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1st Feb, 2007
Following in the footsteps of the Urban Wildlife Network the Wildlife Trusts are holding another major conference in Manchester on 27 February about the benefits of environmental projects in urban areas. Its rather lugubrious title is 'Parklife! Creating a sense of wellbeing and delivering stronger neighbourhoods'. There's more - 'How environmental projects can enhance our quality life making communities healthier, stronger and more prosperous'. It looks as if this event will take some of the issues which came out of our conference further and address some of the barriers and constraints which were identified.
Speakers include Rob Stoneman, Chief Executive Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Jacqui Stearn, Programme Manager Diversity Action Plan, Natural England, UWN's own Mathew Frith (in his capacity as Landscape Regeneration Manager with the Peabody Trust) Euan Hall, Chief Executive of the Land Restoration Trust, Peter Mathews, Deputy Director Local Development and Renewal at the Department for Communities and Local Government, and Marcus Roberts, Head of Policy at MIND. A star-studded line-up complemented by equally prestigious workshop leaders.
Those workshops cover topics such as mental wellbeing and the natural environment, what makes a great place, development of environmental projects in local area agrements, wildlife, work and wellbeing, and accessible natural greenspace.
This should be a very worthwhile event and will no doubt attract many of the leading players in the fields under discussion.
The venue is the Midland Hotel, the cost £75. Full details and on-line booking at www.wildlifetrusts.org/urban-greenspace
The organisers say:
'Urban green space and environmental projects play an important role in the regeneration of areas and the enhancement of people’s quality of life. Chaired by Euan Hall, Chief Executive, Land Restoration Trust, the Parklife! conference will highlight approaches and initiatives that have successfully delivered against health, economic and social agendas. It will also examine the current policy framework and the opportunities that these provide for urban green space projects. Peter Matthew, Deputy Director Local Development and Renewal at the Department for Communities and Local Government will give the keynote speech laying out the Government's urban green space policy and setting it within the context of 'Strong and Prosperous Communities', the Local Government White Paper. Tim Godson, Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber, will be discussing how Local Area Agreements can help improve urban greenspace and bring wider benefits, considering examples from the English regions. The conference will also look at health and wellbeing in relation to urban greenspace and speakers include Dr Marcus Roberts, Head of Policy at Mind. Other contributors include CABE, greenspace scotland, Natural England, and The Peabody Trust'.
