It has been an exciting few months since I started my PhD journey in October. My research focusses on limestone pavements and am looking forward to working with the Limestone Pavement Partnership (LPP) to maximise the impact of the work. The exact trajectory of the project continues to evolve but the central theme is scrub encroachment on limestone pavements. Carly’s recent paper highlighted the increase in tree cover on many limestone pavements, particularly those in Lancashire and Cumbria. The shading associated with tree cover may have negative impacts on rare plants and invertebrates found on limestone pavements, but this is yet to be researched and will be my first query.

It is also important to understand the effectiveness of management techniques to tackle encroaching scrub. I will work with partners through the LPP to trial different practices and work collaboratively towards best practice guidance. I have already had the opportunity to spend time with conservation practitioners and volunteers on limestone pavements at Hutton Roof and Gait Barrows. Talking to people who have so much experience of working on these rare habitats is hugely beneficial. I would welcome any further conversations and am grateful for all the support of the research.

The grikes of limestone pavements offer exciting research potential. The cool and humid conditions found in grikes could be fundamental to the presence of rare plant species. These microclimates may also provide a refuge under climate change. As air temperatures increase, those within the grike may remain more favourable, allowing for species to survive. I will explore this as the project progresses. Spending countless hours on limestone pavements next summer will inevitably stir up more ideas.

Starting a new position is always challenging but I am starting to settle into the role. In December, I attended the British Ecological Society Conference in Liverpool (my first academic conference) - overwhelming is an understatement! However, listening to and interacting with researchers from across the world has provided inspiration and ideas of where I might be a few years from now. Lancaster University has a great community of researchers which, despite an inevitable feeling of imposter syndrome, I am starting to feel a part of.

The new role has been coupled with a move to a new place. I had not given Lancaster much thought in the past aside from glancing at the Ashton Memorial from the M6 on the way to the Lake District. Although a small city, it’s quite a contrast from a small town in Mid Wales. It has been exciting so far and it’s great to have some incredible landscapes on the doorstep – not least, limestone pavements!

Related Blogs

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  Farming Limestone Pavements

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  50 years of vegetation change in limestone pavements

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  Establishing the Partnership

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