Latest News in the CCRI

Owain Jones co-edits special edition of Surveillance, Children and Childhood

09/07/10

Owain Jones is the co-editor, together with Valerie Steeves, of a special edition of Surveillance, Children and Childhood (Volume 7 - Number 3/4), which can accessed free online.

Radio 4 broadcast from 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens

2 July 2010

On Thursday 1st July over 160 delegates attended the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens, held at the University of Gloucestershire and organised by the CCRI.

BBC Radio 4 was at the event and recorded a debate on the motion 'This seminar believes that little change to the current town and village green regulations is required'. Proposing the motion was Kate Ashbrook from the Open Spaces Society and opposing the motion was Cameron Watt from the National Housing Federation. Not only was the motion was passed, it will be broadcast on BBC 4's 'You and Yours' on Monday 5th July.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England provided some sponsorship for the event and this enabled a large number of upland farmers who graze areas of common land in England and Wales to attend. These upland pastures are an important part of their agricultural businesses, providing grazing for stock over the summer months, which allows fodder to be made on enclosed land on the farm to feed stock in the winter months.

Government officials attended from both England and Wales to provide updates on recent changes to regulations and schemes, and there were a number of interesting discussions on how these changes can work on commons. The event also saw the public launch of the Foundation for Common Land, an organisation that is seeking to raise the profile of and to represent upland farmers who manage these upland commons that are crucially important for biodiversity, heritage, landscape, mitigation against climate change and local communities. Some upland graziers, often terms 'commoners', offered their thoughts on the creation of Commons Councils, a new local 'bottom -up' body based on one or more commons that would be approved by the Secretary of State as formally responsibly for management on that area.

The Association of Commons Registration Authorities, the local authorities who hold the registers of common land and town and village greens, also made a presentation and delegates were keen to hear about how these registers, established in the 1970s, might be transferred to electronic registers and the current trial in some authorities on updating them.

Event organiser Chris Short said "This years event was the best yet because it had the widest range of speakers and topics and a real buzz of enthusiasm for all those with an interest in these fascinating and valuable public 'assets' to work together and that is what this event is all about - bringing people with very different objectives together."

The CCRI has played a vital role in disseminating information on principal developments in common land legislation through the National Seminars on Common Land and Village Greens, which it has organised and hosted since 1999. The CCRI also organised and hosted the 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons Conference at the University of Gloucestershire in July 2008.

Conference organiser, Chris Short, (pictured right) with Kate Ashbrook, Open Spaces Society, and Cameron Watt, National Housing Federation at the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens.

Latest Common Land Seminar Programme

23/06/10

The latest programme for the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens is now published. Click here to download.

RuDi team receive University of Gloucestershire Excellence Award

22/6/10

The CCRI RuDI project team has won a University of Gloucestershire Excellence Award. The Excellence Awards celebrate and reward teams of staff who, in the course of the year, have demonstrated an exceptional contribution to the Mission of the University. The RuDi team, judged to have delivered 'research excellence', was presented with this prestigious award at the University Teaching Learning and Assessment Conference on 17 June.

The research project 'Assessing the Impacts of Rural Development Policies (RuDi) - has involved a ten-country consortium conducting a major analysis of the design, implementation and emerging impacts of Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) funded under the so-called second pillar of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy over the period 2007-13.

The CCRI project team comprised Professor Janet Dwyer (CCRI Project Leader), Dr James Kirwan, Damian Maye, Sandrina Pereira and Ken Thomson.

David Gibbon to present CCRI paper at 9th European International Farming systems Association Symposium

19/06/10

A paper by Jane Mills, David Gibbon, Julie Ingram, Matt Reed, Chris Short and Janet Dwyer, entitled ‘Collective action for effective environmental management and social learning in Wales’ will be presented by David Gibbon at the 9th European International Farming systems Association Symposium which is to be held in Vienna from July 4th to 7th 2010.

