Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT)

Text: ECT's Podcast Series: Engaging with the researchers working in the long-term experiments in ECT's network.Photo two white men sitting on the grass recording the interview. Photo of a white man standing and holding a microphone towards a white woman wearing a hat as he interviews her. Text: Find us on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcast and Google Podcast.

Hear from the researchers that work on #LongTermExperiments #LTE.

Find a #podcast on Soundcloud that matches your #ecology interests here bit.ly/ECTSoundcloud 🌏

Ainsdale Dune Slacks — ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY TRUST - About the Ainsdale Dune Slacks long-term experiment (LTE) in England that is managed by Loughborough University, and is registered with the Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT).

Corrected link to see the Ainsdale Dune Slacks LTE on the ECT website: bit.ly/Ainsdale

@naturalengland.bsky.social @seftoncouncil.bsky.social @rowantnnr.bsky.social

A groups of cows are grazing in a field, and two are looking at the camera.

#OTD #OnThisDay in 1974, the Ainsdale Dune Slacks #LongTermExperiment began!

This #LTE looks at how rabbit & sheep #grazing affects the #dune slack #ecosystem. It is run by @drjonmillett.bsky.social & @drciaradwyer.bsky.social @lborouniversity.bsky.social
‬
Learn more: bit.ly/Ainsdale%F0%...

Text- ECT Newsletter: Bringing you news on long-term experiments and from our partners. 4 photos from top left clockwise: Resilient Landscapes conference banner. Celebrating the installation of the interp board at Aston Rowant. 2 white men checking out the drone before use at North Wyke Farm Platform. 3 white women standing on heathland smiling at the camera.

Our #newsletter is for anyone who is interested in using #evidence for #ecological action.

Subscribe today: bit.ly/ECTNews 🌏

See this key #paper bit.ly/3kitoAS & read this #blog about the handover of the site: bit.ly/47i433Z

@natreswales.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social @forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk.web.brid.gy

Text: LTE Site of the Week- Lady Park Wood, Wales/ England. Photo of a forest with little sunlight reaching the floor. Text: Running since 1944. Andrew Hacket-Pain, Liverpool University, John Healey, Bangor University. Icons for woodland and grazing.

#LadyParkWood which borders #England & #Wales is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

@andrewhacket-pain.bsky.social from @liverpooluni.bsky.social, & John Healey from @bangoruniversity.bsky.social are looking at #woodland development bit.ly/LadyParkWood 🌏

Landscape image of grassland & trees in the distance. Screenshot showing publication reference: Edwards et al, 1999. Factors influencing molehill distribution in grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology. Volume 36, Issue 3, pages 434-442.

A key publication from the Nash’s Field #LongTermExperiment #LTE registered with us provides a new pest control method to manage the #EuropeanMole that contaminates #crops & reduces yields.

See the publication here: bit.ly/3VzLjq6 🌏

Jerry Tallowin on the ECT Interview with ECT’s chair Jerry Tallowin (Rothamsted Research) about the history, purpose, vision and future development of the Ecological Continuity Trust, which took place in February 2019. To le

Listen on Sound Cloud to the #podcast #interview we had with ECT #chair Jerry Tallowin in 2019 where he talks about our vision and purpose bit.ly/3PzDps1

It’s the perfect introduction to us if you want to learn more! #LTER #ClimateChange #Ecology #LTE 🌏

Two white men are on a road. One is behind the camera, and the other is in front of it speaking into the camera.

Landscape photo showing a lake with land either side.

Two white men are looking away from the camera as the man on the left gestures.

A white man and a white woman are on the left of the flux chamber on a lake.

Last week we visited the #freshwater #LongTermExperiment #LTE site Llyn Brianne in #Wales & met with @steveormerod.bsky.social from Cardiff University & @maplebay.bsky.social so it could be filmed for a #VirtualReality #VR experience!

Learn about Llyn Brianne: bit.ly/LlynBrianne 🌏

Did you know that our blog series with @aer-ese-bes.bsky.social, Field Diaries, is looking for new participants? 💭🧪

We've already shared a range of brilliant stories spanning waterfowl research to considering the sustainability of homestead farming! 🦆🌏

Find out more & get involved: bit.ly/4n8pyJ4

We use evidence from long-term experiments to inform policymaking, improve sustainability and ecosystem services. Donate to the ECT. 2 photos: A photo of trees at the BangorDIVERSE site, and a small photo of horses grazing at the Newborough Warren site.

