New regenerative farming project - Bat Conservation Trust

Connecting People and Landscape in a Changing Climate project gets funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring wildlife, farmers and communities together to create better outcomes for all.

A collaborative regenerative farming project headed by the BCT has secured funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund. Connecting People and Landscape in a Changing Climate aims to help farmers transition to regenerative farming. It will also analyse the impact of climate change by using wildlife rehabilitation data, understand local adaptation of some Bechstein’s bats populations, provide ecological training, and increase landscape resilience to climate change.

The funding will mean that an 18-month development phase can run before then applying for the delivery phase which, if successful, will last a further 4 years.

Connecting People and Landscape in a Changing Climate

Climate change is a threat to food production, as well as to biodiversity. Agriculture covers 70% of the UK and has a huge impact on biodiversity. So, if we can find a way to make farms better for wildlife, we can make a significant impact on our environment too – and help species and agriculture adapt and respond to climate change.

Connecting People and Landscape in a Changing Climate will bring local people and farmers together to build a community around nature positive food production.

One overarching benefit comes from connection itself, which reduces isolation. But also, connections will allow knowledge and skills to pass between groups. Further, expertise about regenerative farming and wildlife monitoring techniques will flow through these connections, which will help restore landscapes and improve biodiversity.

How this helps bats

The project will focus on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, including ecosystem repair. Nine threatened nocturnal mammal species will be helped directly by this project: seven species of bat, hedgehog, and hazel dormouse.

Bat species this project will specialise in are grey long-eared bats, Bechstein’s bat, barbastelle, serotine, greater and lesser horseshoe bats and the common pipistrelle. It will also deliver positive actions for all 17 UK breeding bat species, farmland birds and a range of other wildlife.