Improving access to evidence about nature-based activities for health

 Researchers in an iCASP funded project have summarised evidence from 12 recent systematic reviews of nature-based interventions.  This interactive summary and accompanying report shows what we know, what we don’t know and why it matters. An interactive, online tool is now available on our website to help organisations provide evidence of how the natural environment can benefit your health and wellbeing. … Read more

How to unlock green and place-based public investment with the help of HM Treasury’s Green Book and systems thinking in economics

by Professor Andrew Brown, Y-PERN Academic Director, UPEN Co-Chair and iCASP GBI Business case project lead University of Leeds How should government ensure ‘value for money’ of the public purse?  Recently Bec Riley and I ran a workshop on this question at the wonderful ‘Exploring Economics’ conference attended by nearly 400 civil servants. We discussed … Read more

World heritage wetland site threatened by strawberry farming

Sunset at Laguna Dulce by Jorge Monje Strawberry lovers might want to check the provenance of their fruit this summer following controversy about a new farming bill which could cause the devastation of an iconic Spanish wetland. Scientists from the University of Leeds and the Spanish National Research Council say urgent protection is needed for the fragile … Read more

Students from all over the world study the impact of research at Hardcastle Crags

International students gave glowing feedback following a visit to University of Leeds, which included a field trip the picturesque Hardcastle Crags to learn more about how the practical value research can have for communities. Two of our project support officers Emma Cowan and Farhana Naz, enjoyed helping host the visit to the National Trust site for a group of … Read more

Call for peatlands experts to help with our WaterLANDS research

As part of our work on the WaterLANDS programme, we have conducted an extensive literature synthesis to investigate how physical and chemical drivers are having an impact on the ecosystem functions of wetlands. However, we have identified several gaps in our research, particularly in terms of data availability for certain wetland types and functional relationships.  … Read more

WYFLIP Annual General Meeting May 2023

On the 3rd of May West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WY FLIP) held its first in-person annual general meeting (AGM) and networking event. This event was to take stock of how far WYFLIP has come since starting the programme 18 months ago, and develop innovative plans for the future alongside our partner organisations. Members of … Read more

On a fact-finding mission to Bulgaria to exchange ideas about peatland restoration – by Dr Joshua Cohen, Research Fellow, at University of Leeds

I had the privilege of being one of the representatives from Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) and University of Leeds who took part in the first WaterLANDS General Assembly which in was held in Sofia last month. This also involved a field trip to the Dragoman Marsh – the biggest natural karst wetland in Bulgaria. Our … Read more

Modelling to reduce flood risk in the Upper Rother 

iCASP has been working with the Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) for the past two years to better understand which factors influence flooding in the Upper Rother. As our Upper Rother catchment project draws to a close, a series of technical and non technical reports have been produced for landowners and community groups available on … Read more

Successful artists chosen for a European project to help capture the importance of restoring peatland

Two artists have been employed as part of an ambitious European project to help share the journey of restoring peatlands at a site covering large areas in the north of England. Laura Harrington and Fiona MacDonald (Feral Practice) were selected from around 200 applicants to work with a team leading the Great North Bog initiative … Read more

Over £300k earmarked for research to make West Yorkshire more resilient to flooding and climate change

Thousands of pounds of Government funding is being invested in West Yorkshire to develop new research projects to help make the region more resilient to flooding and the impacts of climate change. The West Yorkshire Flood Resilience Programme (WY FLIP) has received £310,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will … Read more