Through our Joining the Dots (for Nature) project we have put together a short film that demonstrates the great work Agroecological Growers are doing across the Cornwall National Landscape.
Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems. It’s a way of sustaining human life through agricultural systems in a way that allows everyone to access resources that meet their needs, and to regenerate and protect the living ecosystems that surround us, rather than extracting or depleting them.
Joining the Dots has been running since January 2025 and has been supporting community growers and market gardeners across Cornwall to better understand, evidence and enhance the nature and biodiversity benefits their sites provide. Funding to date has enabled a range of nature-focused surveys such as habitat assessments, soil microbiology sampling and wildlife bio-acoustic monitoring.
With the information provided by surveys and sampling, we have then worked with growers to identify simple habitat enhancement projects to implement on site that enhance and benefit the landscape, biodiversity and people using the sites. Examples of these include wildlife ponds, planting trees and perennials, installing wildlife boxes and sowing wildflower seeds. St Ives Community orchard have a great page on their website explaining how the Joining the Dots project has helped them.
This short film is a great insight into the Joining the Dots project, and how agroecological growing protects the landscape, provides habitat for nature and biodiversity, and supports the local communities. The film focuses on three growing sites; Chaos Farm in Veryan, Bosavern Farm in St Just, and Soul Farm in Falmouth.
Watch on Vimeo here via the link. It will also be displayed on the screen in the Farming, Food and Nature Hub at Royal Cornwall Show this week.
The film was part-funded by Farming in Protected Landscapes and produced by Joe Morgan.