About
Dr. Ashley Hardaker is a Lecturer in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences at Bangor University, where she serves as the course director for the BSc Conservation with Forestry programme. Her interdisciplinary work bridges teaching and research in land use, with a strong focus on forestry, agroforestry, and sustainable agricultural systems in rural contexts.
Her research interests include:
- Economics of woodland creation and timber production
- Ecosystem service modeling and integration into life-cycle assessment
- Farmer decision-making under uncertainty and policy change
- Impacts of tree cover expansion on agricultural landscapes
- Management strategies for lowland and upland peatlands
Dr. Hardaker's recent publications reflect a strong trend in interdisciplinary environmental research, combining economic evaluation, ecosystem service analysis, and land-use policy. Her work frequently addresses climate change mitigation through sustainable land management, particularly in the UK and Wales. She actively contributes to high-impact journals in environmental science, forestry, and rural studies.
She is currently supervising two MSc by Research students and is involved in several active research projects funded by Defra, Natural England, and Woodknowledge Wales. Her scientific contributions include significant reports on alternative conifer species and lowland peat management.
Grants and Projects:
- Defra Lowland Peat 3 (Co-Investigator, until 2027)
- Natural England PEF Biochar (Co-Investigator, until 2025)
- Home-Grown Homes Project Phase 2 (Co-Investigator, until 2024)
Research Groups: Member of the Forestry and Agriculture, Food and the Environment research areas within her school.