The paper explores key factors that might lead to successful agri-environmental collective action in order to deliver landscape-scale resource management within agri-environment schemes. It comes under the theme ‘Knowledge systems, learning and collective action’ and the sub-workshop in which the paper will be presented is entitled 'Innovation and Change Facilitation in Rural Development'. The paper has also been selected (with 8 others) to be reviewed for possible publication in a special issue of the Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension in March 2011.

Janet Dwyer is conferred with title of Professor

Dr Janet Dwyer, Co-Director of CCRI

18/06/10

The title of Professor (of Rural Policy) has been conferred on CCRI's new Co-Director, Janet Dwyer.

Professor Dwyer joined the CCRI in November 2002 following four years as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) in London. Prior to that, she was a Senior Land Use Policy Officer at the Countryside Commission. She has a PhD in ‘Agriculture and Rural Conservation Policy in the UK and France', which was awarded by the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Professor Dwyer is an experienced European policy researcher who has successfully initiated and managed a wide range of projects on nature conservation, rural development and agri-environment policy, EU Agricultural and Regional policy reform, agri-environment indicators and environmental standards for both agriculture and forestry. She has an enduring interest in rural policy, particularly for land use and EU agriculture and rural development. She has acted as expert adviser for various commissions and studies, and is currently Currently expert adviser to the EU Court of Auditors’ evaluation of Agri-Environmental Policies in the EU, expert adviser to the European Environment Agency in its work on CAP funding and the environment, and member of the expert panel for the evaluation of Regional policy's role in rural development.

This latest conferment brings the CCRI tally of Professors to four.

CCRI RuDi Project Team attend final conference in Brussels

18/06/10

CCRI project members of the RuDi project were in Brussels on 15 June for the final RuDi conference `Beyond indicators: evaluating the process of EU rural development policies´. More than 110 people participated in the event and the key findings and recommendations of the project were well received, by both the stakeholders and the policy-makers.

Loretta Dormal-Marino, the Deputy - Director General for Rural Development of Directorate General Agri (DG Agri) attended the conference, as did Danielle Tissot from DG Research, who funds the project under the 7th Research Framework Programme. Patrick Salez (DG Regio) and Mark Cropper (DG Agri) were also present to speak about the future of rural development policy.

Participants were wide-ranging; including researchers, representatives and policy makers from the European Commission, Leader groups (who are one of the final beneficiaries of the policy), national governments, and other key actors in the field of rural development.

The research findings and recommendations have been presented at a crucial time as they will be able to inform the policy making process of DG Agri, who is currently considering its proposals for the 2014-2020 framework period. The research will also help to establish an interface between science and policy for future collaborations.

The conference considered the research findings and policy recommendations for four topic areas:

  • 1. Designing better policy at EU and national levels for the coming funding period
  • 2. Improving policy delivery: both currently and in future funding periods
  • 3. Improving the evaluation of RD policies and facilitating institutional learning
  • 4. What is the future of RD? Key challenges for rural development

More information, including the policy findings and recommendations, can be found on the RuDi website

The CCRI project team comprised Professor Janet Dwyer (CCRI Project Leader), Dr James Kirwan, Damian Maye, Sandrina Pereira (all pictured above) and Ken Thomson.

Janet Dwyer appointed Co-Director of CCRI

08/06/10

Dr Janet Dwyer has been appointed Co-Director of the CCRI. Janet, whose research interests include European and UK policy for sustainable agriculture and rural development, will be working alongside Director Professor Nigel Curry, to further develop the CCRI portfolio in a changing and ever more competitive market. Professor Curry states:

"I am delighted to have Janet working alongside me as Co-director of the CCRI. As the CCRI's portfolio becomes more diverse and the market for research funding gets increasingly competitive, it is really important that we can develop a division of responsibility across a number of different management functions. Whilst there are complexities associated with running a Research Institute across a number of higher education establishments, the strengths of working together are considerable. Having Janet working with me to manage these complexities is a great advantage.”

