This conference will address the many pressures upon our National Parks, such as climate change, Brexit, recreation pressure, house building, non-native species and opportunities for young workers, and will look at how these are being tackled in the New Forest. We shall look at the challenges being faced by the flora and fauna, including the people, of the New Forest as well as the land itself, and examine some solutions. Unless everything is just fine in your Park, then this conference is for you!
Our programme offers a mix of presentations and study visits designed to examine issues affecting many National Parks and we hope that each one of you will find some relevant ideas to take home with you.
You don’t even need to bring your car. There is a mainline station close to the hotel at Brockenhurst, also flights direct to Southampton Airport with its adjacent Southampton Airport Parkway Station. We will collect you from and return you to Brockenhurst Station.
I look forward to welcoming you to the Conference.
John Ward, Chairman, Friends of the New Forest
Our programme offers a mix of presentations and study visits designed to examine issues affecting many National Parks and we hope that each one of you will find some relevant ideas to take home with you.
You don’t even need to bring your car. There is a mainline station close to the hotel at Brockenhurst, also flights direct to Southampton Airport with its adjacent Southampton Airport Parkway Station. We will collect you from and return you to Brockenhurst Station.
I look forward to welcoming you to the Conference.
John Ward, Chairman, Friends of the New Forest
BOOK your Place ON-LINE
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Early Bird discounted booking fee ends 30th June
(To book a place as a non-residential day delegate please CLICK HERE)
Thursday 12th October
2:00pm onwards: Registration, Welcome Refreshments, Check-In.
3:00pm: Optional short led walk.
4:00pm - 6:00pm: National Park Societies meeting organised by Campaign for National Parks.
7:00pm
Reception and Welcome by Mr Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre,
President of the New Forest Association and Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority.
7:45pm
Conference dinner: featuring seasonal food sourced locally.
After Dinner Speaker: Illustrated talk by Jonathan Gerrelli about his working life in the New Forest as Head Agister to the Verderers Court.
2:00pm onwards: Registration, Welcome Refreshments, Check-In.
3:00pm: Optional short led walk.
4:00pm - 6:00pm: National Park Societies meeting organised by Campaign for National Parks.
7:00pm
Reception and Welcome by Mr Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre,
President of the New Forest Association and Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority.
7:45pm
Conference dinner: featuring seasonal food sourced locally.
After Dinner Speaker: Illustrated talk by Jonathan Gerrelli about his working life in the New Forest as Head Agister to the Verderers Court.
Friday 13th October
7:00am - 8:45am:
Breakfast served in the Beresford’s Restaurant.
7:00am - 8:45am:
Breakfast served in the Beresford’s Restaurant.
9:00am
SAVING THE NEW FOREST
The New Forest Association – A Celebration of Our First 150 Years
Peter Roberts, past chairman and historian, will take a brief look back and tell you why, but for the foresight and energy of our Association's founding forefathers, there would be no ancient trees, no valuable habitats and no Commoners animals grazing on the New Forest today.
PARTNERSHIPS AND £s TO PROTECT NATIONAL PARKS
‘Our Past Our Future’ is a New Forest Landscape Partnership bringing 10 key partners and 21 projects into a £4.4m Heritage Lottery funded, 5 year scheme to restore lost habitats, develop Forest skills and inspire a new generation to champion and care for the New Forest.
Rachael Gallagher, OPOF Delivery Manager, will talk about how to organise, bid for funding and deliver such partnerships.
MAINTAINING A TOURISM SERVICE
The New Forest Tourism Association was formed in 1989 to promote the area as a business and holiday destination, working with the tourism service provided by New Forest District Council until this year when the Council closed its TICs and withdrew all funding for tourism. One Visitor Information Centre is being run by volunteers in a local museum and a new Community Interest Company has been formed formed to deliver the destination marketing role.
Anthony Climpson from the CIC, 'Go New Forest', will talk about new ways to provide information to visitors.
PROMOTING LOCAL PRODUCE WITH THE NEW FOREST MARQUE
New Forest Produce Ltd was set up in 2004 to operate the New Forest Marque accreditation scheme.
Jane Overall, NFP Chairman, will talk about how the production, processing and distribution of local produce has developed, together with business advice, training and marketing assistance for members.
