Staff
Elliot Colley
BA (Hons), MSc
BA (Hons), MSc
As a Social Scientist in the Society and Environment Research Group, Elliot delivers high-quality research across a range of projects, utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods. Elliot’s principal research interest focuses on land manager behaviours. Before joining Forest Research in December 2022, Elliot earned an MSc in Behavioural Science with merit from Durham University in 2021 and a first-class BA (Hons) in Human Geography from Aberystwyth University in 2020.
Mapping the Social Benefits of Woodland Creation and Expansion
Elliot leads a partnership with The National Forest, including case-study sites managed by The Woodland Trust and Forestry England. This project, funded by Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund, involves designing and evaluating a qualitative longitudinal research approach to mapping the social benefits of woodland creation/expansion. Elliot employs NVivo and ArcGIS for data analysis.
Core Research Programmes 3, 5 & 6
Aligned to the UK’s Science and Innovation Strategy, FR core programmes test social and spatial research methods to investigate the delivery and impact of woodland creation, expansion, delivery, and management across the UK. Through core programmes 3 & 5 Elliot has contributed to the design of new technologies, such as an R Shiny map application and questionnaire, and utilised R Studio for social data analysis. In programme 6 Elliot has led on the production of case studies on innovative woodland creation in Wales. The research team produced six case studies in 2023-24, awaiting publication.
Social Dimensions of Natural Colonisation
This research examines land manager behaviours and perspectives on woodland creation through natural processes. Elliot leads a work stream evidencing the experiences of land managers who have implemented natural colonisation in England. He has also worked extensively on another work stream exploring policy language and communication, designing and facilitating workshops with industry stakeholders, and interviewing a diversity of land managers. Elliot regularly evidences his proficiency with NVivo software through this work. Elliot is also cited as an author for a related journal paper which is under review in People and Nature.
Elliot is a member of a collaborative, cross-organisational research team evaluating the Tree Health Pilot scheme, which is supporting land managers across the UK to deal with tree pests and diseases. He works closely with Defra policy teams, as well as the Forestry Commission to provide evidence to strengthen the scheme, as well as supporting with future monitoring and evaluation. Elliot leads on a work package exploring issues of communication and engagement. The project is funded through the Future Proofing Plant Health Programme.
Forest Research
620 Bristol Business Park
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol
BS16 1EJ
Trees, woods, and forests provide multiple benefits to society, including those of social and cultural value. This research outlines a scoping study which sought to identify and test methods for spatially mapping and surveying the recreation attitudes and behaviours of people living in an area around Cannock Chase National Landscape.
This research aims to outline what would be needed and what the benefits would be in establishing a longitudinal research network of new planting sites with local communities in different locations to monitor the social benefits, attitudes, actions, motivations and barriers associated with this planting over time.
Overcoming the Knowledge to Action Gap for Tree Health
Elliot researched knowledge networks to develop solutions for engaging farmers with tree health issues, resulting in the creation of a co-designed ‘knowledge product’ alongside our research, entitled: A Farmer’s Guide to Ash Dieback.
The public, visits to the countryside, and biosecurity (2023)
In 2023, Elliot co-designed and analysed a questionnaire conducted with 2000 people living in England. This research, funded by Defra, provided evidence on public understanding of biosecurity in the countryside. The study was conducted in close collaboration with colleagues at Forestry England.
NCEA NFI Acoustic and Bat Monitoring
Elliot was engaged in early-stage research seeking to develop an acoustic index for woodland recreation. He conducted a rapid literature review on recreational soundscapes within trees, woods, and forests (TWF). These insights led to proposals for using AudioMoth devices and integrated machine-learning to enhance the monitoring of recreational activity in TWF across the UK. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Bat Conservation Trust.