Dr Clare Lawson is a plant ecologist with over twenty years of research work in the areas of habitat restoration, the restoration of biodiversity on ex-arable land and the response of grassland ecosystems to environmental change. She has worked with David Gowing for over 20 years, helping with the collection and analysis of data from floodplain meadows around the UK since 1996. She has supported the work of the FMP for 10 years, undertaking related research, most particularly on natural capital, and specifically soil carbon. She is now responsible for a number of the FMP’s projects, provides input to research matters and has been closely involved in promoting floodplain meadows through her work with the BBC in productions such as Countryfile and Springwatch.