Janet can be contacted on email jdwyer@glos.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 1242 714128

The Breath of the Moon: Listening to Tidal Rhythms in the Severn Estuary

09/06/10

Countryside and Community Research Institute Senior Researcher Dr Owain Jones, together with Michaela Reiser, Senior Lecturer in Digital Media at the University of the West of England, are to make audible the tidal rhythms of the Severn Estuary at the Bristol Festival of Nature at Bristol Harbourside on the weekend of 12/13 June.

The Severn estuary has the highest tides in Europe and the second highest tides in the world. The tides are incredible spectacles of nature in themselves, and the inter-tidal lands they create are internationally important wildlife habitats and also important for archaeology and other heritages. All this rich cultural and bio diversity is in close proximity to the large industrial developments, and the 3,000,000 people who live in large urban conurbations and small rural communities around the estuary’s shores.

Owain and Michaela’s exhibit will consist of a computer generated 'sonification' of the tidal rhythms at Avonmouth Docks; a poster showing photographs and 12 ‘fantastic facts’ about the Estuary, including the uncertain future it faces; and a handout of facts and images for people to take away.

CCRI announce 2010 Policy Conference

27/5/10

The CCRI is delighted to announce its 2010 policy conference - Conflict or Consensus? The Next Decade of Rural Policy - which will take place on 19 October at the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham.

Following on from the success of the 2009 policy conference - Rural Policy and Local Assets’ conference – the 2010 conference offers an exciting new format in the form of four on-line seminars which will set the scene for the conference discussions by providing background information and a briefing on the latest research.

The conference aims to bring together policy makers, rural stakeholder and academics, with keynote speakers and ample time for discussion. In addition to subject experts from the CCRI team, there will be several prominent key speakers to facilitate stimulating topical debate, including Dr Kate Briathwaite MBE, Director of the Rural Programme of the CarnegieUK Trust, Professor Terry Marsden, Director of The ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society and Dr Matt Lobley, Assistant Director the Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter. Other speakers will be confirmed in due course. Please see our conference webpage to find out latest news of speakers and other information.

The organisers are Dr Matt Reed and Bekki Griffiths. Please email them if you have any questions regarding the conference. Places are limited, so if you wish to reserve your place now please email the conference team. Alternatively, you can telephone +44 (0)1242 714122

A visit fAlan Woodsrom Australia

27/05/10

The CCRI welcomed Alan Woods from Richmond College of TAFE, in western Sydney, this week. Alan was awarded a NSW Premiers' Teacher Scholarship in 2009 to undertake study in England and Germany on the topic of sustainable agricultural practices in peri-urban areas. He visited the CCRI to discuss his interests in beef cattle production and pasture management and associated planning issues around cities including sustainable practices and planning of developments close to towns. Alan is writing an interesting and amusing blog of his visit which you can read on http://www.alanwoodseurope2010.blogspot.com/

Major European Conference - 'Beyond Indicators: Evaluating the Processes of EU Rural Development Policies'

26/5/10

European policy makers, member states representatives, researchers and other key actors in the field of rural development, will be gathering at the final conference of a major European rural development research project in Brussels on Tuesday 15 June 2010, entitled 'Beyond Indicators: Evaluating the Processes of EU Rural Development Policies', which will present the main findings and policy recommendations of a major European rural development research project.

The conference aims to provide a better understanding of the diversity of EU Rural Development Programmes, their priorities, and implementation. It will also give an insight into the process effects of Rural Development programming, implementation and evaluation and will provide a forum for discussion of possible improvements of policies that more effectively target the challenges of Rural Development in Europe. The conference takes place at a time when the Commission is considering its proposals for the 2014-2020 framework period.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for networking between Rural Development stakeholders and the RuDI consortium to foster mutual learning and knowledge sharing for the development of better policies. The keynote speakers are from DG Agriculture, DG Regio and OECD.

