Soils: a unique natural ecosystem  

Soil is extraordinary. An encyclopaedia would be needed to describe how the many types of soil have been formed, how they work and what the infinite, intimate relationships within soils - between the geological, biological and chemical elements, below and above ground – are. 

And that would soon be out of date given the rate of new science revealing the deep nature of soil from its mycorrhizal fungi and root connections to the role of springtails and worms, as well as the water, air and microbial flow and role of soil structures. 

Another huge book would be required to summarise soil’s role in the natural processes on which we and most of nature depends. 

For us humans, it’s the foundation on which most food, clothing, fuel, water management, nutrient management, natural waste management, buildings and infrastructure support, carbon stores (over 10 billion tonnes of carbon in the UK) depend. 

It is home to a wide range of biodiversity, sustains most of the rest of wildlife and underpins some of our most valued landscapes. 

And soil is not a ‘thing’. It’s a complex system of interdependencies, built up over thousands of years. 

It is key to a true circular economy as it provides a brilliant tool to turn what could be ‘waste’ (the 30% of food currently wasted, crop residues, animal and even human manure) into a nutrient- and carbon-rich medium for growing food, as well as holding carbon and water. Ideally, from farm to fork and beyond, we’d have no ‘waste’ of any product in the food system.  

What we know about UK soils has been tricky too, because a huge, publicly funded soil survey in the 1970s - the National Soils Inventory - was sold to a private institute. The Sustainable Soils Alliance have been calling for it to be made publicly available – a crucial tool for assessing progress in protecting and restoring soils.

The threats to soils 

Soil is being worn out, washed away, polluted, sealed with concrete, disturbed and degraded. Alongside farming, development, and wider human activities, climate change is affecting soils as its structure and inhabitants are highly influenced by rising temperatures, leading to the release of more carbon into the atmosphere and affecting the freshwater processes intimately linked to soils.   

In England and Wales almost 4 million hectares of soil are at risk of compaction; over 2 million hectares are at risk of erosion; intensive agriculture has caused arable soils to lose about 40 to 60% of their organic carbon; and soil degradation was calculated in 2010 to cost £1.2 billion every year. 

Lowland peat soils, rich in carbon – created from partially decomposed plant matter in wetland environments where waterlogging and lack of oxygen slow down decomposition - are particularly important and need urgent protection from intensive cultivation and extraction for use as fuel. 

Recovery takes time and political will

Soil recovery depends on many factors including the location and type of soil. In ideal conditions and a mild climate, it can take up to 400 years to form just 1cm of soil, but only 200 years in wet tropical areas. But the pressure on farmers and growers to produce ever more food, for less cost, and more uniformly to fit the needs of industrialised food chains and processed food, has put most farmed soil here – covering 70% of the UK - at risk of degradation, pollution, loss and compaction.  

If all the calls to action, reports, speeches and international initiatives on soil I’ve witnessed over 35 years had been effectively acted upon, all soil systems would be healthy by now.  

Sadly, more efforts seems to be made to research soil than protect it. Huge, vested interests work to stop the strong regulations needed. 

From housing developers keen to build, to food companies wanting ever cheaper, uniform food products and ingredients, and from water companies wanting sewage outlets to fossil fuel companies weakening emissions targets.  

Good practice needs to spread 

In farming there’s much good practice, and great organic, permaculture and regenerative farmers have put healthy soil at the heart of their business where they can. The Wildlife Trusts will be hosting a Farming With Nature tent at the big farm festival, Groundswell (July 2-3) where soil will be at the heart of many discussions. It’s a hugely inspiring event, one of many now across the UK.  

Many policy and regulatory changes are needed if the UK Government’s aim to bring 40% of agricultural soils into sustainable management by 2028 is to be achieved. And farmers need support to protect their soils: 

• from the government via the right level of public funds to finance whole system changes and skills and tools from food industry buyers with far better, fairer prices, contracts, specifications and understanding from smart investors who see the value in great soil health and what that can deliver below and above ground for society.  

We can all be soil saviours 

Soils on the hundreds of Wildlife Trusts reserves are protected and nurtured as central to nature’s recovery. The world beneath us is also a great natural realm to reveal to  local communities, farmers and especially children, even using eco acoustics to explore the hidden, noisy, intricate and vital world under our feet.  

And there is so much that individuals can do – from nurturing healthy soil in their gardens and green spaces, to buying clothes and food from farmers using soil friendly methods, by not using peat and pesticides, and spreading the word about how important living soil is. You can also watch the film Six Inches of Soil by downloading or attending one of the screenings – which beautifully explores the role of soil and people in farming and why organic, regenerative and nature friendly farming are key.