Valuing our distinctive landscapes

Pennine Prospects Annual Conference 2016

8-9 November 2016

Programme

All landscapes have a value and deserve to be considered as part of our day-to-day activities, especially by people who influence decision making and policy. Landscapes host a rich diversity of natural, built and cultural heritage and have shaped and supported us in our everyday lives.
The conference would like to explore distinctive landscapes and the benefits and challenges of those that are not currently designated. We would like to start to link organisations that have an interest in distinctive landscapes to consider their special and unique qualities and to raise the profile of these important areas locally, regionally, nationally and beyond.
It is hoped that one of the outcomes from the annual conference would be a UK (and wider) network of organisations involved in designated and non-designated landscapes that can share their expertise and experiences to promote the message that all landscapes, especially distinctive landscapes, have a value and deserve support and resources.
8 November 2016 (optional)Site visits to the South Pennines around Hebden Bridge
11.00 – 15.00 / Site visit 1: Celebrating our Woodland Heritage – Pennine Prospects
Site visit 2: Recreation and site management–Yorkshire Water
Site visit 3:Community focus-Hebden Bridge Walkers Action/Hebden Hostel
9 November 2016 Annual Conference -The Shay Stadium, Halifax, HX1 2YS
09.00 / Registration & coffee
09.40 / Welcome – Pam Warhurst CBE, Chair of Pennine Prospects
Guest Speakers
09.50 / What makes a landscape distinctive? Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, The Heritage Council, Ireland.
From his personal experience in Ireland, Michael will look at how and why we connect (or reconnect) to our distinctive and heritage landscapes and what makes them special to us especially in relation to the European Landscape Convention.
10.15 / The French and Italian experience – Patrizia Rossi, past Director of Alpi Marittime Nature Park, Italy,
A European perspective - Drawing upon Patrizia’s experience in Italy, how are distinctive, but non-designated, landscapes identified, managed and protected?
10.40 / To designate or not to designate – that is the question! – Howard Davies, Chief Executive, National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Board Member, Natural Resources Wales
Howard will discuss how we address distinctive landscapes that don’t meet current designation criteria from a national perspective and draw conclusions on the recent review of designations and how this will affect landscape protection in Wales.
11.05 / Q&A
11.15 / Coffee
11.45 / Resilient landscapes –speaker TBC.
Shifting work and management towards landscape-scale and thinking about how we and others can work to achieve multiple objectives in a place, to develop more resilient landscapes over time. What is happening already? How can we protect and enhance distinctive characteristics of local landscapes through a range of mechanisms?
12.05 / The value of landscapes–Helen McDade, Head of Policy, John Muir Trust
12.25 / Planning4People – a manifesto: A shared vision for a 21st Century South Pennines–Dr Hugh Ellis, Interim Chief Executive,Town & Country Planning Association
From a planning and development perspective, what is special about the South Pennines? How can itsdistinctive landscapes in terms of heritage, biodiversity and recreation be used to best effect?
12.45 / Q&A
12:55 / A word from our sponsors: Landscape Research Group and The Caroline Humby Teck Trust
13.00 / Lunch
14.00 – 15.30 / Workshops:
Workshop 1 - Banqueting Suite
All landscapes matter!
Led by Michael Starrett
Presentation by:Chris Mayes - Lead Advisor - National Character Areas, Landscape, Access and Geodiversity, Natural England
How do we incorporate landscape and heritage characteristics in all their manifestations and make them relevant to all of us?
The significance of landscape, cultural and historic landscape character and how this influences decision making with an opportunity to share examples (good and bad) on protection and management of distinctive, non-designated landscapes.
Workshop 2 - Banqueting Suite
From governance to funding, what value do our landscapes have?
Jointly led by Martin Carey, Chief Executive, Mourne Heritage Trust and Helen McDade, Head of Policy, John Muir Trust
Presentation by Martin Carey
How do different governance structures work for our landscapes?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
How do we find the resources to support our landscapes and governance structures?
What is it that makes the Mountains of Mournein Northern Ireland so distinctive and how do the governance structures work there?
What is the potential for new governance structures in managing land in Scotland, within and outside designated areas?
Workshop 3 - Director’s Lounge (max 35)
Local distinctiveness and special qualities/character of landscapes
Led by Howard Davies, Chief Executive, NAAONB
Presentations by:
Nick Collinson, Head of Natural & Historic Environment Suffolk County Council – The Brecks
Patrick Candler, Chief Executive Officer, Sherwood Forest Trust
Why should we value our distinctive landscapes, their diversity and usages?
What are the benefits of non-designated landscapes?
How do we identify local distinctiveness and raise the profile of landscapes with distinctive character and cultural heritage?
Workshop 4 - Function Room
Distinctive landscapes and people
Led by Wilf Fenten, Environmental Consultant
Presentations by:Wilf Fenten, Environmental Consultant and Robin Gray, Development Manager, Pennine Prospects
How do we engage people in thinking about and understanding the relevance of distinctive landscape character and engendering buy-in for their protection and management from communities? How do we ensure that worthy projects, like landscape character assessments, are actually used effectively in planning and decision making?
15.30 / Thoughts from today – Tom Lonsdale, Landscape Architect, Placecraft.
What have we learnt today from the experiences of those around us and in Europe?
Personal view for the South Pennines
15.50 – 16.00 / Closing comments – Pam Warhurst CBE

Pennine Prospects are grateful for the generous support fromthe Caroline Humby Teck Trust and Landscape Research Group this year which has made the conference possible.

updated: 13/10/16