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A New Era for Green Infrastructure?

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Virtual Event Virtual Event
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Virtual Event Virtual Event

29th November, 2022 : 9:30 am 3:30 pm

New rescheduled date


Free Online conference, hosted via Zoom

Organised by the TCPA on behalf of the UK Green Infrastructure Partnership, this conference will consider the following questions:

  • What is Britainโ€™s green infrastructure policy post BREXIT?
  • How can ambitious national policies be translated into innovative projects on the ground? 
  • Are local leaders ready to do things differently?
  • What skills are needed โ€“ and who needs them?

This conference is organised on behalf of the Green Infrastructure Partnership:


9.30-11.00 Session 1, chaired by Julia Thrift, Director of Healthier Place-making, TCPA

Addressing the gap between strong national green infrastructure policy and weak local implementation: what can be done?

  • The Good, the Weak and the Vulnerable: reflecting on green infrastructure policy and delivery across the UK
    Prof Alister Scott, Northumbria University
  • Addressing the gap between national policy and local delivery: a personal reflection
    Jon Burke, Climate Change and Decarbonisation Lead, Gloucester City Council and former Cabinet Member, Hackney Council

Discussion and questions (45 minutes)

How can the gap between the ambitions for green infrastructure set out in policy and the sometimes disappointing practice at local level be avoided? What skills and resources are needed? Whatโ€™s preventing transformative urban greening?

  • Jane Findlay, Past President, Landscape Institute
  • Sheena Raeburn, Raeburn Farquhar Bowen
  • Prof Alister Scott, Northumbria University
  • Jon Burke, Climate Change and Decarbonisation Lead, Gloucester City Council and former Cabinet Member, Hackney Council

11:30 – 13:00 Session 2, chaired by Fiona Howie, Chief Executive, TCPA

Improving green infrastructure at landscape and city scale for people and the environment

  • Growing Ambitions: Reimagining Nottinghamโ€™s Broadmarsh + Little Island
    Lisa Finlay, Partner and Group Leader, Heatherwick Studio
  • Birmingham Urban Forest Masterplan
    Simon Needle, Principle Arboriculturist / Principal Ecologist, Birmingham City Council
  • Central Scotland Green Network
    Emilie Wadsworth, Operations Director, Green Action Trust

Discussion:

Are local leaders ready and willing to let bold ideas flourish? Are they brave enough to implement decisions based on new priorities in order to support the climate and better health and wellbeing?

14:00 – 15:30 Session 3, chaired by Julia Thrift, Director of Healthier Place-making, TCPA

Creating and managing urban green spaces to maximise multiple benefits

  • Managing parks for health and wellbeing: lessons from Islington and Camdenโ€™s Parks for Health Strategy
    Catherine Max, Health and Sustainability Consultant, and Barry Emmerson, Head of Parks, Islington Council
  • Adapting our grey urban spaces into climate-proof places
    Howard Gray, Consultant, GreenBlue Urban
  • Parque Central Madrid Nuevo Norte
    Alvaro Novรกs Filgueira, Project Leader and Architect, West 8

Discussion:

What needs to change to ensure that all local green spaces are managed both for community and cultural value, but also as part of wider green infrastructure networks? What changes are needed to workforce culture and training and how can this be facilitated?



Supported by:


Photo credit: Timothy Schenck