Evidence is everything when it comes to preserving the #environment, & #LongTermExperiments #LTE yield valuable #evidence to enact change & preserve the environment.

That’s why our goal is to secure #LTEs.

Help us achieve our goal bit.ly/ECTDonate 🌏

📢New paper: Innovative field macropore test can accurately track soil health. Infiltration matched with X-ray scans and measurements of soil respiration reliably captures differences in soil structure and function.
Full story 👇
www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/new-fie...

Text: LTE Site of the Week- Hordron Edge, England. Landscape view with hills and grey skies in the distance. Text: Running since 1993. Rob Marrs, Liverpool University. Icons for heathland and restoration.

Hordron Edge, #England is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

Rob Marrs at @liverpooluni.bsky.social ‬is testing the effectiveness cutting & herbicide application on bracken.
bit.ly/HordronEdge

Listen to our #interview #podcast with Rob bit.ly/3DpJ9y0 & see this key #paper bit.ly/4nvjjzg
@leverhulme.ac.uk 🌏

Two white women are at the heath site collecting and placing samples into bags.

#LTE researchers, now that the new academic year will be starting soon & fieldwork season is ending, how was your fieldwork season?

Post photos of your fieldwork below (of what you can post) & tell us what data you are most excited about analysing!

#LongTermExperiment 🌍

Text overlaid on image: Cors Fochno, Wales. New ECT grant awarded. The photo shows a pathway at the bog site. The skies are grey.

We are happy to have awarded Nina Overtoom at @york.ac.uk a small #grant for work at the Cors Fochno #LTE.   

This grant will go towards travel & consumables costs associated with her research into #ClimateChange impacts at this bog site. 

Learn about this LTE http://bit.ly/CorsFochno 🌍

A white woman, and two white men stand behind the interpretation board smiling at the camera.

The interpretation board titled: Aston Rowant NNR: The Lena Ward Plots.

#ThrowbackThursday to June 2024 when the #InterpretationBoard at Aston Rowant that we produced & Made By Landmark designed was installed at the Lena Ward Plots.

Learn about the #LTE: https://bit.ly/AstonWLTE

@ox.ac.uk @ukceh.bsky.social‬ @naturalengland.bsky.social  🌍

Text: LTE Site of the Week- Hillsborough, N. Ireland. Drone photo looking down onto grassland. Text: Running since 1970. Selva Dhandapani, AFBI. Icons for grassland and nutrients.

#HillsboroughNI, #NorthernIreland is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek. 

Selva Dhandapani at @afbini.gov.uk‬ is testing the effects of different liquid manure.  
http://bit.ly/HillsboroughNI 

Listen to our #podcast with Dario Fornara https://bit.ly/2SOrz4D & see this key #paper https://bit.ly/2Syontq 🌍

A landscape photo of an open field with a few trees in the distance Palace Leas and a screenshot of the publication: Syers et al. 1997. Managing Soils for Long-Term Productivity [and Discussion]. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences Volume 352, Number 1356, pages 1011-1021.

A key publication from the Palace Leas #LongTermExperiment #LTE in #Newcastle registered with us highlights factors that affect #soil productivity, which has influenced #AgriEnvironmental #Policy.

See the paper: https://bit.ly/4prEwfx #CharityTuesday  🌍

Predictions of changes in total soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in mineral soil (thick lines, coefficients and p values from Figure 4c) and peat soil (thin lines, coefficients and p-values from Figure 4b) along the chronosequence, at sites with low (orange lines) or high (solid blue lines) topographic wetness index (TWI). Total SOC was calculated at: (a) fixed depth of 60 cm, (b) fixed soil mass of 200 kg m−2, and (c) fixed ash mass of 200 kg m−2. Low and high TWI correspond to the first and third quartile of all the TWI values (5.23 and 11.73, respectively). Dotted, dashed and solid lines respectively indicate that the TSC effect was not significant (p > 0.1), marginally significant (0.05 < p < 0.1), or significant (p < 0.05).

