Working Landscapes

How do we engage with the main decision makers who manage most of the land in protected landscapes i.e. farmers. And how do we work together to find the best outcomes for nature and climate alongside profitable farm businesses?

Online event

12th November 2024 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

The Future of Farming

A Panel Debate - What will new designations mean for farmers – are existing or new designations good for farming?

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Site Visits

Low Beckside Farm near Penrith

18th October 2024

We will be hosted by staff from the owners and managers of the farm, Ernest Cook Trust, and will learn more about how they run it as a base for green skills and land based learning. We will also hear more about the Trust’s plans for managing the land with nature in mind, and their links with Cumbria Connect operating across the county. If you are interested in apprenticeships for young people, we will hear direct from some of those involved here at Low Beckside.

Free shuttle bus provided from Penrith station @10.30am, the visit will run from 11am until 3pm with a buffet lunch provided,

Travel bursaries available for young people (age under 30) with grateful thanks to Ernest Cook Trust for financial support. Please contact [email protected]

Booking link

Connemara National Park

4th November 2024

The site visit will look at the establishment of community training and projects to control rhododendron, and how this work is supporting their incomes, and also as a result some people have found careers in the NPWS.

There will be presentations from Forum Connemara regarding the Dulra project, from WAN/Leenane Development Association regarding Rhododendron Management in the Bundorragha river catchment area, from Farm Relief Services on working with the NPWS on Rhododendron management projects, and NPWS speaking on some of our experiences.

Programme will be approximately talks in the morning, which could also be available to access online, which would be followed by an early lunch and then a field trip to look at one of the projects in the afternoon finishing at 16.00

Booking link

Field Trip to Chilterns National Landscape

13th November 2024

Field Trip to Chilterns National Landscape

Date: Wednesday 13^th November 2024 10.30 to find out more about the national arts programme ‘Nature Calling’.

Focussing on our conference theme ‘Nature for All’ this trip is hosted by Chilterns National Landscape in the Luton area. Join us to find out more about the creative process with writer Lee Nelson supported by Luton based arts organisation Revoluton Arts. Find out how they are engaging with local communities and linking with the chalk grasslands and surrounding hills as well as local greenspaces and heritage. Lee is an exciting and established artist who works with words and people in his home town of Luton. We will hear more about the Nature Calling programme happening across 6 national landscapes in 2024-25; how this work will engage with new audiences living locally; and why nature and landscapes for everyone is key to the future of protected landscapes.

Details: meet at Bushmead community hub in North Luton for 10.30am. The visit will include a walk around Bradgers Hill County Wildlife Site followed by presentations and a discussion at nearby Marsh Farm, home of Revoluton Arts who are producing this initiative.

Lunch will be provided and the visit will conclude by 3.00pm.

Places limited to 18 people.

Booking link

Event Chair

David Butterworth

Yorkshire Dales National Park CEO
Yorkshire Dales

David was appointed as Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority in 2000. He joined the Authority in 1991 as Head of Corporate Services. Previously he worked for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council as an economic development officer.

David is currently the ‘Lead CEO’ for National Parks England (NPE) – an umbrella body representing the English NPAs. He also leads on Performance Improvement, Access issues and European matters for NPE.

He previously Chaired the ‘Prosperity & Protection Steering Group’ A body which examined and reported on the economic value of the three National Parks in Yorkshire. He is a former Trustee of the North of England Civic Trust.

David Chaired the ‘Europarc Atlantic Isles’ section of the Europarc Federation of Protected Landscapes though he has stepped down from this role for 2022.

In his spare time, he plays a lot of sport: football, tennis; running and more recently got the bug for long distance cycling. He has cycled many national trails over the last few years after his own body informed him that his first sporting love, football, was probably better watched than participated in!

Event Panel

Blánaid Denman

Policy Officer
RSPB

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Blánaid Denman has been with the RSPB for the last 15 years, working closely with Protected Landscapes in various roles including Farmland Birds Project Officer and Senior Conservation Officer. She has represented RSPB on a range of Protected Landscape partnerships and working groups, including the Lake District’s Farming Forestry Nature and Climate Group, and their Farming in Protected Landscapes Local Assessment Panel; the Yorkshire Dales Birds of Prey Partnership, and the Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership. In her current role as RSPB’s UK Sites Policy Officer, Blánaid is focused on improving management of protected areas and supporting Protected Landscapes to deliver more for nature. Separately, she has recently been acting as a freelance Nature Policy Consultant for National Parks England.

Naomi Oakley

Principal Specialist
Farmer/Natural England

Naomi Oakley is a Principal Specialist in the Chief Scientist Directorate of Natural England, working on upland issues. She is currently leading on WaterLANDS, a Horizon 2020 Project, looking at wetlands for carbon storage, people, and wildlife across Europe. She and her husband are tenants on an organic, regenerative farm high on Dartmoor where their focus is firmly in the ‘public goods first’ space. She is also a founder member of Central Dartmoor Farm Cluster Group. The Group, alongside the Duchy of Cornwall, have just secured a large Landscape Recovery bid for thirty home farms and their commons. Naomi is also undertaking a PhD at Newcastle University on the social opportunities and barriers for regenerative agriculture on upland peatlands.

Sam Loades

Farm Advisor
New Forest National Park

I am an experienced environment, water and agricultural professional who has worked in the water & environment sector since 2004 at Local Authority level, the Environment Agency, The National Farmers Union managing the South East Agri-Environment portfolio and key policy and legislation changes, and for 10 years, the water industry where I undertook roles in agricultural catchment management, water quality risks, land management, ,stakeholder management, waste water asset failure investigations, drainage management (primarily focused around pollution reduction) , & flooding management & mitigation. I have a keen interest in the emerging environmental markets, nutrient pollution (N&P) water quality, and the challenges which are associated with this including how land management with nature can benefit biodiversity, improve water quality, crop yields & food production.