- A519 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584798
- thomas.murphy@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Thomas Murphy
Industrial Research Fellow - Green Wall - Low Carbon Devon
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
PhD - University of Plymouth & UK Environment Agency:
- Thesis title - Optimising oak woodland establishment into UK upland pastures in the context of climate change; and the role of oak woodland in soil hydrological recovery for natural flood management. .
- Thesis title - Using a novel methodology to determine the environmental mechanisms governing the performance of native trees at an establishing woodland.
Professional membership
British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)
British Ecological Society (BES)
Roles on external bodies
Moor Trees - Trustee, Science and monitoring, Vision, Carbon, Treasurer. https://moortrees.org/
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Research
Research
Research interests
Nature-based Solutions
I am an early career scientist, with an interest in applied plant-soil science for the use and management of nature-based solutions (NbS). My research experience focuses around woodland restoration for natural flood management (NFM) and optimisation of livingwall systems (LWS) and green infrastructure. My research themes cover net zero, biodiversity net gain and environmental management.
Projects
Trees for Climate: An Emergency Help-guide - https://treesforclimatenow.com/
Trees for Climate - Creative Associates 2021 - https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/sustainable-earth/creative-associates/trees-for-climate
Expanding Temperate Rainforests - https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/study-shows-how-temperate-rainforests-can-aid-the-fight-against-climate-change
Climate science - https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/future-rainfall-could-far-outweigh-current-climate-predictions-study-suggests
Native woodland - soil hydrology - https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/new-woodlands-can-help-reduce-flooding-risk-within-15-years
Research groups
Other research
Moor Trees - Surveys and monitoring using citizen science - https://moortrees.org/our-work/woodland-surveys-and-research/
Grants & contracts
Murphy TR, Kelly C, Kilburn J. SEI Small Collaborative Award (2022) Mapping Treescape Narratives (MTN). £ 3,000.
Murphy TR, Smith D (2021) SEI Creative Associates - 'Trees for Climate: an emergency Help-guide' - https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/sustainable-earth/creative-associates/trees-for-climate . £4,000.
Murphy TR, Lunt P - Dartmoor Headwaters Project. Environment Agency. 2018. £18,000.
Murphy TR - Santander Seed-Corn Research Scholarship. 2017. £1,000.
Publications
Publications
Murphy TR, Hanley ME, Ellis JE, Lunt PH (in prep) Soil moisture thresholds influence oak regeneration in peaty UK upland pastures.
Lunt PH, Fuller K, Fox M, Goodhew S, Murphy TR (2022) Comparing the thermal conductivity of three soil types under differing moisture and density conditions for use in green infrastructure. Soils Use & Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12841 (Open access)
Murphy TR, Hanley ME, Ellis JE, Lunt PH (2022) Optimising opportunities for oak woodland expansion into upland pastures. Ecological Solutions & Evidence, 3. e12126. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12126 (Open access)
Fox M, Morewood J, Murphy T, Lunt P, Goodhew S (2022) Living wall systems for improved thermal performance of existing buildings. Building and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108491 (Open access)
Murphy TR, Hanley ME, Ellis JE, Lunt PH (2021) Native woodland establishment improves soil hydrological functioning in UK upland pastoral catchments. Land Degradation & Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3762 (Open Access)
Murphy TR, Hanley ME, Ellis JE, Lunt PH (2019) Deviation between projected and observed precipitation trends greater with altitude. Climate Research 79: 77-89. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01583
Murphy TR, Hanley M, Ellis J, Lunt P (2020) Factors affecting native oak establishment in UK upland pasture vary through early life history (Webinar presentation). Nature Based Solutions (NbS) – Digital dialogues www.nbsguidelines.info
Popular Science:
Murphy TR (2022) Restoring Forgotten Rainforests – The Case to Expand and Re-Connect ‘Atlantic’ Oak Woodlands - Moor Trees blog https://moortrees.org/restoring-forgotten-rainforests/
Murphy TR (2020) Ten year woodland surveys - Moor Trees Newsletter, Autumn edition, pp 5 (edited by Wisbey, N).
Murphy TR (2018) Wistmans wood – examing the response of oak trees to climate in a special woodland. Moor Trees Newsletter, Spring edition, pp 5.
Murphy TR (2015) Research on tree stress at Howton Down. Moor Trees Newsletter, Autumn edition, pp 4.
Personal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Murphy TR (2021) Native Woodland creation as a 'Nature-based Solution' - Nature based Solutions (NbS) - Future Plymouth 2030 webinar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUIvwhkF3CQ&t=2435s
Murphy TR (2021) Optimising Greenwalls - Biodiversity & Carbon Sequestration - Future Plymouth 2030 webinar - https://www.futureplymouth2030.co.uk/webinars/7-biodiversity-carbon-sequestration
Murphy TR (2020) Moor Trees woodland surveys - Key note speech at Moor Trees Annual General Meeting - online.
Murphy TR (2020) Why plant trees? - Plymouth Tree Partnership (PTP). Sustainability Hub, Kirkby Lodge, Plymouth, UK.
Murphy TR (2019) Slowing the flow - conference speech. British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) Early Career Researcher (ECR) conference, Sheffield, UK. - Prize for best talk.
Conferences organised
Other academic activities
Woodland on Dartmoor (19th August 2018) - The potential benefits of woodland for Natural Flood Management. Venue - Dendles Waste - field trip to discuss climate change and land management in UK uplands - Support from Moor Trees (Moortrees.org).