PERSUADING PEOPLE TO YOUR CAUSE IN A POST-TRUTH SOCIETY
Doing the research, preparing the case and if necessary appearing at the public inquiry is no longer enough. In a world dominated by social media, crowdfunding and rapidly coalescing short-term self-interest groups it could be ‘game-over’ before you get moving on that project you support or that harmful proposed development you oppose.
Clive Chatters, FoNF Council member, will outline a case where we found ourselves 'behind the curve' and failed in an important campaign, as a stimulus to general discussion of other Park Societies' recent campaign experiences.
11:00am: Coffee Break, then
11:30am: Depart for Study Visits.
4:30pm onwards: All groups return to Balmer Lawn Hotel.
Afternoon tea and free time for networking and to enjoy display area showcasing local organisations
7:45pm:
Dinner: : featuring seasonal food sourced locally.
After Dinner Speaker: Pete Gilbert – Restaurateur, nightclub owner and commercial artist.
An artist's life via sketching in Paris to painting Ponds, Puddles and Streams and other New Forest landscapes.
SAVING THE NEW FOREST
The New Forest Association – A Celebration of Our First 150 Years
Peter Roberts, past chairman and historian, will take a brief look back and tell you why, but for the foresight and energy of our Association's founding forefathers, there would be no ancient trees, no valuable habitats and no Commoners animals grazing on the New Forest today.
PARTNERSHIPS AND £s TO PROTECT NATIONAL PARKS
‘Our Past Our Future’ is a New Forest Landscape Partnership bringing 10 key partners and 21 projects into a £4.4m Heritage Lottery funded, 5 year scheme to restore lost habitats, develop Forest skills and inspire a new generation to champion and care for the New Forest.
Rachael Gallagher, OPOF Delivery Manager, will talk about how to organise, bid for funding and deliver such partnerships.
MAINTAINING A TOURISM SERVICE
The New Forest Tourism Association was formed in 1989 to promote the area as a business and holiday destination, working with the tourism service provided by New Forest District Council until this year when the Council closed its TICs and withdrew all funding for tourism. One Visitor Information Centre is being run by volunteers in a local museum and a new Community Interest Company has been formed formed to deliver the destination marketing role.
Anthony Climpson from the CIC, 'Go New Forest', will talk about new ways to provide information to visitors.
PROMOTING LOCAL PRODUCE WITH THE NEW FOREST MARQUE
New Forest Produce Ltd was set up in 2004 to operate the New Forest Marque accreditation scheme.
Jane Overall, NFP Chairman, will talk about how the production, processing and distribution of local produce has developed, together with business advice, training and marketing assistance for members.
PERSUADING PEOPLE TO YOUR CAUSE IN A POST-TRUTH SOCIETY
Doing the research, preparing the case and if necessary appearing at the public inquiry is no longer enough. In a world dominated by social media, crowdfunding and rapidly coalescing short-term self-interest groups it could be ‘game-over’ before you get moving on that project you support or that harmful proposed development you oppose.
Clive Chatters, FoNF Council member, will outline a case where we found ourselves 'behind the curve' and failed in an important campaign, as a stimulus to general discussion of other Park Societies' recent campaign experiences.
11:00am: Coffee Break, then
11:30am: Depart for Study Visits.
- A: Heathland Restoration and Sustainable Recreation at Foxbury, and the Rockford Farm project
- B: Engaging people in the National Park
- C: Nature conservation in the National Park including controlling non-native alien species and stream restoration
- D: Climate change and the New Forest coast
4:30pm onwards: All groups return to Balmer Lawn Hotel.
Afternoon tea and free time for networking and to enjoy display area showcasing local organisations
7:45pm:
Dinner: : featuring seasonal food sourced locally.
After Dinner Speaker: Pete Gilbert – Restaurateur, nightclub owner and commercial artist.
An artist's life via sketching in Paris to painting Ponds, Puddles and Streams and other New Forest landscapes.
Saturday 14th October
7:00am - 8:45am:
Breakfast served in the Beresford’s Restaurant.
7:00am - 8:45am:
Breakfast served in the Beresford’s Restaurant.
9:00am
FUNDING CUTS, CASH AND HUMAN RESOURCES BEYOND 2020?
