One day workshop:
14th December 2007, The University of Northampton
The Government is proposing to build up to 3 million new houses by 2020 to meet increasing demand, especially in the south east of England. At the same time the UK Government’s White Paper on sustainable communities has increased awareness of the value of green space in urban areas, often known as ‘green infrastructure’.
Green spaces provide important areas for recreation but also have the potential for ecological benefits if planned and managed in the right way. The biodiversity potential of green space is often undervalued and this workshop aims to open a dialogue between ecologists, architects, planners and urban designers in order to discuss landscape ecology principles and techniques for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity at landscape scales.
This workshop provided an opportunity for participants to contribute to the future challenges in accommodating growth and development by providing guiding principles based on the science and applied research for planning green space in urban areas. The meeting included short presentations by experts in the field and participatory discussion with delegates working in groups to discuss how landscape ecology can contribute to the planning of green infrastructure.
There was a preliminary online discussion forum during November 2007, the results of which helped to shape the one day workshop. The workshop was attended by participants with practical experience in planning and consultancy as well landscape ecologists involved in research and conservation.
Speakers:
Dr Janet Jackson, University of Northampton
Professor Paul Selman, University of Sheffield
Dr Geoff Griffiths, University of Reading
Laura Kitson, Project Officer, River Nene Regional Park
Aleksandra Kazmierczak, University of Salford
Nicola McHugh, Oxford Brookes University
Resources