The conference will take place on Tuesday 15 June 2010, at Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union, Rue Montoyer 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Participation is free of charge. You can register online at http://www.rudi-europe.net/rudi_conference.html or send an e-mail to: conference@rudi-europe.net

Conference Schedule

The research project 'Assessing the Impacts of Rural Development Policies (RuDi) - has involved a ten-country consortium conducting a major analysis of the design, implementation and emerging impacts of Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) funded under the so-called second pillar of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy over the period 2007-13.

The Countryside and Community Research Institute is one of the ten project partners comprising universities and research institutes from the UK, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, Slovenia and Estonia. The project is co-ordinated by the Institute of Rural Development Research at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Franfurt/Main.

View Press Release

Programme for the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens now available!

26/5/10

An exciting programme for the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens has now been announced.

The programme boasts an impressive list of speakers, including experts from Defra, Natural England, Open Spaces Society and Commoners' Associations. See full list of speakers. See latest programme.

The seminar takes place on Thursday 1st July 2010 at the University of Gloucestershire's Park Campus in Cheltenham. The cost of the event is £100 for the day, including refreshments and a buffet lunch. Bed & Breakfast accommodation will be available on campus on the night of Wednesday 31st June at an additional cost of £50 per person.

There are still places available, and you can book your place online now!

More information is available on our dedicated webpage

The event is sponsored by the recently formed Foundation for Common Land, as well as Defra and Natural England, with support from several other organisations, including the Association of Commons Registration Authorities who will also be contributing an afternoon workshop to the seminar.

The event is aimed at commoners, landowners and agents, practitioners, recreational users and institution, and all those involved in the management of commons and village greens.

The CCRI has played a vital role in disseminating information on principal developments in common land legislation through the National Seminars on Common Land and Village Greens, which it has organised and hosted since 1999. CCRI Senior Research Fellow Christopher Short is the convenor of the series. The CCRI also organised and hosted the 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons Conference at the University of Gloucestershire in July 2008.

Christopher Short takes part in innovative knowledge exchange visit to Northern Spain

26/5/10

During May Christopher Short was invited by the European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastorialism to take part in an innovative knowledge exchange visit to Northern Spain. The aim of the visit was to take both farmers grazing common land in England and those studying commons to see at firsthand how areas of communal grazing are managed in the mountain and upland areas around the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains. The group of eight met with farmers and government researchers and project officers from three regions in northern Spain. It is anticipated that the trip will lead to a further exchange visits and the development of research and knowledge exchange projects. One immediate outcome was for at least one delegate from Northern Spain to be invited to the National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens on July 1st to talk about the situation in this area of Spain and the initiatives used to support the traditional management system which the government accept is the most sustainable way to manage these high and extensive areas of shared pasture.

CCRI report to Arkleton Trust on Adaptation to Climate Change

26/05/10

The CCRI has very recently completed a report for the Arkleton Trust entitled "Adaptation to Climate Change by Local Communities in Rural Europe; a Review of some Recent Experience". The joint authors are Dr Carol Kambites, Katarina Kubinakova and Professor Malcolm Moseley. The report comprises in large part an inventory of 84 local projects spread across 20 European countries, with brief descriptions of each written on the basis of various on-line searches and enquiries. Some general observations are made looking across the whole range of projects. In no sense is the inventory comprehensive or even a random sample, but it may prove useful for further research and for seeking out models of good practice. Arkleton has commissioned similar surveys relating to parts of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australasia; further details may be obtained form the Arkleton Trust administator Nikki Swan

Janet Dwyer makes presentation in Brussels

25/5/10

On 19 May, Dr Janet Dwyer presented some reflections from the RD instruments and RuDI projects on the CAP Pillar 2 at a conference in Brussels in a presentation that was entitled ‚What we have learned from evaluating EU rural development policies?’ The conference formed part of the US-EU rural development policy project led by Professor David Blandford (Pennsylvania State University) and Professor Berkeley Hill (University of London) and was organised and hosted with the help of Valentin Zahrnt at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE). Click here or more information.

