Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI)
“An internationally excellent Research Institute” (REF, 2021).
Shaping rural development policy and practice in the UK, Europe and further afield.
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Find out more about our countryside and community research.
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Latest news and blogs
Climate change: when we bring people into the conversation, we have hope of a brighter future
On 9 July 2026, CCRI’s Director Matt Reed delivered his inaugural lecture as Professor of Climate Citizenships at University of Gloucestershire – and argued for a more hopeful vision of climate action.
From BSE to Brexit: a boundary-spanning history of rural research
As CCRI celebrate its 40th birthday, we talk to four long-standing members of the team about their time here. From the policy shifts of Brexit to the growing urgency of the climate crisis, they reflect on how an inclusive, bridge-building ethos has made for more effective research.
About CCRI
CCRI – one of the largest specialist rural research
centres in the UK.
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Research insights and opinion from CCRI.
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Current research projects
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Defra Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework
The University of Gloucestershire, through the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), is a delivery partner within the Defra Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework. The framework provides Defra and its Arm’s Length Bodies with access to specialist monitoring, evaluation and learning expertise across a range of environmental, rural and policy themes.
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Impacts of IPARD II Programmes Implementation in the Beneficiary Countries
This thematic study focus on the impacts of the 2014–2020 IPARD II programmes across Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye
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Farmer action for tree resilience
The “Farmer Action for Tree Resilience” project, led by Forest Research (and including the CCCRI, University of Exeter, FWAG South West and the Organic Research Centre), is developing better ways