The Biodiversity Toolkit for Farmers is a new project launched in March 2026 in Devon, led by Common Flora in partnership with farmers and local communities. Supported by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the project is developing practical and affordable ways for farmers to measure and improve biodiversity on their land.

The need for this work is urgent. Around 71% of the UK’s land is farmland, yet vital habitats such as hedgerows have declined by around 50% in the last 75 years, contributing to significant biodiversity loss. Farmers currently lack accessible and credible tools to measure biodiversity, limiting their ability to demonstrate environmental improvements and access funding.

This project builds on Common Flora’s established work in regenerative agroecology, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement, bringing together practical land management experience with ecological research and citizen scientists.

Please click here for the summary.

Farmers currently lack accessible, affordable, and credible tools to measure biodiversity. Without this evidence, many struggle to demonstrate environmental performance, access funding, or participate in emerging nature-based markets such as Biodiversity Net Gain.

Together we:

• Conduct hedgerow, soil, fungi, insect, butterfly, bat and bird surveys

• Use accessible recording apps to gather reliable field data

• Plant wildflower seeds and improve field margins

• Walk farms and share ecological knowledge

• Gather in green spaces across rural and urban communities

Every event includes good food, shared learning, and a strong sense of connection.

This is practical ecology grounded, collaborative, and rooted in place.

Our toolkit:

Increases biodiversity over time through structured baselining

Trials a practical, scalable, and cost-effective approach to on-farm ecological monitoring

Tests a user-friendly app that analyses plant and insect data

Identifies biodiversity gaps and recommends suitable trees, shrubs, and wildflowers

Produces clear visual reports with habitat improvement guidance

Strengthens farm resilience and sustainability

Supports access to nature-based income opportunities, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and emerging nature markets

Contributes to nature-positive, net-zero farming across the UK

This is not theory. It is a working toolkit designed for farmers.

Using recognised, standardised wellbeing and nature-connection scales, we assess:

• Shifts in people’s relationship with nature

• Improvements in wellbeing over time

We also record oral testimonies and lived experiences.

Char’s Story

Char, originally from Zimbabwe, experienced civil war, drought, and domestic abuse before building a new life in the UK. Her deep connection to nature led her to become a Citizen Scientist and create a wildlife retreat garden.

She has attended most of our events and describes them as essential for her mental wellbeing. She has since joined a local botany group and reports stronger community connections.

After one year in the project, she described a “120%” increase in her appreciation of the natural world.

“Even half an hour to an hour in nature — what it does for you mentally is amazing.
People need to invite nature back in. Bring their children. Let them grow up with it.”

A local farmer told us:

“Children need to understand their environment. Many don’t know where their food comes from. Getting down into the soil — that connection matters.”

You can hear our Podcast of farmers and citizen scientists stories here

Access our practical, easy-to-use Mental Wellbeing Guide for Farmers and Landworkers below

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our oral history and living learning project is now live: click here for the link

With thanks to our collaborators at The Folklore Library.

We share recordings from 11 contributors across:

• Devon

• Belgium

• Mexico

• Brazil

• Ireland

• Hong Kong

• United States

• Saudi Arabia

They reflect on land, regenerative practices, agroecology, rural livelihoods, and the changing meaning of farming.

Stories Include:

• Claudia’s grandfather farming vast rural land in Mexico without financial wealth

• Graham witnessing Devon become increasingly unaffordable

• Lessons from 1950s agriculture and earlier

• The physical demands of farming life

• Women in agriculture

• Herbal knowledge

• Species loss

• Fears for the future of food, farm incomes, and the planet

Summer 2024 also saw five public ecological survey events where people shared skills and stories in nature.

Key themes:

• The joy of storytelling

• The importance of adults involving children

• Deep, long-held nature connection

• Rural hospitality

• Collective growing and local food systems.

We are currently inviting:

• Citizen scientists in Devon

• Farmers interested in trialling the toolkit

• Local communities who want to reconnect with nature

No prior experience is needed.

For more information please contact us mail@commonflora.co.uk or 07716588749

This project is supported by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).