Research & Consultancy

PLACE carries out research projects in a wide range of fields, including archaeological and historic landscape surveys, botanical surveys, nature conservation assessments and reconstruction of past landscapes.

Some examples of current work are:

A survey of changes in land use in York's green belt.

An ecological survey of 'brownfield' sites in the Bradford area.

Monitoring the flora of roadside verges in the North York Moors National Park, in collaboration with the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Past research projects include:

An ecological survey of the Wharram Percy deserted medieval village.

A pilot study of the Vale Of Pickering area, financed by the former Countryside Commission, during the period of October 1997 to January 1998. This was the first phase of a larger-scale research project 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.

A survey of road verges in Hambleton District for North Yorkshire County Council, as part of their Biodiversity Action Plan, 2002.

A survey of wildlife at Hopewell House Farm, near Knaresborough, in collaboration with the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group.

Consultancy work on pollen analysis was carried out as a part of the West Yorkshire Police Force's forensic investigations into two murder cases.