Ecological Continuity Trust

Ecological Continuity Trust A small charity dedicated to preserving long-term experiments (LTEs) for policymaking, sustainable land use & education

Llyn Brianne is the LTE Site Of The Week. Habitat: FreshwaterExperiment type: Climate changeExperiment goal: To understa...
10/06/2026

Llyn Brianne is the LTE Site Of The Week.

Habitat: Freshwater

Experiment type: Climate change

Experiment goal: To understand how global change affects freshwater species and ecosystem services.

PI: Prof. Steve Ormerod

Running since: 1981

Located: Wales

The streams at Llyn Brianne sit on a pH gradient ranging from high in the SE (circumneutral) to low (base poor) in the N, and this is one of the reasons that makes replication of this experiment possible.

ECT’s Webinar Series is open to all! For our next webinar, we will have Dr Mike Peacock from University of Liverpool wil...
04/06/2026

ECT’s Webinar Series is open to all!

For our next webinar, we will have Dr Mike Peacock from University of Liverpool will be talking about the Migneint Bog long-term experiment in Wales that has been going since 2011.

It will take place online on Friday 26 June 2026 from 12:30pm.

The goal at this long-term experiment is to test the effects of restoring drained bog on the ecosystem. So do join us, if restoring the environment is of interest to you!

Every two months we host our webinar series that takes place on Friday lunchtimes where researchers behind the long-term experiments and our partners deliver their talk.
These webinars take place on Webex, are open to all, and there is a chance for Q&As at the end.
We hope to see you there!

To register for this webinar, see https://bit.ly/ECTWebinarsEvents

Little Budworth Common is the LTE Site Of The Week.Habitat: Heath Experiment type: Nutrients Experiment goal: To look at...
03/06/2026

Little Budworth Common is the LTE Site Of The Week.

Habitat: Heath

Experiment type: Nutrients

Experiment goal: To look at the effects of nitrogen and drought on heathland.

P*s: Dr Chris Field and Prof. Simon Caporn both at Manchester Metropolitan University

Running since: 1996

Located: England

This site is a dry heathland which means it is sandy, acidic and low in plant nutrients.

Learn more about the site: http://bit.ly/Budworth

Cheshire West and Chester Council Natural Environment Research Council
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

02/06/2026

Find out why we are a unique ecological charity, and what we do with this short video.

And if you want to learn more, watch the full video on our YouTube channel (which you can subscribe to): https://bit.ly/ECTLongView

“The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is higher now than at any other point in human history. This is the primary ...
29/05/2026

“The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is higher now than at any other point in human history. This is the primary contributor toward the planet’s current climate crisis and a key driver of the sixth, human-driven, mass extinction event.

However, CO₂ is also ‘plant food’, and is an essential component of the carbon cycle that drives the majority of life on earth. As CO₂ increases, so does the rate at which it is removed from the atmosphere.

This is termed a negative feedback loop, and provides perhaps one of the only climate ‘good news’ stories there is. In fact, it may represent one of the most important tools we have in our fight against rapid climate change. So we needn’t worry, right?”

Back in January 2021, Chris Taylor wrote a blog when he was at The University of Sheffield on the Wardlow Hay Cop long-term experiment that has been running since 1990.
But do we need to worry?

Find out in his blog post: https://bit.ly/30HP1Eg

Lady Park Wood is the LTE Site Of The Week. Habitat: WoodlandExperiment type: GrazingExperiment goal: To look at how nat...
27/05/2026

Lady Park Wood is the LTE Site Of The Week.

Habitat: Woodland

Experiment type: Grazing

Experiment goal: To look at how natural woodland develops with a focus on the differences between unmanaged and managed practices

PI: Dr Andrew Hacket-Pain, University of Liverpool and Prof. John Healey, Bangor University

Running since: 1944

Located: England and Wales

Formerly a coppice wood yielding charcoal for the iron industry, the 36-hectare wood has been completely unmanaged since the start. It is designated as a National Nature Reserve, and is overseen by the Forestry Commission, Natural England and Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales.

Learn more about it: https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/ladyparkwood

Last week the ECT visited the long-term experiment (LTE) that was registered with us just a few months ago: the Migneint...
26/05/2026

Last week the ECT visited the long-term experiment (LTE) that was registered with us just a few months ago: the Migneint Bog LTE, in Snowdonia, Wales.

At this LTE, Dr Mike Peacock at University of Liverpool is testing the effects of restoring drained bog on the ecosystem. Last week we had a chance to meet him and his team, and see the equipment that was funded by our small grants scheme in use!

It is important to understand how the particular method of restoring ditches (re-wetting) affects the environment because the damage that was done to the habitat negatively affects drinking water supplies and carbon sequestration.

So the question here is: can restoring the ditches help drinking water and carbon sequestration?

It is International Biodiversity Day so here are 3 long-term experiments (LTEs) registered with us that emphasises the i...
22/05/2026

It is International Biodiversity Day so here are 3 long-term experiments (LTEs) registered with us that emphasises the importance of biodiversity.

Results from Park Grass shows it is possible to improve crop yields and biodiversity illustrating that productivity need not be at odds with sustainability.
This LTE is managed by Rothamsted and it has been going since 1856.

Results from the Elan Valley long-term experiment shows that managing pH can maintain meadow biodiversity.
This LTE has been going since 2004 and is managed by Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales and Elan Valley Trust

Grazing can increase plant biodiversity which has helped restore the Somerford Mead floodplain meadow.
This LTE is managed by The Open University and Floodplain Meadows and has been going since 1985.

Hordron Edge is the LTE Site Of The Week. Habitat: HeathExperiment type: RestorationExperiment goal: To test the effect...
20/05/2026

Hordron Edge is the LTE Site Of The Week.

Habitat: Heath

Experiment type: Restoration

Experiment goal: To test the effectiveness of cutting & herbicide application on bracken.

PI: Emeritus Professor Rob Marrs, University of Liverpool

Running since: 1993

Located: England

Bracken is a type of w**d known as Pteridium that reduces biodiversity and grazing areas.

Learn more: https://www.ecologicalcontinuitytrust.org/hordron-edge

It’s good to go for a walk, especially since it’s !And some are located within National Nature Reserves where you c...
19/05/2026

It’s good to go for a walk, especially since it’s !

And some are located within National Nature Reserves where you can go for a walk.

See which LTEs are at reserves: http://bit.ly/ECTSite

Remember always check out the NNR website before you go.

Address

Manor House Little Wittenham
Abingdon
OX144RA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ecological Continuity Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Ecological Continuity Trust:

Shortcuts

Share

Category