***DID YOU MISS THIS PAPER?*** #OpenAccess
Long-term #soil organic carbon changes after cropland conversion to grazed grassland in Southern Sweden.
Johansson, Livsey, Guasconi et al.
@ejsoilscience.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/sum....

A lake surrounded by grassland.

The @britishecologicalsociety.org have now published their autumn edition of The Niche.

Have you read your copy yet?

#Journal 🌏

Text- ECT Newsletter: Bringing you news on long-term experiments and from our partners. 4 photos from top left clockwise: Resilient Landscapes conference banner. Celebrating the installation of the interp board at Aston Rowant. 2 white men checking out the drone before use at North Wyke Farm Platform. 3 white women standing on heathland smiling at the camera.

Our #newsletter is for anyone who is interested in using #evidence for #ecological action.

Subscribe today: bit.ly/ECTNews 🌏
#LongTermExperiments #LTE

Remember, if you can’t make any of our webinars, eventually they go on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to get notifications: bit.ly/ECTYouTube

Text: Webinar 36 Years of Research at Loughgall Agroforestry LTE. 12 September 2025 12.30-1.30pm. Photo of a white man looking off screen gesturing. Text underneath: Rodrigo Olave, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

Today is the last chance to register for our lunchtime #webinar tomorrow.

Rodrigo Olave from @afbini.gov.uk will speak about 36 years of research at Loughgall; the #agroforesty #LTE in #NorthernIreland.

To register, see bit.ly/ECTWebinarsE... & do send your email before 4pm
#Silvopasture 🌏

Text: LTE Site of the Week-Gibson ‘Upper Seeds’. Drone photo looking down onto grassland. Text: Running since 1982. Andy Hector, University of Oxford. Icons for grassland and restoration.

Gibson/ Upper Seeds, #England is the #LTESiteOfTheWeek.

Andy Hector from ox.ac.uk is the current custodian of this long-term experiment where he is investigating the impact of grazing on grassland restoration.

Learn more about it: bit.ly/UpperSeeds and check out this key paper: bit.ly/4656p49 🌏

ECT at 10 Years — ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY TRUST - ECT trustee Jonathan Silvertown (University of Edinburgh) writes about the Ecological Continuity Trust reaching its 10th anniversary in this blog.

#OTD #OnThisDay in 2004, the idea for the ECT was born.

@jwsilvertown.bsky.social @edinburghuni.bsky.social had the idea for the ECT at the then British Association for the Advancement of Science (now @britsciassoc.bsky.social).

Read his blog: bit.ly/30GQzi8

#Charity #LongTermExperiments 🌏

If you're interested in getting involved in our first ever Policy Lab we'd love to hear from you! 💬

There is only one week left to apply and help us to answer the following question: 'What is irreplaceable habitat?' ⏰

More info: britishecologicalsociety.org/content/join...

Text: Webinar 36 Years of Research at Loughgall Agroforestry LTE. 12 September 2025 12.30-1.30pm. Photo of a white man looking off screen gesturing. Text underneath: Rodrigo Olave, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

This Friday’s lunchtime #webinar will feature Rodrigo Olave from @afbini.gov.uk talking about 36 years of research at Loughgall; the #agroforesty #LTE in #NorthernIreland.

Register: bit.ly/ECTWebinarsE...

#Silvopasture #AgromixProject #Agforward_EU 🌏

Soil Matters Podcast - British Society of Soil Science Soil Matters is brought to you by the British Society of Soil Science, the professional body for soil scientists in the UK. Soil Matters is dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific research an...

Listen to the British Society of Soil Science #podcast Soil Matters episode 4 where we joined Richard Bardgett @manchester.ac.uk to talk about #LongTermExperiments & their use by #soil scientists, & the Colt Park #LTE.

bit.ly/4oYJmQY 🌏

Text: Webinar 36 Years of Research at Loughgall Agroforestry LTE. 12 September 2025 12.30-1.30pm. Photo of a white man looking off screen gesturing. Text underneath: Rodrigo Olave, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

Will you attend our lunch time #webinar this month?

Rodrigo Olave from @afbini.gov.uk will talk about 36 years of research at Loughgall; the #agroforesty #LTE in #NorthernIreland.

Register: bit.ly/ECTWebinarsE...

#Silvopasture #AgromixProject #Agforward_EU 🌏