A PROJECT aiming to connect farmers, communities and wildlife has received a grant of £727,000. 

The University of Exeter is part of a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which aims to restore our heritage through regenerative farming. 

Led by the Bat Conservation Trust, the partnership has recieved the grant for the development phase of the Connecting People and Landscapes in a Changing Climate project. 

The focus of the project will be on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration on agricultural land, including ecosystem repair and species recovery.

Dr Orly Razgour, senior lecturer in Ecology, University of Exeter, said: “This project offers a unique opportunity to use untapped data, through our partnerships with farmers, wildlife rehabilitators and nature conservation organisations, that will help us understand how British wildlife is responding to climate change and the landscape scale implications of these responses.”

The project will analyse the impact of climate change by using wildlife rehabilitation data. It will seek to understand local adaptation of some populations of the rare species of Bechstein’s bat, and will also  provide ecological training, and increase landscape resilience to climate change.

It will directly help threatened nocturnal mammal including seven species of bat, the hedgehog, and the hazel dormouse. The project will also deliver positive actions for all the UK’s bat species, farmland birds and a range of other wildlife.

Kit Stoner, chief executive officer for the Bat Conservation Trust, said they were 'delighted' to receieve the funding. 

"The UK's 18 resident bat species have suffered massive historical declines, but through conservation action and effective legislation some are showing signs of recovery," he added.

"With this funding we will show how regenerative farming and conservation can create communities where bats and people thrive together.”

As well as this, communities and farmers will build a community around nature-friendly food production, through support from regenerative farms and volunteer and paid placements. 

Chris Woodruff, manager of East Devon AONB Partnership, said: “Adapting approaches to farming and landscape management is no quick fix. It requires long-term evidence-based approaches and the development of strong partnerships to deliver change.

"We look forward to playing our part in supporting this exciting partnership project over the coming years to help nature adapt and recover, support land management transformation, and encourage, engage, empower and connect communities and nature.”

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is made possible by National Lottery players. 

Stuart McLeod, director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “We know how important helping to protect our Natural Heritage is and are pleased to support the Bat Conservation Trust.

"It’s through projects like these that we can make a real difference and gain a better understanding of how we can help nature’s recovery. We look forward to working with the project team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”