UK Protected Areas - Natural Solutions provides a platform for 21st century protected area managers and policy makers to share best practice and consider existing and new policy and systems, opportunities and challenges. Development, climate change, economic constraints and the needs of nature and people are all issues affecting the work of the protected areas community. This is a superb opportunity for practitioners and policy makers from across the UK to come together, share and debate new and innovative ideas
 
Venue The conference will be at the BREEAM-rated 'Outstanding' venue at Brockholes Nature Reserve and Conference Centre, easily accessible from the M6 Jct 31. It is only 3.6 miles from Preston railway station, with Blackpool airport 20 miles and Manchester International Airport 40 miles
 
Speakers Three expert speaker sessions are proposed, with chaired panels after the presentations and plenty of time allocated for questions from the audience. The exact programme is being confirmed but confirmed speakers representing global, European, national and local interests in the protected areas community, include:
Trevor Sandwith, Director of IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme
Kathy MacKinnon, Vice Chair IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
Helen McDade, Head of Policy, John Muir Trust
Ian Jardine, Chief Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage
Howard Davies, Chief Executive, Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Peter Bridgewater, Chairman/Marcus Yeo, Chief Executive, JNCC
 

Programme The latest version of the programme can be found here.

Field excursion Optional field visits for Friday 27th April are currently being explored, including a trip with United Utilities staff to see their Sustainable Catchment Management Programme (SCaMP) on SSSI land in the Forest of Bowland AONB.
 
Refreshments The delegate fee includes lunch and tea/coffee refreshments throughout the day
 
Accommodation 3 star accommodation is available at a discounted rate for delegates at The Tickled Trout hotel, also on the M6 Jct 31. This is one of the MACDONALD chain of hotels and has very nice river views. 
 
Following the conclusion of this event, the Annual General Meeting of the IUCN National Committee for the United Kingdom will take place at the conference venue, starting at 1700.