If your National Park has plenty of revenue income, enough paid staff and volunteers to do all that is needed and your supporting members are growing steadily year on year give this one a miss. If not, then the better we can work together to maximise what can be achieved by co-operation between Park Authorities, statutory bodies, fund-raising charities and campaigning societies the more we will achieve
William Ziegler, Chairman of the New Forest Trust, will talk about what we are learning from attempts in the New Forest to get the best out of collaboration between the Park Authority, Forestry Commission, Friends of the New Forest, New Forest Trust and Ninth Centenary Trust.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN’S ‘FINEST LANDSCAPES’
Recovering lost landscapes, protecting today’s cherished landscapes or creating new ones? Re-wilding, anticipating climate change, responding to changing farming, and being better at carbon capture are just some of the issues.
John Stride, Forestry Commission Planning Manager, will draw on his experience in managing the Forest Design Plan process for the New Forest, involving many interest groups and experts in a Design Plan Forum. Extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of interested parties has led to a 100-year plan with 20 year detailed proposals. Now, with broad support, there are some radically changed approaches to managing the landscape including very different priorities in different places.
GRAZING ANIMALS AS ARCHITECTS OF OUR LANDSCAPES
Traditional livestock farming provides the conservation grazing in many of our National Park landscapes, but the historic pastoral economy on which it is based faces an uncertain post-Brexit future.
Graham Ferris, former chairman of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, will reflect on his experience in recent years to talk about changing roles for commoners and our historic rural culture.
RECREATION IN NATIONAL PARKS: IS THERE ENOUGH ‘WELL-BEING’ TO GO AROUND?
‘Well-Being’ for visitors, while protecting the ‘Well-Being’ of fragile landscapes? Too many visitors, too many residents, too much activity in too small an area – has the New Forest lost that elusive special quality called ‘Tranquillity’?
Bruce Rothnie, Forestry Commission Deputy Surveyor, will examine the perpetual conundrum of delivering both of the National Park Purposes. He will draw on his experience managing the Forest estate, from locating campsites and car parks, issuing hundreds of day-event permits and way-marking paths to coping with thousands of dog walking visits from the built-up areas surrounding the National Park. Christmas present drones, searchlight-bright night-time mountain biking, mass fungi foraging encouraged by TV food programmes on one side of his desk and wetland restoration schemes on the other.
Coffee Break
A NATIONAL PARK UNDER PRESSURE
Life in the New Forest post-Brexit, nature conservation designations, rural development schemes, Defra 25 year plan for the natural environment and more......
Alison Barnes, New Forest National Park Authority Chief Executive, will talk about some of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
UPDATE FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR NATIONAL PARKS
Fiona Howie, Chief Executive Officer
Closing Comments and Handover to hosts of 2018 Conference
John Ward, Chairman, Friends of the New Forest
1:00 pm: Conference Closes.
Buffet lunch (packed lunch on request)
FUNDING CUTS, CASH AND HUMAN RESOURCES BEYOND 2020?
If your National Park has plenty of revenue income, enough paid staff and volunteers to do all that is needed and your supporting members are growing steadily year on year give this one a miss. If not, then the better we can work together to maximise what can be achieved by co-operation between Park Authorities, statutory bodies, fund-raising charities and campaigning societies the more we will achieve
William Ziegler, Chairman of the New Forest Trust, will talk about what we are learning from attempts in the New Forest to get the best out of collaboration between the Park Authority, Forestry Commission, Friends of the New Forest, New Forest Trust and Ninth Centenary Trust.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN’S ‘FINEST LANDSCAPES’
Recovering lost landscapes, protecting today’s cherished landscapes or creating new ones? Re-wilding, anticipating climate change, responding to changing farming, and being better at carbon capture are just some of the issues.
John Stride, Forestry Commission Planning Manager, will draw on his experience in managing the Forest Design Plan process for the New Forest, involving many interest groups and experts in a Design Plan Forum. Extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of interested parties has led to a 100-year plan with 20 year detailed proposals. Now, with broad support, there are some radically changed approaches to managing the landscape including very different priorities in different places.
GRAZING ANIMALS AS ARCHITECTS OF OUR LANDSCAPES
Traditional livestock farming provides the conservation grazing in many of our National Park landscapes, but the historic pastoral economy on which it is based faces an uncertain post-Brexit future.
Graham Ferris, former chairman of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, will reflect on his experience in recent years to talk about changing roles for commoners and our historic rural culture.
RECREATION IN NATIONAL PARKS: IS THERE ENOUGH ‘WELL-BEING’ TO GO AROUND?
