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Research Projects
Through its Fellows, partner organisations and members, PLACE carries out research projects on a wide range of topics.

Some examples of recent and current projects are given below:

1. A survey of changes in land use in York's green belt (top image). Coordinated by Michael Hopkinson, PLACE members mapped land use changes around York's urban fringe in 2008-09. The results were compared with a similar survey carried out twelve years previously. The findings of the project will be published as part of the forthcoming publication of the 2009 conference, A Walk in the Park.

2. Monitoring the flora of roadside verges in the North York Moors National Park, in collaboration with the North York Moors National Park Authority. PLACE volunteers make annual records of key verges of conservation interest and recommend changes in management to increase diversity. More volunteers are wanted: some skill in identifying plants in the field is essential.

3. An ecological survey of the Wharram Percy deserted medieval village (3rd image). PLACE members studied the flowering plants, snails, lichens, mosses, birds, bees and wasps of this historic site and produced a report in 2009. This is intended as a baseline study, the data in which will be compared to future studies on the site.

4. The Vale of Pickering Wetlands Project. This was a major project, carried out by 17 partner organisations and coordinated by PLACE. A pilot study of the Vale Of Pickering, financed by the former Countryside Commission, was carried out during the period of October 1997 to January 1998. The project focused on the restoration and conservation of wetlands in the Vale. Phase 2 took place in 1998-99 and was financed by the Environment Agency, North Yorkshire county Council and Ryedale District Council. Two reports have resulted from this project and one book, copies of which are available from PLACE. [See A Guide to the Wetland Heritage of the Vale of Pickering on our publications page.]

5. A survey of road verges in Hambleton District for North Yorkshire County Council, as part of their Biodiversity Action Plan. PLACE coordinated an initial survey of all road verges in Hambleton District in 2002-3, which resulted in the identification of 31 verges of special botanical interest. Since that time, PLACE members and members of the C M Rob Natural History Society have been monitoring the special interest verges and working with NYCC staff to improve their management.

6. A survey of wildlife at Hopewell House Farm (bottom image), near Knaresborough, in collaboration with the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group. There have been several previous surveys of the wildlife on this farm. In 2010, PLACE members will be resurveying the site with a view to producing a DVD about the changing wildlife over the past 30 years. Extra volunteers welcome - contact the PLACE Office, if interested. [E-mail: place@yorksj.ac.uk]

PLACE - Research