University of Exeter extends partnership with Natural England

The University of Exeter and Natural England have formally extended their strategic partnership today (Tuesday 3 March).

Professor Sallie Bailey, Natural England’s Chief Scientist, visited the University to sign the partnership agreement with Professor Lisa Roberts, Exeter’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

This renewal is based on a joint vision: to bring about nature’s recovery and increase nature’s contributions to growth, health and security.

The two organisations will strengthen and expand their collaborative work – locally, nationally and globally – and build upon existing aligned research and innovation interests, capabilities, networks and impact.

Professor Bailey said: “Our collaboration with the University of Exeter supports our ambition to secure thriving nature as the foundation for the nation’s health, wealth and security. This partnership brings together two organisations with a focus on excellent science and evidence.

“Working with University of Exeter strengthens and complements our own expertise and together we can innovate to develop solutions for nature’s recovery.”

Professor Roberts said: “Our University’s mission is to use the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy, and socially just future. Our valued partnership with Natural England is vital in this endeavour, and supports the advancement and sharing of knowledge that will benefit nature, the economy and society.”

The partnership supports both Natural England’s Strategic Direction 2025-2030 Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security, and the University’s Strategy 2030.

Over the coming years, the partners will:

• Improve knowledge exchange and data sharing.
• Expedite the translation of novel research into practice.
• Address the dynamic, complex interplay between nature, the economy and society, by addressing challenges that can’t be solved with expertise from practitioners or academics alone.
• Work across science, skills development and innovation realms in order to deliver the vision for the partnership.
• Facilitate working across national borders, both within and outside the UK.

The renewed agreement builds on recent work undertaken by the two organisations. This includes national research programmes such as RENEW (where the University and Natural England are collaborating on several workstreams, such as the Biodiversity Longitudinal Survey and the King Charles III Coast Path) and ACCESS, as well as innovative projects like Fair Game, which is reimagining deer management in the UK with an emphasis on sustainability and food security.