable agroecology as a model for sustainable and just food systems.


KEEPFISH

KEEPFISH is a Marie Curie RISE project that brings together an international team of biologists, engineers and interdisciplinary researchers. It is led by the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University.