World Wildlife Day 2025

How we are protecting Biodiversity at Camphill Village Trust

Today is World Wildlife Day and it is a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the incredible biodiversity that sustains life on our planet. At Camphill Village Trust, nature is at the heart of our communities. We spoke to our Head of the Natural Environment, Robin Asquith, about the importance of environmental sustainability and biodiversity at the Trust.

We support adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health problems, through nature-based activities and therapies, and we are lucky to be the caretakers of stunning countryside in many of our communities. The land we care for is not only a place to live and work but also a home to a rich variety of wildlife.

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is a responsibility we take seriously, and through sustainable practices, we are committed to ensuring that wildlife can thrive alongside us.

Across our communities we actively promote sustainability and conservation through initiatives such as:

• Organic farming and gardening – avoiding pesticides and harmful chemicals to create healthy environments for pollinators and other wildlife.
• Hedge and tree planting – increasing natural habitats and corridors for birds, insects, and small mammals.
• Protecting natural grasslands – preserving important sites such as waxcap fungi meadows, which depend on unimproved land.
• Creating wildlife-friendly spaces – leaving areas of long grass, providing bird and bat boxes, and maintaining deadwood habitats.
• Sustainable land management – balancing farming with conservation, improving soil health, and encouraging biodiversity.

A landscape for wildlife

Within our communities, we are privileged to care for a diverse range of habitats, from meadows and woodlands to ponds, organic gardens, and miles of hedgerows. Looking after these spaces for the benefit of wildlife is an essential part of our daily work. By living and working in these environments, we not only help protect nature but also gain a deeper connection to the world around us.

Recent reports on the state of UK wildlife have been alarming, with significant declines in many species. However, at Camphill Village Trust, we have a proud 70-year history of working in harmony with the land. Our communities are great places to live and work because they are rich in wildlife—the two go hand in hand. Through thoughtful land management, we strive not just to prevent loss but to actively restore and enhance natural habitats.

Green Care and conservation in action

Our Green Care initiatives focus on sustainability and biodiversity. By avoiding harmful farming practices, we ensure that our gardens and farms remain wildlife-friendly. Over recent years, we have increased hedge planting and maintenance, introduced more native trees, and removed conifers in favour of species that better support local ecosystems.

One exciting discovery has been the presence of waxcap fungi in many of our fields. These rare fungi thrive only in unimproved grassland, highlighting the importance of preserving traditional, low-intensity farming methods. Around our homes and gardens, we are also leaving more areas of long grass to encourage wildflowers, which in turn provide food and shelter for insects, birds, and small mammals.

Supporting wildlife across our communities

At Botton Village, we have recently installed new barn owl boxes to help support the local owl population. While the spread of ash dieback disease means we must remove some trees for safety, we leave as many as possible to decay naturally, creating vital deadwood habitats for insects, fungi, and birds. When cutting back vegetation, we often use the materials to construct dead hedges, offering additional shelter and nesting sites for wildlife.

Recent changes in farm funding have also enabled us to plan for reseeding fields with wildlife-friendly grass species, further enriching the diversity of our landscapes.

World Wildlife Day reminds us that protecting biodiversity is a shared responsibility. At Camphill Village Trust, we are proud to play our part through sustainable farming, habitat conservation, and creating spaces where people and nature can flourish together. By caring for our land in this way, we ensure that wildlife has a place in our communities – not just today, but for generations to come.