Experts will come together to "make space for nature" at a conference on environmental recovery.
Delegates will be asked to consider "all features great and small" at the event, which is being hosted by Tees Valley Nature Partnership and Your Tees Catchment Partnership.
The annual Tees Nature Conference has been held every year since 2017 and will be staged on June 21 at Teesside University’s Centuria Building, in Victoria Road, Middlesbrough.
Called "Tees Nature Conference 2024: Uniting for Nature’s Recovery", it aims to inspire, connect and celebrate local nature recovery efforts.
With Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) in development throughout the country, everyone from farmers and community groups to local government and conservation organisations are working together to prioritise nature recovery.
The conference will highlight what the LNRS process looks like in the Tees Valley, current and future delivery projects and how the community can work better together.
Presentations will be made by various organisations including Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, North York Moors National Park Authority, Durham Wildlife Trust, You've Got This, Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, Tees Rivers Trust, Mott MacDonald and the Country Land & Business Association.
There will be the chance to attend two of four workshops, including: LNRS: Have your say, with Tees Valley Nature Partnership; Assessing the effectiveness of nature recovery projects in the Tees Valley, with Teesside University; OpportuniTees Mapping, with Tees Rivers Trust; and Walk & Talk: Nature in a Concrete World, with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.
Lunch will be provided by Barefoot Kitchen and community groups will host stalls featuring their work and what they have discovered in the local area. Delegates will also get the chance to comment on which species should be prioritised in the LNRS.
A virtual keynote speech will be given by Professor Sir John Lawton, author of the widely quoted and referenced Lawton Report.
He will talk about the opportunities Local Nature Recovery Strategies offer to make space for nature, describing them as "all features great and small" which includes everything from window-boxes and small gardens to landscape level local initiatives.
Tees Valley Nature Partnership Manager Chloe Wainwright said: “The Tees Nature Conference is an invaluable opportunity for us to come together to drive forward our mission for nature recovery.
“This year, with the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies, we have a unique chance to shape a resilient and thriving natural environment. It's inspiring to see farmers, community groups, local government, conservation organisations and more working hand-in-hand to prioritise and implement effective nature recovery projects.
“By harnessing our collective expertise and passion, we can ensure that nature recovery is at the forefront of regional development and policy.”
To register for a free place and to sign up for preferred workshops visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tees-nature-conference-2024-uniting-for-natures-recovery-tickets-904698025147.
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