Reconciling wild foods, wildlife management, and ecosystem restoration land uses and values in the UK

About the Project

In rural areas of the United Kingdom, there are several conflicting needs for land use, including food production, recreation, and ecosystem restoration. Indeed, the UK government has committed to protect 30% of UK land and sea for nature by 2030 and restore 75% of protected sites to favourable condition by 2042. Alongside this, the value and use of wild living resources contribute significantly to the economy, health, and cultural appreciation of nature in the UK (Murray and Simcox, 2003).

A key question is therefore how can landscapes benefit both biodiversity and the myriad of ways in which people live in, with, and from them. This project seeks to understand how to reconcile the needs for ecosystem restoration, wildlife management, and food production. Broadly the project will investigate key questions around the contemporary role and prevalence of hunting/foraging in the UK, the future of deer management in the UK food system, and how this aligns with UK goals for ecosystem restoration and food security. Research questions include:

• What is the role of hunting and foraging as part of multifunctional landscapes in the UK?
• What are the benefits to people of hunting and foraging in the UK, including contribution to different dimensions of human health (physical, psychological, and social)?
• How do we reconcile extractive uses of wildlife (e.g., hunting/foraging, deer management) with farming and ecosystem restoration as part of a multifunctional landscape in the UK?

Methodology:The research disciplines of this project include conservation science, social science, and health/wellbeing. The project will draw on interdisciplinary approaches to explore how human-nature relationships contribute to both conservation outcomes and human health.

Person specification:We are looking for a candidate who is interested in the food-health-environment nexus, and conducting interviews with a wide range of stakeholders involved in hunting, foraging, conservation management, and other rural livelihoods and cultural practices. The candidate will be trained in quantitative and qualitative research methods including questionnaire design and delivery, qualitative interview methods and analysis using NVivo, and quantitative data analysis using R and GIS. Ideally, the candidate will be interested in both qualitative and quantitative methods of collecting data.

How to apply

Please apply by sending your covering letter and CV to LHScholars@kent.ac.uk and filling out our equality, diversity and inclusivity questionnaire linked here or at the button below.

These tasks must be completed by 14th May 2026 at 23:59. For informal enquiries about the project, please contact the primary supervisor directly via d.j.ingram@kent.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

The PhD scholarship includes an annual stipend (equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend; the 2026/27 rate is £21,805, which is not taxed income). Tuition fees will be covered at the home student rate. The PhD scholarship comes with a £10,000 research and training fund.

References

Provide academic references in support of your application; these will be requested if you are successful through the shortlisting process.