“Working with FCT has been an absolute pleasure! I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: it has been so refreshing to work with consultants who are able to take a brief and just get the job done (and to an excellent standard, may I add).” Three Dales Project Development Manager
As part of the development phase of the Three Dales Landscape Recovery Scheme, the FCT team delivered a targeted soil sampling and carbon assessment strategy across the 4,200ha project area, encompassing in-bye grasslands, upland pastures and moorland habitats. This baseline audit will help inform the Land Management and Monitoring & Evaluation plans, and support negotiations with DEFRA ahead of the implementation phase.
Working with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the lead partner in the scheme, we designed and implemented a cost-effective, spatially representative sampling strategy, with GPS-logged sites carefully distributed across varied soil types, management regimes and habitat classes. Regular co-ordination with the LR Project Manager ensured full transparency for all landowners and timely sampling despite the challenging terrain across some remote (and stunning) areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
All photos courtesy of Steve Watts.
Soil analysis included soil organic carbon concentration and bulk density (at three depths), nutrient levels, aggregate stability, VESS scoring, and earthworm counts. The resulting dataset enabled a full carbon stock estimation (t C ha) across the landscape. To further support the DEFRA submission, our reporting also included modelling to quantify potential changes in carbon stocks with implementation of the planned changes in land management and habitat enhancements through 2040 and 2050.
Carbon footprints – factoring in emissions, sequestration and peat condition data – were also conducted for each landholding and at landscape scale. Finally, a long-term soil carbon monitoring plan was developed to support the scheme’s 30-year delivery programme.
Everybody was very pleased that we were able to deliver on all aspects of the project within the very tight timeframe.
