Teona Dorrien-Smith

Trustee

Teona is a self-taught farmer, sharing the aims of the CRT, which for 30 years she has been practicing on her mixed organic farm in south Wales – restoring, creating and connecting a wide variety of habitats.

An idyllic childhood in the Isles of Scilly meant that the natural world was an ever present and essential part of life, followed by a fun decade studying and teaching philosophy, and another helping to run a traditional cheddar cheese dairy in the Mendip Hills, a qualification as a Landscape Architect - with emphasis on the landscape.

Teona practiced for a few years before taking on a remote semi-derelict small farm in Monmouthshire. It was soon converted to organic and given an award for the sensitive restoration of the farm and listed derelict house.

Teona has been a Chair of Monmouthshire CPRW, and trustee of Gwent Wildlife Trust; and now also a trustee of the Monmouthshire Meadows Group and Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival. She hopes her experience of farming with nature and caring for various historic buildings will be very useful to the CRT.

Please make a donation today so the CRT can continue to promote and support nature-friendly farming for the benefit of wildlife and to create a healthy, thriving countryside.

Please select a donation amount (required)

£100 Helps with the cost of providing habitats for a range of farmland wildlife.

£50 Allows our conservation team to spend an afternoon monitoring the success of the CRT community’s activities.

£20 Provides our volunteers with resources to complete essential conservation tasks.

Other

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Latest

Conservation success as rare field crickets flourish at Pierrepont Farm

Hear rare field crickets chirping at Pierrepont Farm. Help CRT conserve wildlife habitats through volunteering, donating, or becoming a Friend.
Art on the Farm launches at Bere Marsh Farm

Experience stunning art inspired by the River Stour at Bere Marsh Farm. Exhibition runs until July 4. Open Thursday to Saturday or by appointment. Join us!
Moths of Bere Marsh Farm

Explore moth diversity at Bere Marsh Farm and join us for a free walk.
Volunteers needed for Barton Community Orchard

Volunteers needed to help manage Barton Community Orchard at Lark Rise Farm

Susan Lake

Chair of the Board of Trustees
Rosie Hicks

Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
Thank you to trustees everywhere

It is Trustees’ Week, and we’d like to take a moment, not only to thank all the Countryside Regeneration Trust’s trustees, but all the trustees around the United Kingdom that give up their time to make a difference to a cause of their choosing.
Introducing our new Chair

Highly experienced ecologist, land management adviser and self-confessed ‘doer’, Sue Everett, has taken on the role of Chair of the CRT’s Board of Trustees, as Nicholas Watts MBE becomes our charity's President.
A Prince at Lark Rise

On the eve of King Charles' Coronation, we look back at his two visits to Lark Rise Farm.
A step in the right direction

With new, nature-friendly farming incentives and an Environmental Improvement Plan from the UK Government, we discuss whether agriculture is at a turning point.
Regional ELMS co-ordinators should be provided by Defra

One of the biggest issues for farmers engaging with the Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) is Defra providing the right initial and ongoing support so farmers can understand and utilise them fully, says the Countryside Regeneration Trust.
Regenerative farming aids drought-hit crop

The current heatwave is popular with weekend BBQ-lovers, but the knock-on effect of it could force food prices even higher as UK farmers struggle to keep crops alive, says the CRT.
ELMs can be a watershed moment for British farming

You may have come across the acronym ELMs, as this is a hot topic in the farming world, but do you know why these schemes are likely to mark a moment of decisive change in British farming?
David Mills MBE receives honorary fellowship

CRT Trustee David Mills MBE has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Winchester in recognition of his conservation work.

Volunteer with the CRT

Would you like to help wildlife and do your bit to create a landscape bursting with life? To enjoy quiet time connecting with nature to benefit your wellbeing, or to get stuck into exciting conservation projects with a friendly team? To learn new skills or develop existing ones? Whatever motivates you to consider volunteering, we’d love to have you in our team.
What We Do

The CRT promotes nature-friendly farming to help reverse biodiversity decline and combat climate change. We believe nature is integral to good farming and we protect, promote and regenerate our land and all life on it. We put our philosophy into practice on over 2,000 acres of working farms, small-holdings and woodland across England.
School trips on the farm
Bere Marsh Farm

Mixed farmland, Dorset
Slow-worms – the gardener’s best friend

The UK has 6 native reptile species including the curious slow-worm (Anguis fragilis). Although serpent-like in appearance, slow-worms are in fact limbless lizards and an amazing example of de-evolution.
Pierrepont Farm

Dairy Farm, Surrey
Our farms and wildlife

The CRT has a wide range of wonderful properties across the UK. Many of these have been left to us in legacy whilst others were purchased to save the land - full of precious ecosystems and habitats - from intensive farming.
Conservation Volunteer

This is your chance to get 'down and dirty' to help CRT improve the habitats and environment on our farms, with a wide range of conservation projects and initiatives.
David Mills MBE

Trustee
The Buzz Café

Open Fridays and run by our wonderful volunteers. Enjoy tea, eco-friendly coffee, soft drinks and homemade sweet treats, set in the beautiful surroundings of Bere Marsh Farm.