How we work

The Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT) supports a living, working countryside by being a champion of biodiversity, and restoring farming landscapes and woodlands for the benefit of wildlife and local communities. 

We engage, educate and inspire all those who love the countryside to learn more about the value of wildlife, where our food comes from, and how our natural environment supports our health and wellbeing.

Governance

After years of tremendous growth, the CRT has a bright future. We are led by a dedicated board of Trustees, spearheaded by chair of the board Nicholas Watts MBE.

Meet the trustees, chair, and co-founders here.

Strategy

The CRT has undergone a significant amount of change over the past year. Some highlights of our conservation and community work include:

• The launch of Mosaic, our education programme that connects young people with the farming and wildlife mosaic
• The unveiling of Babers Farm as the Gordon Beningfield Memorial Farm to honour the CRT’s co-founder, the late, great artist Gordon Beningfield who was inspired by the ‘Dorset Dream’ of small-scale, nature-friendly farming
• Opening the doors to Bere Marsh Farm, a beautiful property in the heart of Dorset that will help the CRT to reach a wider audience and connect us with the local community
• Fundraising to restore and rebuild the derelict barn owl barn at Bere Marsh, which successfully saw the resident owls raise two chicks during the summer of 2021
• Fundraising to plant a new hybrid species of elm tree at Awnells Farm that is resistant to diseases

The CRT will bring in a new multiyear strategy in 2022, to help grow the Trust’s network of friends, increase its reach and interaction with key audiences, and strengthen the conservation and engagement activities across our all of our properties. We will share this strategy directly with our supporters.

Supporters

We are grateful to be supported by thousands of passionate CRT friends and volunteers who are united in their love of the countryside, its landscapes, farming and wildlife.

Find out more about supporting the CRT by becoming a friend, or by volunteering on one of our farms. We are also honoured to be supported by legacy donations, and more information about giving is available here.

How we manage our farms

The CRT supports its tenant farmers to run profitable and productive farms that also increase wildlife numbers and diversity. We achieve this by providing support, resources and volunteers to assist with conservation activities across our network.

Monitoring

The CRT measures flora and fauna across our farms and uses this data to understand more about the impacts of our farming practices or of our land management activities.

Annual report

The CRT’s annual reports and supporting information is available on the Charity Commission’s website.