Stela Valchovska is awarded her PhD

22/05/10

Stela ValchovskaStela Valchovska (pictured right) has been awarded her PhD, subject to minor changes.

Stela is a PhD student funded through a University of Gloucestershire studentship. Her thesis is entitled 'Entrepreneurship among post-socialist agricultural producers: the case of Bulgaria'.

CCRI research shows that rural communities benefit from Government Environmental Stewardship (ES) Scheme

19/5/10

Research undertaken by the CCRI for Defra and Natural England has shown that farmers who make the commitment to land management schemes aimed at protecting biodiversity and the natural environment also provide additional income, employment and other social benefits for their local communities, thus strengthening rural communities and sustaining local jobs.

The research assessed the incidental socio-economic benefits of Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes in England in order to identify their impact on the wider local economy. In particular, it assessed the extent of local multiplier effects and employment creation as a result of agri-environment expenditure.

The key findings showed that as a direct result of the ES, 665 new full time equivalent jobs in local communities were created between 2005 and 2009, and an additional £64.7 million was generated by the local economy. The final report reinforces how government funding can lead to increases in local income and employment, as well as the development of farmers’ social networks and farm business skills.

Further information on the report can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/economics/foodfarm/

CCRI press release

CCRI welcomes visitors from Czech Republic

19/05/10

At the beginning of May, the CCRI was pleased to welcome Jaroslav Prazan and colleagues from the IUZE institute in Prague, with whom they have been working as part of a ten country consortium on a European project 'Assessing the impact of Rural Development policies (RuDi)'.

The RuDi project is funded under the EU's Seventh Framework programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development (RTD) and aims to improve the understanding of the processes and structures underlying the formulation, implementation and impacts of European rural development policies, and examines priority setting, design, targeting and delivery processes of the 2007-13 programming period. In the scope of the study, the Czech Republic team has been investigating issues of economic diversification and challenges with effective implementation of agri-environment schemes. They visited the CCRI between 5 -7 May to find out about its work and activities, and current range of interests and research topics.

The presentation of the main findings and policy recommendations of the RuDI project will be made at the final conference on Tuesday 15 June 2010 in Brussels. More information can be found on the RuDi website.

James Jones to advise sub-panel of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel of the States of Jersey

21/04/10

James Jones has been appointed as an advisor to the sub-panel of the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel of the States of Jersey. He will be providing them with help to oversee the Review of the Rural Economy Strategy 2011 - 2015 for the island.

Rebels for the Soil - new book and blog

17/04/10

Matt Reed's new book, Rebels for the Soil. The Rise of the Global Organic Food and Farming Movement, is due to be published on 21 May 2010. In connection with this, Matt has a blog at Earthscan on the subject of organic consumerism where you are invited to join in the debate at http://www.earthscan.co.uk/blog/post/Organic-Consumerism-and-urgency.aspx . You can also pre-order the new book at Earthscan.

Janet Dwyer's evidence cited in House of Lords EU Committee Report

17/04/10

Dr Janet Dwyer gave oral evidence to the House of Lords EU Committee Inquiry into 'Adapting to climate change: EU agriculture and forestry' in January 2010, and in the Committee's final report, her evidence was cited several times and the Committee has recommended a number of policy changes based specifically upon Janet's suggestions.

Janet also gave a presentation on 'The future role of Axis 3 - broader rural development and quality of life' at the SWCoRE sponsored conference on ‘The future of the CAP beyond 2013’, at Bicton College, Devon, on 5 March 2010.

Last, but not least, she hosted a policy symposium and presented a paper on 'Evaluation of EU Rural Development Policy and pointers for the future', at the UK Agricultural Economics Society conference in Edinburgh on 30 March 2010.

