AGREEMENT on protecting the future of the British national parks environment will be the overriding theme of next week’s UK National Parks Conference, being held at Bovey Castle, Dartmoor. Hosted by the Dartmoor National park Authority, the bienniel conference – called this year National Parks, There for You – is an opportunity for the 15 UK national parks to consider their value, their challenges and and their future direction. A varied programme will include presentations from a range of internationally-renowned speakers, including a talk from Dartmoor-based explorer Pen Hadow, whose polar exploits are the stuff of adventure books. The conference will launch the UK Historic Environment Accord – an agreement between all the country’s national park authorities, the Welsh government, Historic England and Historic Scotland. Peter Charlesworth, chairman of UK National Parks, said: ‘We are responsible for the fuure of the UK’s finest landscapes and the communities that live within them. ‘I hope this conference will challenge our thinking and stimulate debate both formally and informally.’ The Prince of Wales will open the conference on Wednesday with a video message and delegates will also undertake tours of Dartmoor.

Programme for the UK National Parks Conference 2015 includes:

DAY, 14 OCTOBER 2015

13.30 Conference commences

Welcome to Dartmoor

Peter Harper, Chairman Dartmoor National Park

13.40 Introduction to the conference

Peter Charlesworth, Chairman UK National Parks

13.45 National Parks: There for You

An invitation and a challenge from Helen Jenny MBE

former National Park member, active volunteer and

passionate advocate of National Parks

13.55 Opening the conference video message

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

14.05 From Sydney to Dartmoor: A Global Perspective

on National Parks

Trevor Sandwith, IUCN Director of Protected Areas Programme

14.35 Time to go wild

George Monbiot, Guardian columnist

15.40 National Parks – Any Questions? debate

Chair: Jonathan Dimbleby

Panel: Ross Murray, George Monbiot, Nick Baker,

Kate Ashbrook and Adrian Philips

19.30 Conference dinner - Great Western Restaurant

After dinner speaker Rory Stewart MP, Parliamentary

Under Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs

DAY 2, 15 OCTOBER 2015

9.30 Mini buses depart from Bovey Castle for study tours

18.30 Drinks reception - Cathedral Room

(Sponsored by South West Water)

19.00 Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTCRM

19.30 Conference Dinner - Great Western Restaurant

After dinner speaker (Sponsored by Tozers)

Pen Hadow, polar explorer and author

Followed by Order of the National Parks presentation

DAY 3, 16 OCTOBER 2015

9.30 Conference commences - Dartmoor Suite

Chairman’s introduction

9.40 The Future of National Parks Dame Fiona Reynolds

10.00 Natural Capitalism, forging closer links with business

Sir Jonathon Porritt

10.20 Questions for Dame Fiona Reynolds and Sir Jonathon Porritt

11.15 Review of Designated Landscapes in Wales

Professor Terry Marsden – Chair, Review of Designated

Landscape in Wales

11.35 Time traveller’s guide to National Parks, using Dartmoor

as a case study Dr Ian Mortimer

11.55 Questions for Professor Terry Marsden and Dr Ian Mortimer

12.15 Closing remarks and handover to National Park

conference 2017 host

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