This project presents the outcomes of a collaborative Undergraduate Research Opportunities Scheme (UROS) project between the Schools of Humanities & Heritage and Natural Sciences at the University of Lincoln. The project partnered with Wilder Doddington, a rewilding initiative based at Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire, aimed to design and produce a permanent educational exhibit focused on Barn Owl diet, hunting adaptations and small mammal biodiversity, as revealed through the analysis of owl pellets. By combining zoological taxonomy with heritage conservation techniques, this project showcased the value of interdisciplinary approaches in public engagement, conservation education, and environmental monitoring. The final output, a bespoke display case featuring real skeletal specimens and interpretive materials, communicates the interconnectedness of Barn Owls with their small mammal prey, and the value of Barn Owl pellets in ecology. Our findings highlight the importance of collaborative, student-led research in producing tangible outcomes that contribute to both regional ecological awareness and national conservation education strategies.
Silva et al. (Thu,) studied this question.