Dr Kelly Hemmings

Biography 

Associate Professor in Ecology and Agroecosystems.

Kelly joined the Royal Agricultural University as a Lecturer in 2014. Prior to this, she was  Lecturer in Earth Sciences at Cirencester Sixth Form College between 2007 and 2014. Kelly has further industry experience including arboretum and horticultural positions.

Discipline area

Natural history and plant ecology.

Other responsibilites

  • Link tutor Capel Manor College
  • Academic Lead Teaching and Learning, School of Agricultural Science and Practice
  • Academic Lead Peer Observation and Coaching

Qualifications

  • 2011-2018. PhD. ‘Ancient woodland vegetation: distinctiveness and community ecology’. University of Gloucestershire
  • 2015-2016. FHEA. Higher Education Academy
  • 2015-2016. PGCAP. Distinction. University of Gloucestershire.
  • 2007-2011. MSc. Distinction. Biodiversity Conservation. SOAS University of London
  • 2006-2007. PGCE Geography. Qualified Teacher Status. University of Gloucestershire.
  • 2003-2006. BSc Hons. First. Geography with Modern Languages. University of Gloucestershire

Professional memberships

  • Member of British Ecological Society
  • Member of Natural Sciences Collections Association
  • Member of Gloucestershire Naturalist Society

 

Research

Research keywords

Ecology; natural history; plant ecology; vegetation science; ancient woodland; herbarium

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7658-7803

Current research projects:

  • Herbarium AI chatbot developed in partnership with Natural History Museum, funded by Department for Media, Culture and Sport x Natural History Museum. PI. 2024-2025
  • Herbarium digitisation and research project – funded by Gloucestershire Naturalist Society, Cirencester Fund, RAU seedcorn fund. PI. Herbarium digitisation and fees-funded MScR. 2023-2025 https://www.rau.ac.uk/research/research-at-rau/natural-history-collections
  • Ancient woodland indicators: can historic herbarium data supplement recent records? PI.
  • Earthworm ingestion and arable wildflower germination. John Oldacre Fund. Co-PI. MScR first supervisor. Felicity Crotty PI. 2022-2024
  • Seasonally uncut grass research project. 2022-2026
  • Rare arable wildflower reintroduction projects - 2019-2025. Funded by Higher Education Innovation Partnership. Co-PI 70%. Red Hemp-nettle reintroduction project. 2020 and ongoing

Previous research projects

Agricultural management educational & training resources.

No-mow amenity grassland case study: phenology of floral abundance and nectar resource.

Relative contribution of ancient woodland indicator and non-indicator species to herb layer distinctiveness in ancient semi-natural, ancient replanted, and recent woodland.

Seasonal constraints or opportunities? Teaching field ecology skills through the academic year.

Bracken treatments for grassland restoration.

Current PhD students

  • PhD co-supervisor 2025-2028. Tim Sheen. ‘Revitalising British hops: ‘Revitalising British Hops: Harnessing Wildflowers for a Greener Future’
  • MScR first supervisor 2025-2026. Ben Salt. ‘Evaluating the novel heritage and botanical contributions of the RAU herbarium.
  • MScR co-supervisor 2022-2025. Amy Rowe. ‘The effect of earthworm casts on germination rates of agricultural plant species’

Completed PhD students

MScR first supervisor 2020-2022. Helen King. ‘Pollinator-plant interactions within semi-natural species-rich grassland versus agri-environmental wildflower seed mixes’. Minor corrections

PhD examining experience

External Examiner MScR Tamara White, University of Gloucestershire. 'Embedding citizen science within landscape-scale nature-based recovery: a case study of hedgerows' 17 May 2024.

Teaching

  • 0IFY23 Land-based Data Dandling
  • 1451 Species Identification and Ecosystems
  • 1446 Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing
  • 2361 Biodiversity Recording and Citizen Science
  • 2381 Habitat Classification and Management
  • 4747 Management of Woodlands and the Natural Environment
  • BSc Hons dissertation supervision
  • MSc dissertation supervision

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications

  • Hemmings, K. & Rollings, P. (2025). ‘This disagreeable weed’: arable plant conservation may benefit from historical publication insights. Environment and History. https://doi.org/10.3828/whpeh.63861480327345 

  • Hemmings, K. (2022). Ancient woodland indicators: can historic herbarium data supplement recent records to inform ecological management? Webbia: Journal of Plant Ecology and Geography. (77) 2. 327-336. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-13400

  • Hemmings, K. Elton, R., & Grange, I. (2022). No‐mow amenity grassland case study: Phenology of floral abundance and nectar resource. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3(4), e12179. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12179
  • Swallow, K. A., Wood, M. J., & Goodenough, A. E. (2020). Relative contribution of ancient woodland indicator and non‐indicator species to herb layer distinctiveness in ancient semi‐natural, ancient replanted, and recent woodland. Applied Vegetation Science.  23 (4), 471-481 https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12501
  • Grange, I.D. and Swallow, K. (2018). Bracken control in the first year is as good as it gets! Aspects of Applied Biology, 139: 67-73. Available from: https://rau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/16088/1/AAB_Grange__Swallow_2018.pdf
  • Swallow, K. A., & Goodenough, A. E. (2017). Double-edged effect? Impact of dual edge proximity on the distribution of ancient woodland indicator plant species in a fragmented habitat. Community Ecology, 18(1), 31-36 https://doi.org/10.1556/168.2017.18.1.4

Conferences

 

  • Zhang, N., Sallili-James, A., Poon, S., Gallois, E., Newland, C. and Hemmings, K (2025). Is AI history: development of RAU herbarium chatbot. RAU research seminar. 12 March, Cirencester
  • Swannell, S and Hemmings, K. (2023). Royal Agricultural University herbarium for Gloucestershire. Cotswold Landscapes Symposium. Cirencester, 23 November.
  • Hemmings, K., Shellswell, C., & Grange, I. (2021) Agricultural management educational & training resources. Back from the Brink Innovations conference 6-8 July 2021, online.
  • Swallow, K., Wood, M., & Goodenough, A. (2019) Relative contribution of ancient woodland indicator and non-indicator species to herb layer distinctiveness in ancient semi-natural, ancient replanted, and recent woodland. New Phytologist Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 4-6 Sep.
  • Swallow, K., Wood, M., & Goodenough, A. (2018). Ancient woodland indicator communities in ancient replanted woodland: a shadow plant community? European Wood Pastures. Sheffield, 15 Sep
  • Swallow, K. (2015) Biodiversity value of ancient woodland flora: not quite as it seems. British Ecological Society Annual Meeting. Edinburgh. 13-16 December.

Education resources

Other

  • Bertrand, S. Grange, I., Shellswell, C., & Hemmings, K. (2021). Arable flora and crop yield: are biodiversity and food production compatible outcomes? Proceedings of the Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club, XLVIII (III)
  • Swallow, K. (2017) Use of a visualiser and multiple screens in a digital classroom. In Peberdy, D. Creating the digital campus: alive learning spaces and technology. pp 117-120. ISBN 9780992790325

 

External engagement and impact
  • Reviewer Forest Ecosystems Journal
  • External Academic Advisor Bicton College
  • External Examiner Bicton College FdSc