‘Well-Being’ for visitors, while protecting the ‘Well-Being’ of fragile landscapes? Too many visitors, too many residents, too much activity in too small an area – has the New Forest lost that elusive special quality called ‘Tranquillity’?
Bruce Rothnie, Forestry Commission Deputy Surveyor, will examine the perpetual conundrum of delivering both of the National Park Purposes. He will draw on his experience managing the Forest estate, from locating campsites and car parks, issuing hundreds of day-event permits and way-marking paths to coping with thousands of dog walking visits from the built-up areas surrounding the National Park. Christmas present drones, searchlight-bright night-time mountain biking, mass fungi foraging encouraged by TV food programmes on one side of his desk and wetland restoration schemes on the other.
Coffee Break
A NATIONAL PARK UNDER PRESSURE
Life in the New Forest post-Brexit, nature conservation designations, rural development schemes, Defra 25 year plan for the natural environment and more......
Alison Barnes, New Forest National Park Authority Chief Executive, will talk about some of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
UPDATE FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR NATIONAL PARKS
Fiona Howie, Chief Executive Officer
Closing Comments and Handover to hosts of 2018 Conference
John Ward, Chairman, Friends of the New Forest
1:00 pm: Conference Closes.
Buffet lunch (packed lunch on request)
A: Heathland Restoration and Sustainable Recreation at Foxbury, and the Rockford Farm project
Walking: 2 to 3 miles |
Led by Jake White, Community Ranger, Dylan Everett, Countryside Manager (National Trust), Gillie Molland, Lead Ranger (National Park Authority), Apprentice Rangers and William Ziegler, Chairman (New Forest Trust).
B: Engaging people in the National Park
Walking: 2 miles, some uneven on farm |
Led by Zoe Cox, Community Manager (Forestry Commission), Kath Walker, Ecademy Project (New Forest Centre), Julie Melin-Stubbs and Angela Peters (New Forest Land Advisory Service), Cathy MacArthur (Lecturer, Brockenhurst College).
C: Nature conservation in the National Park including stream restoration and controlling non-native alien species
Walking: 2 miles, shrubby wet vegetation - wellington boots |
Led by Catherine Chatters, New Forest Non-Native Plants Officer, (Hants and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust), and Nick Wardlaw, hydromorphologist (Forestry Commission).
D: Climate change and the New Forest coast
Level walking: up to 2 miles. Bird-watching opportunity. |
Led by Pete Durnell, Countryside Manager, (Hampshire County Council) and Clive Chatters, Council Member, (Friends of the New Forest).
Activities during conference for non-delegate partners
Friday morning - Led walk on Forest tracks 9:30am - 3½ mile led walk from hotel on gravelled forest tracks – passing Victoria Brick and Tile Works; ancient, unenclosed woodland around Standing Hat; broad-leaved and coniferous woodland inclosures - Pignalhill, Parkhill, Stubby Copse and Pignal Inclosures; and Southern wood ant nests. Friday afternoon - Led coastal walk 1:30pm - Approx 3 mile led coastal walk (weather permitting) – the Salterns and Normandy Marshes. Saturday morning - Visit to Lymington Explore historic Lymington (by car, by bus (bring your bus pass if you have one) or by train from nearby Brockenhurst station) – leaflet with 3 town trails available, plenty of interesting shops and cafés Activities for delegates and partners Saturday afternoon - Led walk (2 hours) Sunday morning - Golf morning 10:30am - A game of golf at the nearby Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club is being offered to conference delegates and their partners. (cost £50 including a light lunch, a saving of £25) Sunday morning - Led cycle ride Forest tracks / quiet roads (please book your own cycle hire with the hotel in advance 01590 623116) Other suggestions if you are staying on The New Forest Walking Festival With more than 80 walks, the festival starts on Sunday 15 October and runs until 30 October – to book places, see programme at: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/walkingfestival Visit the Isle of Wight For a day out, take the train from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier, then ferries run across the Solent from Lymington Pier to Yarmouth (good views of the Lymington – Keyhaven Nature Reserve) where you can pick up the ‘Island Breezer’ hop-on hop-off bus service to visit Freshwater Bay and Dimbola Lodge Museum and Galleries. Here the famous Victoria photographer Julia Margaret Cameron once lived and worked (it has a great café). Then pick the bus up again to travel to the Needles for wonderful views. Alternatively the walk from Freshwater Bay over Tennyson Down (482 feet) to the Needles is quite delightful on a good day – total 4 miles, and you can pick up the Island Breezer bus again at the Needles to return to Yarmouth. For harder walkers, the route on footpaths from Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay, the Needles and back is a 12-mile circuit. |
Travel to and from Brockenhurst railway station
We will arrange pick-ups from Brockenhurst Station to the hotel on Thursday afternoon.
