Resilient Landscapes & Seas Symposium 2026 Programme
The Resilient Landscapes & Seas Symposium: Collaborating at scale for nature and people taking place at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh on 10-11 February 2026 is the first annual RLAS Symposium. It will bring together leading organisations and stakeholders interested in large-scale land, freshwater, coastal and marine transformation.
The Symposium aims to help build a more cohesive community in landscape transformation, share knowledge and best practice, and to connect and provide mutual support to landscape-scale projects across the UK. The deadline for registration is Monday 12 January.
Programme Overview*
* This is subject to change as speakers are confirmed.
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09:00 Registration / refreshments
09:40 Introduction to the Symposium | Prof. Bridget Emmett OBE, British Ecological Society
09:45 Welcome to Scotland | Dr Clive Mitchell, NatureScot
10:00 Opening Address | Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Natural England
10:30 Session 1: Setting the Scene
Session Keynote | Prof. Zoe Davies, University of Kent
Session talk | Prof. Mike Moorcroft, Natural England
11:25 Break
11:45 Session 2: Working at Scale
Session Keynote | Sally Hayns, CIEEM
Session talk | Dr Caroline Sullivan, ACRES Breifne
Session talk | Emma Hutchins, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Short talk | Vicky Vanderstichele, North Star Transition
13:10 Lunch and networking
14:05 Session 3: Working in Partnership
Session Keynote | Rachel Blount, Nattergal
Short talk | Dr Stuart Smith, James Hutton Institute
Short talk | Dr Anna Griffin, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Short talk | Dr Martin Varley, RSPB
15:10 Break
15:30 Short talks
Short talk | Liz Humphreys, Natural England
Short talk | Peter Powell, The Welsh Dee Trust
Short talk | Abel McLinden, Loch Abar Mòr
Short talk | Theo Nickols & Nigel Cotterill, Plymouth City Council
16:10 Poster session
17:00 Close
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09:00 Registration / refreshments
09:40 Session 4: Engaging and Involving Communities and Landowners
Session Keynote | Diana Sandon (formerly Diana Pound), Dialogue Matters
Session talk | Dr Jan Hogarth, SCAMP Landscape Connections, Dumfries and Galloway Council
Session talk | Prof. Ellen Weerman (HAS University of Applied Sciences)
10:55 Break
11:15 Interactive session with Rob and Harriet Fraser, somewhere nowhere arts practice
12:10 Session 5: Funding for Landscape-Scale Projects
Session Keynote | Will Stephens, 3Keel
Session talk | Melissa Swartz (Environment Agency)
Short talk | Henry Leveson-Gower (Promoting Economic Pluralism)
13:05 Lunch and networking
13:55 Session 6: A Vision for the Future
Session Keynote | Dr Hannah Rudman, James Hutton Institute & The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
14:30 Discussion and feedback | Prof. Bridget Emmett OBE, British Ecological Society
15:00 Close
