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Published: 12 Feb 2024 553 views
Recreational and amenity land provides important green space for people but can be poor for biodiversity. Frequent mowing regimes by local authorities have left many areas of amenity grassland thin and compacted, with low botanical diversity. Changes to mowing regimes could significantly improve biodiversity on the one hand, but public perception is often that land not intensively managed is uncared for.
Northumberland County Council (NCC) currently manages 300 ha of amenity grassland and is seeking to improve biodiversity in these habitats, whilst taking into account the operational and logistical constraints of mowing management and the uncertainties of climate change. In collaboration with Newcastle University, this exciting interdisciplinary project will examine the social, economic and ecological impacts of changing mowing regimes across Northumberland, with four interlinked objectives:
OBJ. 1: Identify the current extent and condition of recreational and amenity land managed by NCC using Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
OBJ. 2: Review best practice management methods for temperate amenity grassland, with a focus of mowing machinery and frequency of cutting.
OBJ. 3: Experimentally test the impacts of mowing management on plant-pollinator networks, soil health and other biodiversity.
OBJ 4: Explore public uses of amenity grasslands and perceptions of different management options.
Newcastle University (Officially, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North-East of England. The university can trace its origins to a School of Medicine and Surgery (later the College of Medicine), established in 1834, and to the College of Physical Science (later renamed Armstrong College), founded in 1871. These two colleges came to form one division of the federal University of Durham, with the Durham Colleges forming the other. The Newcastle colleges merged to form King's College in 1937. In 1963, following an Ac... continue reading
| Application Deadline | 23 Feb 2024 |
| Value | £18,622 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| School to study | Newcastle University |
| Type | PhD |
| Course to study | View courses |
| Sponsor | Newcastle University |
| Gender | Men and Women |
100% Home fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £18,622 (2023/24 UKRI rate). Additional consumable funds of £3,700 pa are provided for this project.
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences or similar.
Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.
The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.
International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.
Start Date:
Award Duration:
Application Closing Date:
Sponsor:
Supervisors:
You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:
In the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section please upload:
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.
Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:
for more details visit: Newcastle University website.