Pick up your name badge then feel free to grab your free lunch and start networking. We have a range of posters on display from some of our recent student research projects and stalls from some of our close collaborators. Check out the "Poster Sessions" tab for more details.

Mike Waite, our Director of GIS, Research & Monitoring at SWT, will give a brief overview of what our department aims to do and why GIS, Research and Monitoring is so important for conservation.

Dr Silviu Petrovan will then give an overview of the Conservation Evidence platform and the need for evidence-based conservation practice.

A small selection of some recent student researchers that we have collaborated with or co-supervised will present the results of their projects. Project titles include: • How Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGS) actually impact biodiversity – Christine Gooch; Birkbeck, University of London • Optimising Automated Monitoring of Insect (AMI) device placement on inaccessible sites – Harry Jobanputra, Pablo Ubilla Pavez, Chenyang Zan, and Bohan Li; University College London • Cultural or Demographic Differences in Engagement – Rosaline Singh; Royal Holloway, University of London • Evaluating our management practices using the Conservation Evidence platform – Ugne Vilkeviciute; University College London All of the speakers will present their work and then there will be time for questions at the end.

Free tea and coffee will be provided. This is an opportunity to ask the speakers any other questions you have and interact with poster presenters and stall holders. Check out the "Poster Sessions" tab for more details on the posters and stalls.

The second half of our talks will be centred around some of our ongoing research collaborations. Ben Siggery (GIS, Research and Monitoring Manager at Surrey Wildlife Trust) will start the session talking about some of his recent paleoecology research, then Professor Richard Murphy from the University of Surrey will give an overview of our People’s Postcode Lottery-funded project, Space4Nature, in collaboration with Buglife and the Painshill Park Trust. Lucy Smith from SWT’s Youth Action Committee will give a short overview of the work they are doing, and finally the president of Royal Holloway’s Biological Sciences Society, Ruby Thomlinson will give us an overview of the Wild Recorders project we have been collaborating on.

Mike will say a few words to finish the afternoon then you are free to have a final browse of the posters and stalls before the end of the showcase. Check out the "Poster Sessions" tab for more details on the posters and stalls.

Recreation increases wellbeing and quality of life and as an ecosystem service is estimated to be worth £17.9 billion. However, there are significant challenges for valuing recreation, as it is difficult to quantify the value of wellbeing and health, unlike other ecosystem services. This study analysed the output of three different ecosystem service models for the case study Holmesdale Biodiversity Opportunity Area. We found that different models had a significant impact on the overall valuation. In particular, the output from InVEST predicted very low visitors, which consequently projected less financial gain compared to the ORVal model that had higher visitor numbers. These results demonstrate how recreation benefits are likely to be inaccurately valued, as it is a highly subjective concept with a range of definitions. We also highlight the need to validate models with primary user-based data as expert-based models lack an understanding on how visitors interact with the site.

Less than 30% of ancient woodlands remain in the UK and they are under threat from development, climate change, and invasive species. Bracken fern spreads rapidly and is extremely difficult to contain once established. Traditional methods of controlling bracken include mowing, herbicide, and crushing; however, environmental managers of an Ancient Woodland in Surrey explored the use of grazing pigs to control the bracken. This study examines the impact domestic pigs have on the site’s biodiversity and ground flora community through botanical surveys taken before, during, and after pig grazing. Grazing was carried out for four years before the project was terminated in 2017. After re-surveying in 2023, it was found that the biodiversity slightly increased for grazed plots however bracken is still outcompeting other flora in the woodland, including tree seedlings. The results also suggest that grazing had some impact on the plant community distribution.

Calcareous grassland is one of the most valuable habitats for pollinators globally, yet very little remains in Britain. Conservation grazing is used widely to maintain the remaining chalk grassland in Surrey but there is little evidence for the effect of this practice on pollinator diversity. This study used moth-plant visitation interaction networks to assess the effects of grazing and environmental factors on macro-moth diversity across six calcareous grassland sites in Surrey, England. To do this, we developed a novel methodology for non-lethally sampling pollen from live moths to determine floral visitation. Despite grazed sites having a higher floral diversity, we found no impact of grazing on network structure. Buddleia, a non-native genus, dominated moth floral visitation and pollen transport. This is likely to the detriment of native plants. This study recommends grazing as a best management practice and highlights the need to further quantify the impact of Buddleia on moths.

At Surrey Wildlife Trust, we are committed to finding the long-term solutions to ongoing biodiversity declines that nature so badly needs in our county. Science is at the heart of our decision-making, and we strive to use sound scientific evidence to inform both our policy and our actions. Building this evidence-base is a continually iterative work-stream, ever growing with advancements in applied science and conservation experience. As part of our role to ensure we can contribute to this process, to inform both ourselves and others, we are keen to work with external partners to further understanding of the natural world. You can find out more in our Research & Monitoring Framework.

Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre (SBIC) collects, manages and disseminates information on the flora, fauna and habitats of Surrey. The Centre was established in 2004 and is one of a growing network of local environmental records centres around the UK. We are a small but dedicated team of ecologists and environmental data management experts with a passion for all aspects the natural environment. SBIC is managed as a partnership project, hosted by Surrey Wildlife Trust and seeks to hold as comprehensive a record of the wildlife of Surrey as possible.

The Space4Nature Project will use Earth Observation (EO) technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to map and assess the type, quality, and quantity of habitats in Surrey. We will use this information to work on our own land as well as with other landowners and organisations to create, restore and connect fragmented habitats and support healthier, more abundant biodiversity. In addition, the project will engage a range of people including local communities, landowners, schools, and community groups in activities to recover nature on their land.