Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Friends Area
  • Vacancies
Countryside Restoration Trust
Become a Friend Donate today
  • Twitter
Menu
  • What We Do
    • Who We Are & How We Work
    • CRT History
    • CRT Founders & Trustees
    • Meet the Team
    • CRT's Work
      • Regenerative Farming & CRT
      • Protecting Wildlife
      • Conservation Monitoring
      • Natural Heritage Restoration
      • Redlist revival awards
      • Educating the Community
    • Protect nature with us
    • Volunteer
    • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Become a CRT Friend
    • Renew your Friendship with the Countryside
    • Protect nature with us
    • BeeWayZz - Planting for Pollinators
    • Legacy Donations
    • Donate in Memory
    • Fundraise for CRT
    • Volunteer
    • Buy a bird boxes for wildlife
    • CRT Clothing
    • Support rural business
    • Farm Photography Competition
  • Wildlife & Farms
    • Our properties
    • Wildlife on our properties
    • Stay
    • Wildlife blog
  • CRT Education
    • Mosaic Education
    • Mosaic Beavers & Cubs Activity Adventures
    • Mini Mosaic
    • Mosaic for HomeSchool
    • Mosaic Holiday Club
    • Mosaic Testimonials
    • Mosaic Blog
  • News & Events
    • Events
    • Wildlife Blog
    • Mosaic Blog
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Friends Area
    • Vacancies
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Who we are & how we work

Who we are & how we work

We are a UK charity, founded on the principles of a cohesive future for nature and humans. We saw the decline of wildlife and the damage that intensive farming had on the environment, and chose to be the force of change we wanted to see. 

Our holistic approach to the biodiversity crisis includes:

Sustainable farming

At CRT we support and encourage our tenant farmers to use sustainable farming methods wherever possible, because we know these practices positively benefit the environment and ultimately, humankind. We are sympathetic landlords and understand that our tenant farmers need to generate a profit. Therefore, we provide support, resources and volunteers to assist the conservation activities. For example, volunteers on all the properties have planted hedgerows, resulting in wildlife corridors and increased biodiversity. 

Monitoring our success

Many species of wildlife are declining and the latest State of Nature report estimate that 15% are at threat of extinction in the UK. The CRT are bucking the trend and has an abundance of wildlife on its properties. We know this because of our wonderful team of monitoring staff and volunteers who provide data that we evaluate and disseminate. For example, on Lark Rise Farm, the number of Yellowhammers is 25 times higher now than they were 20 years ago. 

Reconnecting with the countryside

Urbanisation has distanced large numbers of people from the countryside, creating a barrier to learning. CRT wants to restore fundamental farming and wildlife knowledge to everyone, with a particular focus on igniting curiosity and wonder amongst children. This is achieved through the delivery of our Mosaic school programmes.

Natural heritage restoration

Native species and rare breeds are vitally important to CRT. Most of our farmers have traditional or rare breed livestock on their properties. We focus on saving some critically endangered species via breeding programmes and recovery initiatives. Our orchards always have traditional varieties, link to their county. 

At the CRT 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.

Find out more about the CRT:

CRT History    CRT Trustees    Meet the Team

Published: 13th April, 2022

Updated: 19th April, 2022

Author: Becca Cassidy

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Families flock to look for fairies among the bluebells

    Families flock to look for fairies among the bluebells

    More than 200 visitors enjoyed the mesmerising sight of a carpet of bluebells dappled with sunlight in the woods on Twyford Farm on Sunday 8 May 2022, did you make it to the day?

  • Why is nature friendly farming important?

    Why is nature friendly farming important?

    When you’re rushing to pick up shopping from the supermarket or digging into your dinner after a busy day, it’s understandable if you’re not thinking about how your food was produced, but nature friendly farming should be at the forefront of our thoughts and why it is important.

  • Bird Migration in Herefordshire

    Bird Migration in Herefordshire

    It's a welcome sign of seasonal change greeting the migrating visitors to our sites. Awnells Farm and Turnastone Court Farm, Herefordshire receives many visitors over the coming months, including the feathered variety.

  • Lambing at Turnastone Court Farm

    Lambing at Turnastone Court Farm

    CRT Livestock Farming and Wildlife Monitoring Assistant, Katie Morgans, experienced her first lambing season this year at Turnastone Court Farm, Herefordshire, this is her diary of the experience.

Most read

  • Conservation Volunteer

    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.

  • CRT vision

    CRT vision

  • Robin Page

    Robin Page

    Co-Founder

  • Trustee Statement 8 June 2021

    Trustee Statement 8 June 2021

    An update from the CRT Trustees regarding governance of the charity.

  • Prices

    Prices

  • Garfield Weston Foundation gives grant to kick-start our new Volunteer Programme

    Garfield Weston Foundation gives grant to kick-start our new Volunteer Programme

    Countryside Restoration Trust has received a grant of £20000 to create a brand-new Volunteer Programme.

  • Wildlife Monitoring Volunteer

    Wildlife Monitoring Volunteer

    Want to learn how to monitor species in the wild and how this supports our conservation and regeneration wok? Then this is perfect for you!

  • David Mills MBE

    David Mills MBE

    Trustee, farmer, conservationist and founder of British Wildlife Centre

  • Woodland burial site

    Woodland burial site

  • Contact

    Contact

Tag cloud

Appeal Barn Owls Bere Marsh Farm Donation Dorset Lark Rise Farm Pierrepont Farm Thank you

Latest tweet

Stay in touch

Be the first to know about news, events and activities by signing up to our mailing list today.

Sign up to get the CRT Newsletter 

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Be a Friend of the countryside. Support the CRT

The CRT relies on our Friends, donors, sponsors, and visitors to help us protect, promote, and regenerate our land and all life on it.

Please select a donation amount (required)
Donate

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Vacancies
Connect
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

01223 651215

(Phone lines are open Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 1pm)

Affiliations

The Countryside Regeneration Trust 12 Bennell Court, West Street, Comberton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7EN

©️ 2021 Countryside Regeneration Trust. All Rights Reserved. A company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 07320026. Registered as a Charity No. 1142122