Capture the Countryside

Discover our series of summer courses at Bere Marsh Farm

We invite you to relax, learn, and create, in the beautiful surroundings of Bere Marsh Farm, Dorset this summer.

This oasis of nature and wildlife is the perfect location to submerge yourself in creativity, whether you want to enjoy sketching amongst the wildflowers or capturing the diverse wildlife roaming the woods with an SLR or immortalising the beauty in creative writing, we have a course to suit you. Including a drawing and writing course that welcomes children over the age of 10, for the budding young artist in your life.

Our trio of local creative are experts in their field and will guide you on a journey of discovery:

PHOTOGRAPH with Alan Wicks

A wildlife photography workshop open to photographers of all abilities, led by local photographer Alan Wicks.

Alan has developed a lifelong passion and a fascination for photography, giving him the ability to capture a moment in time. Working across varying genres, he enjoys the different challenges each one brings.

DRAW with Deb Chisman

We are delighted to welcome budding artists to find their inspiration amongst the wild of Bere Marsh, with local artist Deb Chisman. This delightful session is open to artists of all abilities to explore sketching with pencil or charcoal.

Deb blends traditional and experimental techniques to capture a range of landscapes and subjects, while expressing her passion for nature and wildlife. Sharing her knowledge with her students, young and old, beginner and accomplished, she invites all to be inspired by the outside world.

Saturday 6th August Saturday 13th August

WRITE with Dr Susanna Curtin

A new and exciting course that explores the written word in the beauty of nature, open to all abilities, Dorset based writer Dr Susanna will be your guide on this journey.

Previously a Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management at Bournemouth University, Susanna has shifted her writing focus to the natural world, exploring the theme’ human dimensions of wildlife and conservation’ with a particular focus on the development and management of wildlife tourism.

Let your creativity soar this summer and book your place today!

Latest

Life saving kit for community

A defibrillator and the actions of people nearby can make a life-saving difference during a sudden cardiac arrest. CRT supporter Nigel knows this all too well when his son collapsed last year and his life was saved.
Tools empower people

Volunteers play a vitally important role by helping us to improve habitats to support a greater variety and abundance of wildlife on our farms. But we need to equip our inspiring volunteer teams to be able to go out into the fields and woods and make a difference.
Willows are a cut above

Not only beautiful, but willows are also immensely useful both to wildlife and people. Conservation Officer Vince Lea tells how the trees benefit Lark Rise Farm and the landscape and community around it. Read on to find out how willow is a productive use of floodplains and supports a complex ecosystem.
Winter feeding makes the difference

Farmland bird remain among the most threatened species in this country and their decline is nothing short of cataclysmic. Intensive agriculture has contributed to habitat loss, but at Lark Rise in Cambridgeshire our nature-friendly approach to farming and supplementary feeding over winter have helped ensure we buck many national statistics for farmland birds.

Aerial photos show pig impact

View renowned wildlife photographer Graham Hatherley's aerial images that show the bare ground created by rare breed pigs on Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset. This will help a wider variety of plants to establish.
Rare fungi found on Bere Marsh Farm

There are around 15,000 species of fungi in the UK. Mycologist Andy Knott is providing expert insights that are adding to our understanding of which species are present at Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset. Here he reports about two fungi forays he led on the farm this autumn, joined by members of the local community.
Bird ringing informs habitat management

Bird ringing trainer Simon Lane reports on the data gathered on Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset this summer. This contributes to the understanding of how 24 common songbird species are faring nationally, and helps us improve habitats on the farm in an effort to support breeding birds.
Of the Wilderness

Poem by Sam Scriven, inspired by his day at Bere Marsh Farm and Nature Writing Creative Workshop
CRT's Response to State of Nature report

In response the the State of Nature 2023 report, the CRT are calling for nationwide adoption of regenerative and nature-friendly farming practices.
Win-win for water and wildlife

At Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset, we're harnessing the power of both technology and nature to ensure that the sewage from our buildings is as clean as possible before it reaches the adjacent stream or the River Stour.
Kicking into action for water life

CRT volunteers are helping to monitor the condition of the River Stour where it flows through Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset, by counting the number of riverflies in the water using kick sampling.
White Stork Towers

At Bere Marsh Farm we think the white stork is emblematic for floodplain restoration. We are giving local businesses the opportunity to sponsor nest towers.
River wildlife project comes to Dorset

For two years we have been working with the Waterlife Recovery Trust to help eradicate invasive American mink from East Anglia, to stop them predating on native species including water voles, kingfishers and moorhens. Now, as the project expands into other parts of the country, we are launching efforts on two of our farms in Dorset.
New rail link to destroy important habitat at Lark Rise Farm

The preferred route for the East West Rail development linking Cambridge to Bedford will devastate nationally important farmland habitat on the Countryside Regeneration Trust’s Lark Rise Farm.

School trips on the farm
Volunteer with the CRT

Would you like to help wildlife and do your bit to create a landscape bursting with life? To enjoy quiet time connecting with nature to benefit your wellbeing, or to get stuck into exciting conservation projects with a friendly team? To learn new skills or develop existing ones? Whatever motivates you to consider volunteering, we’d love to have you in our team.
What We Do

The Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) is a champion of biodiversity, pioneering a living, working countryside through the regeneration of farming landscapes and woodlands for a brighter and cohesive future for all.
Slow-worms – the gardener’s best friend

The UK has 6 native reptile species including the curious slow-worm (Anguis fragilis). Although serpent-like in appearance, slow-worms are in fact limbless lizards and an amazing example of de-evolution.
Who we are & how we work
Conservation Volunteer

This is your chance to get 'down and dirty' to help CRT improve the habitats and environment on our farms, with a wide range of conservation projects and initiatives.
Robin Page

Co-Founder
David Mills MBE

Trustee
Wildlife & Farms

To achieve our vision of a living, working countryside we have purchased 18 sites across the UK, each with their own unique ecosystem and biodiversity.
Bere Marsh Farm

Mixed farmland, Dorset