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Supporting the local farming community in achieving sustainable land management and business goals has been at the heart of RTCT’s mission from the early days of the Trust.
As part of this aim, we are working with farmers and land managers to deliver a Landscape Recovery project across the River Thame and River Ock catchment. This project supports net zero, protected sites and biodiversity - while balancing the needs of farm businesses and food production
The project will leverage expertise across sectors including industry, research, and NGO organisations. We’re working with our co-partners Freshwater Habitats Trust, over 90 land owners, managers and other supporting partners to:
The project spans over 8,500 hectares across the Thame and Ock catchments. It comprises primarily of farmland, arable and pasture, with over 5,000 hectares of floodplain, and includes 10 protected sites (SSSIs and SACs).
Across these farms, the focus is on creating restoration plans that bring benefits for wildlife in low-productivity areas, particularly wetlands and floodplains. We will work closely with farmers and landowners to identify these high-potential areas and develop plans to increase their positive impact on biodiversity and ecosystem health by creating rich habitat networks to act as important carbon stores.
Within the protected sites, we’re assessing how these species rich hotspots can best be protected and enhanced as well as how to expand these areas and encourage species to disperse back across the landscape.
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We're taking a co-designed approach with our partners and stakeholders by:
The project will further contribute to the ever-increasing collective drive to better integrate sustainable farming practices with environmental stewardship.
By fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and leveraging innovative funding mechanisms, we are laying the groundwork for a resilient landscape that supports biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and the long-term viability of local farms.
This endeavour not only aligns with our mission of promoting a healthy river catchment but also embodies our commitment to creating enduring benefits for the community and the natural world alike.
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We are a small registered charity and rely on grants and donations to keep our important work for wildlife and water quality going.
If you’d like to support us by making a one off or regular donation you can below.
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