About the Centre

Photo of Brambles infront of Cultivated Fenland and Forrest

Regenerating the British Countryside

The Centre for Landscape Regeneration provides knowledge and tools to restore the British countryside using cost-effective, nature-based solutions that harness ecosystems to deliver broad societal benefits, including biodiversity recovery and climate mitigation and adaptation.

Supported by the UKRI NERC Changing the Environment Programme, we tackle key challenges facing the UK as it adapts to climate change and moves toward net zero emissions.

We are an interdisciplinary research centre led by the University of Cambridge in collaboration with our partners. The centre is co-led by Professor David Coomes, Director of the Conservation Research Institute, and Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE, Director of Cambridge Zero.

Our Collaborative Hub

The Centre fosters research across diverse fields, from archaeology to zoology, including computer science, chemistry, geography, land economy, sociology, public health, and more.

  • 34 co-investigators
  • 14 University departments
  • 20 early career researchers and 4 PhD students
  • Focus on 3 iconic UK landscapes: Cambridgeshire Fens, Lake District, and Cairngorms
  • Over 40 field sites in the Cambridgeshire Fens
  • A growing community of stakeholder partners

Our researchers work closely with farmers, landowners, conservation groups, policymakers, and local communities to address ecological threats such as extinction, flooding, drought, and pollution, taking a holistic, whole-systems approach.

Challenges

Implementing sustainable landscapes at scale is complex, as progress depends on overcoming financial, institutional, and social barriers to transformative change.

Opportunities

For each landscape, we work with stakeholders to:

  • Research and quantify the benefits of protecting and restoring nature
  • Engage in transparent discussions on potential trade-offs
  • Assess the services and disservices of alternative land uses
  • Explore incentives for long-term conservation, restoration, and regeneration

Through this comprehensive, whole-system approach, the Centre provides the knowledge and tools to deliver successful landscape regeneration for a sustainable future across the regions we work in.