In the seventh episode of Series 2 of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Miranda Willis, a doctoral researcher from the University of Southampton. Miranda’s research explores the intricate relationships between people, animals, and landscapes in the New Forest National Park, focusing on the centuries-old practice of Commoning - where local residents graze livestock on shared land.

Against the backdrop of modern pressures such as tourism and development, Miranda examines how Commoning contributes to landscape management and biodiversity, while sustaining a deep cultural connection to place. Drawing inspiration from indigenous approaches to land stewardship, her work calls for a shift from ownership to shared care and responsibility. Using a blend of ethnography, visual methods, and mapping, Miranda aims to inform policy and promote coexistence, ensuring that traditions like Commoning continue to support sustainable futures.

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.

Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Guest: Miranda Willis, University of Southampton

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts

Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

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