Professors Curry and Moseley to speak at 'Integrated Rural Development Approach post 2013' colloquium

17/04/10

Professors Nigel Curry and Malcolm Moseley will be speaking at a colloquium on 'the Integrated Rural Development Approach post 2013' at Bristol on 28 April 2010. The seminar is being convened by the South West ACRE Network, in association with the South West Rural Affairs Forum and the European Commission. Nigel Curry and Dr Janet Dwyer also prepared a detailed background paper as a resource for the seminar.

Owain Jones presents paper at Trees and Forests in British Society' conference

16/04/10

Dr Owain Jones presented a paper at the 'Trees and Forests in British Society' conference organised by the Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences and held at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh between 13 - 15 April. The conference explored the demands that society places on forestry and the role it is expected to play. Owain's paper, which was entitled 'Forest landscapes: embodiment, identity and materiality', suggested that new affect-based understandings of place and landscape in a range of social science approaches can be of great use to the forestry policy community in understanding of how individuals and communities engage with forest spaces in imaginative and in embodied (practical) terms, and also in how the complex composition of forest spaces (as cultural, ecological, political, economic, and living entities) can be appreciated. These ideas are connected to questions of wellbeing and social benefit through the ways people construct their individual and collective identities in terms of sense of self and sense of place.

The paper also critically reviewed innovative, theoretical and methodological approaches to place, landscape and heritage which have been developed in recent years in geography, anthropology, sociology and elsewhere in order to introduce these approaches into forestry management conversations about place, landscape and visitor engagements with them.

Link to programme.

Owain Jones is also giving a paper for the PLaCE/LAND2 Visiting Speaker Series 2009-2010 at the School of Creative Arts, University of the West of England, on Thursday 22 April. His presentation will be entitled 'Landscape, Loss and Memory'. Download flyer for more information.

Papers published from 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons

17/03/10

A selection of papers from the The 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons, which was organised by the CCRI in July 2008, have been published this month in the International Journal for the Study of the Commons, Volume 4, Issue 1 (2010).

Over 500 delegates from over 70 different countries attended the conference, which, through five days of excellent participation and stimulating discussion, raised awareness of how mis-management is damaging our 'global commons' and contributing to ecological poverty, and sought to explore how these 'commons' should be managed at local, regional, national and global levels to promote a more sustainable world.

The editorial includes a reflective piece by Dr John Powell and Christopher Short (both CCRI) who organised the event. View Journal.

CCRI wins major project to assess Badger Vaccine Deployment Project

16/03/10

The CCRI has been commissioned to lead a major social science study to accompany the Government's Bovine TB Badger Vaccine Deployment Project (BVDP), to be launched this summer [2010].

The social science study has been funded for four years in the first instance and will assess the level of farmer confidence in the use of vaccination before, during and after vaccine deployment. It will also identify motivators and barriers that could influence the future use of TB vaccines. The research is being funded with a grant of just over £630,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The CCRI will lead the project, in collaboration with colleagues in Exeter and Cardiff Universities, Drew Associates Limited, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).

Project Leader, Dr Damian Maye, says, "The bovine TB problem is seriously affecting the livestock industry and there are a lot of strong views amongst the farming community on the issue of bovine TB and whether culling or vaccination is the best way forward.
“We will begin with a baseline study of 75 farmers in eight separate areas before the vaccine is rolled out this summer, asking farmers their views on vaccination as a means of dealing with bovine TB. Once the programme is underway we will carry out qualitative work with smaller groups of farmers, vets and Animal Health Officers in each area to ask them how they have found the process, and whether their views have changed over time and why.
“Over the life of the project we will be able to build up a picture of attitudes which may affect farmers’ future use of bovine TB vaccines and what lessons can be learned and practical know-how developed to inform the future use of (injectable and oral) badger vaccines.
“This is a fascinating piece of longitudinal social science research. It has real academic value and will be useful to both the farming industry and to policy makers.”

