Representatives from a wide range of South-west environmental and conservation organisations gathered at the Lakeside Suite, Roadford Lake, on Friday 24 October 2008 for a conference on: ‘Conservation and public access management: exploring the role of the voluntary sector’. Common themes emerging were: the impact of climate change, the vital role of volunteers and the beneficial effect of good countryside access management on the nation’s health.

The impressive line-up of speakers included: Phil Collins from Natural England; Peter Kirkham of Groundwork Southwest; Mark Pearson from Surrey Wildlife Trust; Dr Nigel Stone, Exmoor National Park Authority; Paul Gompertz , Devon Wildlife Trust, and James Platts of South West Lakes Trust which organised and hosted the event. There were also workshop sessions led by David Readman, Sustrans; Dr Dylan Bright, Westcountry Rivers Trust; Matthew Boyer, specialist environmental and charity solicitor; and Martin Ross, Environmental Manager of South West Water.

The morning session was chaired by Chris Klee, Chairman of the Environment Agency's Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreational Advisory Committee, who defined public access as: "A conservation challenge to provide a really good experience for people in a balanced way, where one activity doesn't damage others." He emphasised the need for small and large organisations and landowners to work in partnership, as well as stressing the importance of volunteers in achieving progress.

He was followed by Phil Collins from Natural England who highlighted the importance of a healthy natural environment as an essential foundation for the population's economic and social wellbeing. He said: "We need a more dynamic approach to adapt to the changing climate and people's disconnection from the natural environment. We must deliver more access close to where people live and engage communities, whilst minimising any carbon footprint increase by creating green routes to get there." He spoke of the need to prepare for the next 50 years of unavoidable climate change which will have a profound impact on biodiversity, and the need to plan to adapt to a 4oC temperature change.

http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/fileadmin/Presentations/Phil%20Collins.pdf

James Platts of South West Lakes Trust picked up the theme of the need to achieve a balance in land management, saying: "The challenge is the balance between the operational needs of the reservoirs, and conservation and public access." He also highlighted the advantages of landowners using a charitable organisation for management as this facilitates valuable partnerships, promotes a positive relationship with the community, allows access to funding and provides specialist expertise.

http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/fileadmin/Presentations/Evelyn%20Stacey.pdf

Peter Kirkham of Groundwork presented case studies of effective partnership working with Caradon District Council at Saltmill Park on the Tamar Estuary where the former landfill site has been transformed from an eyesore into an amenity with wildlife meadows, sculpture trail and sports facilities. This was an example of private sector funding through Barclays creating the opportunity for local and regional partners to sustain the project over a 10 year period.

http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/fileadmin/Presentations/Peter%20Kirkham.pdf

Insight on experience working with a county council from outside our region was provided by Mark Pearson of Surrey Wildlife Trust. He spoke of the environment being vital to the health of the nation, and the need to connect people with the environment. The creation of income through a trading arm was critical to ensuring funding throughout the 50-year life of the management contract, although the charitable trust delivered the key objectives of improved visitor access and educational use of the countryside. He also expressed concern that some of the myriad of small voluntary groups vital for delivering projects on the ground would struggle to survive the difficult economic climate and would disappear forever.

Dr Nigel Stone of Exmoor National Park Authority saw the strength of the voluntary sector as bringing vision, focus and knowledge to management projects. A prime example was the Dunster Tithe project where local people not only raised £half a million to fund the project, but also formed a volunteer pool to work with members of the Exmoor Conservation Partnership to develop the heritage site.

To conclude the main presentations, Paul Gompertz, Director of Devon Wildlife Trust gave an impassioned plea to raise conservation higher on the national agenda: "The foot and mouth outbreak made it essential for nature conservation to become mainstream." He also introduced the concept of ‘natural capital' as a valuable resource for the nation and said: "The structure of the nation's approach to natural capital needs to be sound from the voluntary local level up to central government."

Workshop sessions were run by four organisations. Dr Dylan Bright, Director of Westcountry Rivers Trust who presented a series of case studies which demonstrated the achievement of the Trust in advising over 1,800 farmers on farmland management to give real savings of an average £2,300 per farm, as well as environmental benefits. Matthew Boyer, a specialist environmental and charity solicitor described the legal obligations of the biodiversity duty and the implications of having regard to policy requirements under a number of pieces of relevant legislation. Martin Ross outlined South West Water's three main environmental challenges: climate change, catchment behaviour and the need to achieve good status water before the 2015 deadline and the links between rural and urban areas. And David Readman presented the significant health benefits to be gained from walking, cycling and maintaining the Cornish Way, which is part of the National Cycle Network.

Summarising the afternoon sessions, Panel Chairman Peter Briens, a Trustee of South West Lakes Trust, commented: "Four of the government's new ‘five-a-day' items for mental health are: involvement with other people; exercise; stopping to looking and enjoy beauty and learning something new. Each of these will be promoted through good countryside access management and involving local volunteers in the process."

Feedback from delegates was very positive, seeing these topics as part of a developing agenda and asking for the event to run on a biannual basis. The 2010 conference will include speakers from a wider range of organizations and provide a forum for continued debate on this topic, which is central to the enjoyment of the Southwest region as a place to live, work and visit. Anyone who wants to receive details of the next conference should contact South West Lakes Trust on 01566 771930.