About the Trust

The Shared Earth Trust was set up in 1987 in direct response to the catastrophic decline in wildlife habitat and biodiversity in the farmed countryside. Like many others, Denmark Farm had been progressively intensified and its rye grass fields and bare hedges were typical of vast areas of grazing land.

Sheep grazing a short-sward pasture of ryegrass

1987: “a very barren place ... very low in wildlife interest” Dr Stephanie Tyler RSPB

The Trust's aim was to see whether this process of degradation could be reversed without major interventions or capital expense and to monitor the speed and extent of the return of wildlife. Reinstating more traditional grazing regimes, haymaking, reversing drainage, stopping most fertiliser inputs and fencing off overgrazed hedgerows, streams and ditches were all used to help 'kickstart' natural processes.

Species-rich pasture with field scrape (shallow pond) and bordered by shelterbelt of trees

1997: the Countryside Council for Wales judges Denmark Farm to be a “notable nature reserve”

The results have been astonishing:-

This and other data from Denmark Farm show clearly that it is possible to reverse the process of ecological impoverishment and the destruction of biodiversity, and that this can be achieved in only a relatively short time.

The most significant thing of all is that this has been achieved without introductions (apart from trees and shrubs planted to form shelterbelts and woodland) and without prescriptive management that favours any one species over another. This is perhaps the Trust's most vital contribution to conservation in the wider countryside. It embraces the role of Nature in allowing each habitat to establish its own constituents and complexity, and its own web of life in its own timescale.

Participants in Natural Links practising willow weaving

Natural Links offers activities such as willow weaving, practical conservation and art work

Natural Links

Building on its conservation success story, the Trust is now developing its work with community groups in West Wales. We are offering the wonderful Denmark Farm reserve and Centre to the widest possible range of people for a new programme of activities and events called Natural Links.

Our aims are to reconnect people of all ages and abilities with the natural world, and to help foster community learning and the sharing of practical skills in ways that will benefit the environment.

The emphasis is on fun, participative activities that bring people together and promote care of natural resources. We particularly want to include those who are disadvantaged or who have special needs and would very much like to hear from any community organisations to explore ideas for working together.

Other achievements

You can support us in our next steps to restore biodiversity to the British countryside.