CCRI announce 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens

16/03/10

The Countryside and Community Research Institute is pleased to announce the 8th National Seminar on Common Land and Town and Village Greens, which will take place on Thursday 1st July 2010 at the University of Gloucestershire's Park Campus in Cheltenham.

The event is sponsored by the recently formed Foundation for Common Land, as well as Defra and Natural England, with support from several other organisations, including the Association of Commons Registration Authorities who will also be contributing an afternoon workshop to the seminar.

The event is aimed at commoners, landowners and agents, practitioners, recreational users and institution, and all those involved in the management of commons and village greens.

The focus of the seminar will be on best practice to actively protect and manage common land and town and village greens in England and Wales, embedding the opportunities in the Commons Act 2006 into current and future management practices. Defra and Natural England will provide an update on the implementation of the Act and other related policies, and there will be presentations from commoners and others who are currently putting the Act into practice. The afternoon session will be more interactive and delegates will have the opportunity to raise their own particular issues in the wide range of workshops and discussions.  Click here for more information.

The cost of the event is £100 for the day, including refreshments and a buffet lunch. Bed & Breakfast accommodation will be available on campus on the night of Wednesday 31st June at an additional cost of £50 per person. You can book your place online now!

The CCRI has played a vital role in disseminating information on principal developments in common land legislation through the National Seminars on Common Land and Village Greens, which it has organised and hosted since 1999. CCRI Senior Research Fellow Christopher Short is the convenor of the series. The CCRI also organised and hosted the 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Commons Conference at the University of Gloucestershire in July 2008.

Paper published in Social Science & Medicine

10/03/10

A paper entitled "Negotiating the boundary between medicine and consumer culture: Online marketing of nutrigenetic tests", co-authored by Dr Matt Reed with Paula M. Saukko Nicky Britten and Stuart Hogarth, has been published in Social Science & Medicine, Volume 70, Issue 5, March 2010, Pages 744-753.

Damian Maye on visiting scholarship in Australia

06/03/10

Dr Damian Maye is spending the whole of March in Australia, where he has taken up a visiting scholarship at Monash University, Melbourne. He is visiting the Department of Sustainability, Environment and Society, School of Geography and Environmental Science in order to develop a research proposal on animal and plant health in Australia, together with Dr. Jacqui Dibden and Dr. Vaughan Higgins. Whilst there, he will also be presenting two research seminars on the emerging food security debate.

Paper accepted for publication

06/03/10

Professor Brian Ilbery and Dr Damian Maye have had a paper accepted for publication in Area, the academic journal of the Royal Geographical Society.

Ilbery, B. and Maye, D. (2010) Clustering and the spatial distribution of organic farming in England and Wales. Area, forthcoming.

Free Event: Understanding rural communities using social survey data

26/02/10

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) are running an event that will give a new generation of professionals a fascinating insight into how social survey data produces rural evidence and informs policy debates. The CRC will demonstrate rural analysis techniques. Survey practitioners will showcase examples. The Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) Data Support Service will show the potential of survey data held at the UKDA for rural analysis.

Venue: Defra Innovation Centre, 21-23 Valpy Street, Reading, Bucks. RG1 1AR.

Date: Tuesday 16 March 11:00am - 3:00pm

The event is free, but you should pre-book your place by contacting crcadmin@ruralcommunities.gov.uk. Download programme.

Characterisation of markets for organic goods

10/02/10

A research report commissioned by Defra has concluded that the organic sector needs additional mechanisms to offer technical and marketing support to its producers to help develop the organic sector. The report further concluded that sharing of knowledge and collaboration should be more effectively utilised, including during transitional phases when producers are converting to organic production systems.

The CCRI worked on the project together with Warwick HRI, University of Warwick , who also led the project, and ABACUS Associates

The research, which aimed to characterize the organic market in order to identify the factors that influence its function, was conducted mainly by consultation with producers, manufacturers and retailers through workshops, conversations and interviews.

Full Press Release

Comments concerning the page to webmaster