Researchers to tackle major threats to ’UK’s vegetable garden’

A wild horse on Wicken Fen, UK Credit: J Garget via Pixabay Cambridge researchers will tackle environmental threats that could affect a third of the UK's home-grown vegetables and more than a quarter of its rare and endangered wild animals. Eco-friendly farming in the Fens, pine martens in the Cairngorms, and disappearing woodlands in the Lake District will all benefit from a £10 million countryside regeneration programme to safeguard the country's most important agricultural land and beloved rural idylls. The emphasis of the Cambridge Centre for Landscape Regeneration project will be on whole-systems approaches, as these are critical to addressing the root challenges of landscape regeneration. David Coombes - Although covering less than 4% of England's farmed area, the Fens produce more than 7% of England's total agricultural production, worth £1.23 billion . But they are threatened by climate change and their ancient peat soils are drying out, releasing millions of tonnes of CO2. The Cairngorms are home to over a quarter of the UK's endangered species , from capercaillies to ospreys. The Lake District is a national treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site but future changes in agricultural subsidies present both challenges and opportunities for the landscape - The Cambridge Centre for Landscape Regeneration project will work with farmers, local communities and conservation groups to tackle environmental threats in these areas.