Return transport on Saturday after lunch will also be available.
Please advise us of the time of your arrival when known [email protected]
We will arrange pick-ups from Brockenhurst Station to the hotel on Thursday afternoon.
Return transport on Saturday after lunch will also be available.
Please advise us of the time of your arrival when known [email protected]
BOOK your Place ON-LINE
|
DOWNLOAD PDF booking form
|
Early Bird discounted booking fee ends 30th June
(To book a place as a non-residential day delegate please CLICK HERE)
More about Balmer Lawn Hotel, Brockenhurst
Built as a private house/hunting lodge at around 1800, it was transformed into the building you see today in around 1850.
The Hotel has a great history - as guests you will be in good company, with many famous people throughout history having been to the Hotel, to name drop a few - King George V, Russian Royalty, J.J. Sainsbury, Churchill and General Eisenhower.
The building was commandeered during both World Wars. During World War One the Hotel was used as a field hospital. Some still remember injured soldiers being wheeled on luggage trolleys from Brockenhurst Train Station to the Hotel!
In the Second World War the Hotel was transformed into an Army Staff College. Some of the "Orders for the Day" were issued from the Hotel for the "D Day" invasion. During extensive refurbishment of the Hotel workmen frequently found spent ammunition under the floorboards.
The early years of the Hotel's history were spent in private ownership. After the Second World War it was part of Myddleton Hotels and was in good company with sister Hotel, the Royal Bath in Bournemouth. In 1979 the Hotel was acquired by the Ladbroke Group and later became an Associate Hilton Hotel. In October 1997 the Hotel once again returned to private ownership. The Wilson family are now the proud owners of the Hotel and have worked hard to completely refurbish the property and return to its former glory as the best four star hotel in the New Forest. They say, “Our emphasis is on friendly, efficient service. We know what delights and this is what we strive to deliver”.
Dogs:
Dogs are welcome on leads in the hotel (except in the restaurant) on a pre-booked basis. Charge £20 per dog per night (max. 2 dogs). Please contact the hotel direct if you wish to bring your four-legged friend(s). If you walk your dog in the Forest you will need to keep it under control at all times because of all the animals that roam freely.
Balmer Lawn Hotel website
Built as a private house/hunting lodge at around 1800, it was transformed into the building you see today in around 1850.
The Hotel has a great history - as guests you will be in good company, with many famous people throughout history having been to the Hotel, to name drop a few - King George V, Russian Royalty, J.J. Sainsbury, Churchill and General Eisenhower.
The building was commandeered during both World Wars. During World War One the Hotel was used as a field hospital. Some still remember injured soldiers being wheeled on luggage trolleys from Brockenhurst Train Station to the Hotel!
In the Second World War the Hotel was transformed into an Army Staff College. Some of the "Orders for the Day" were issued from the Hotel for the "D Day" invasion. During extensive refurbishment of the Hotel workmen frequently found spent ammunition under the floorboards.
The early years of the Hotel's history were spent in private ownership. After the Second World War it was part of Myddleton Hotels and was in good company with sister Hotel, the Royal Bath in Bournemouth. In 1979 the Hotel was acquired by the Ladbroke Group and later became an Associate Hilton Hotel. In October 1997 the Hotel once again returned to private ownership. The Wilson family are now the proud owners of the Hotel and have worked hard to completely refurbish the property and return to its former glory as the best four star hotel in the New Forest. They say, “Our emphasis is on friendly, efficient service. We know what delights and this is what we strive to deliver”.
Dogs:
Dogs are welcome on leads in the hotel (except in the restaurant) on a pre-booked basis. Charge £20 per dog per night (max. 2 dogs). Please contact the hotel direct if you wish to bring your four-legged friend(s). If you walk your dog in the Forest you will need to keep it under control at all times because of all the animals that roam freely.
Balmer Lawn Hotel website
More about some of the conference presentations and study visits