Research Seed Fund

Research Seed Fund

The Research Seed Fund is an internally-funded National Trust scheme designed to support research projects that drive forward the core purpose and strategic aims of the Trust. This collection shows a variety of outputs that have emerged from the scheme and related projects since its launch in 2019.

Settings

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    consent settings
    Item type:Journal article,
    Effect of pasture cover and height on nutrient concentrations in diverse swards in the UK
    (2020-11-23)
    Bell, Matt J.
    ;
    J. Huggett, Zoà«
    ;
    Slinger, Kimberley R.
    ;
    Roos, Felicity
    A total of 445 pasture samples were collected from six fields representing a wide range of dry grass content (0–100%), and grass, legume, herb, flower and weed species. Fields were located in the grass†dominated and temperate regions of western UK and monitored monthly for 9 months during late summer, autumn and winter months. The pasture properties assessed included measurements of percentage of grass content, height (in centimeters), pasture cover (fresh weight (FW) and dry matter (DM) in kg /ha) and pasture density (FW and DM in kg ha cm ) and nutrient concentrations (DM, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), sugars, ash, digestible organic matter in the DM (DOMD), oil, nitrate nitrogen and metabolizable energy (ME)). This study showed that across the pastures studied, increasing both pasture height and DM cover brought a desirable increase in crude protein, sugars, DOMD, oil and ME for grazing systems. Seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations of diverse swards will occur; however, differences in nutrient concentrations among swards can be minimized by the grass species present and/or mix with broadleaf plants, and management of grass maturity.
      2  3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    consent settings
    Item type:Journal article,
    The effect of grazing by cattle and sheep on diverse pastures
    (2020-11)
    Bell, Matt J.
    ;
    Huggett, Zoà« J.
    ;
    Slinger, Kimberley R.
    ;
    Roos, Felicity
    The aim of this research was to assess differences in pasture properties associated with grazing diverse swards. A total of six fields were studied on commercial farms in the west of the UK, with three fields being permanent pastures (M1, V2 and M2) and three temporary ley pastures (V1, V3 and M3). Each field was monitored monthly for three months during the autumn when all fields were being grazed. Pastures included a diverse range of grass, legume, herb, flower and weed species. Pasture properties assessed included measurements of grass content, greenness (both %), height (in centimeters), pasture cover (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare) and pasture density (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare per centimeter) and nutrient concentrations. The nutrient concentrations measured were dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), sugars, ash, digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD), oil, nitrate nitrogen, and metabolisable energy (ME). A linear mixed model was used to assess the effect of field, month of study and grazing on pasture properties. This study showed that across fields studied grazed swards were shorter with a higher grass content and fresh/dry herbage density compared to ungrazed swards. Across diverse pastures studied grazed swards had higher nutrient concentrations of dry matter, ADF, NDF and nitrate nitrogen, but lower concentrations of crude protein, sugars and ash. There was no difference in digestibility among grazed and ungrazed swards. While grazing may reduce pasture biomass and certain nutrient concentrations within a pasture, it appears to enhance the grass content and density of the sward, which may provide more sustainable grassland systems.
      6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    consent settings
    Item type:Journal article,
    Co‐design of a citizen science study: Unlocking the potential of eDNA for volunteer freshwater monitoring
    (2023-09-27)
    Clarke, Stewart J.
    ;
    Long, Emily
    ;
    Biggs, Jeremy
    ;
    Bruce, Kat
    ;
    Weatherby, Anita
    1. Citizen science is increasingly being promoted as a means of gathering more data to help inform the management of ecosystems. Involving the participants in the design of data collection activities is a form of co-design often proposed by those calling for a translational ecology. 2. In addition, novel monitoring approaches have the potential to improve the quality of data collected by citizen scientists. We explored the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) for vertebrate (mainly fish) species monitoring through a co-designed catchment monitoring strategy. 3. Having been introduced to the potential of eDNA, citizen scientists designed and executed an eDNA-based survey of a small chalk stream catchment to explore questions of concern. 4. The eDNA survey provided data about fish and other vertebrate diversity in the catchment which would have otherwise required sampling approaches difficult for citizen scientists. These data give a preliminary answer to some of the citizen scientists' priority questions and are comparable to fish data collected through traditional electrofishing surveys. 5. Recommendations are offered for co-design and the use of novel research techniques by citizen scientists.
      8  1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    consent settings
    Item type:Journal article,
    Unsafe building: documenting heritage at risk through robotic and semi-autonomous survey
    (2024-10-16)
    Challis, Keith
    ;
    McLaughlin, Lynsey
    ;
    Pearce, Glen
    ;
    Wainwright, Angus
    ;
    Evison, Colin
    The National Trust cares for many places where access to heritage is restricted, for safety or other reasons, limiting the opportunity for monitoring, recording and visitor engagement. The remains of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) testing facility, built between 1954 and 1962 at Orford Ness on the Suffolk coast of England, represent such a case. The AWRE structures are a Scheduled Monument and sit within a wider landscape of twentieth century defence heritage. The buildings have attained a mythical status in popular culture and attract substantial visitor interest. However, they are unsafe to enter, and their long-term conservation strategy is to allow their gradual decline to a point where significant evidence is lost, with their ultimate loss to coastal erosion anticipated. Recognising these challenges, our work has sought to develop and assess a prototype use of robotic and semi-autonomous survey technology for heritage at risk in challenging environments. A suite of complementary technologies, including Boston Dynamics quadruped robots, caged and conventional drones combining laser scanning and digital photogrammetry were used. This paper provides an account of practicalities, benefits and limitations of robotic and semi-autonomous survey for documenting heritage assets.
      3