Member Article

Countryside Regeneration Trust sets new vision for wildlife-friendly farming

The UK’s leading organisation championing wildlife-friendly farming and biodiversity has announced its new identity as The Countryside Regeneration Trust.

Founded in 1993 as The Countryside Restoration Trust, the CRT began promoting environmentally sensitive faming before the idea became fashionable. Its new name reflects its mission to be at the forefront of the countryside’s regeneration, combining traditional techniques with innovation to help reverse the decline of biodiversity and combat climate change.

Keeping alive the vision of its founders, Robin Page and Gordon Beningfield, the Countryside Regeneration Trust will advocate for a living, working countryside, taking a more prominent role in the debate about modern farming and environmental protection. The CRT will work with like-minded organisations to drive change in Government policy.

It owns 19 farms in the UK, spread across 2,000 acres, and is creating tailored plans for each of them. A Conservation Director, currently being recruited, will oversee these plans, giving tenant farmers more support and monitoring outcomes. Farmers will be empowered to run successful businesses that produce food for the nation whilst using farming practices that reverse the decline in biodiversity and help in storing carbon to tackle climate change.

Investment in the CRT’s properties will make them community hubs, creating local jobs; educating people about the relationship between food and farming; and promoting the countryside’s positive impact on our wellbeing. Bringing more people to its properties will increase understanding of sustainable farming practices and the importance of revitalising landscapes to protect wildlife.

The idea of a new identity was suggested by David Mills MBE, founder of the British Wildlife Centre, and approved by his fellow Trustees in August 2021. The CRT will adopt a new logo and brand colours as part of its new identity.

It will continue to bring together Farmers, Friends and Volunteers to create a community of voices in support of the countryside. It will become a thought leader, advocating a holistic vision for the countryside with wildlife, food production, employment, economics and development all essential to its future.

Danielle Dewe, CEO of the Countryside Regeneration Trust, said: “We are regenerating every aspect of the CRT, rationalising our portfolio, putting in place a more professional management structure and playing a more active role in a national debate that we helped to instigate. Restoration suggests a focus on the past whereas our new name rightly highlights that we are at the forefront of the regeneration of the countryside.

“We are forward-looking and we are putting in place a new strategy to futureproof the CRT. Our mission is to regenerate landscapes for the good of wildlife, to refine sustainable farming practices and to raise awareness and respect for a revitalised countryside, bringing people closer to the farms that sustain them”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucie Hayes .