The CMA (UK) annual conference was hosted by the National Trust and the Lake District National Park. It was based at Ambleside on Lake Windermere from the 9-11 October on a theme of landscape scale approaches to countryside management.

Building on the ‘Bigger, Better and More Joined Up’ approach outlined in the ‘Making Space for Nature’ review of England’s wildlife sites, the conference provided a chance for CMA members to develop their awareness and understanding of the impacts of countryside management at a landscape level.

Through a series of presentations, workshops and field trips the conference looked at topical talking points such as re-wilding, biodiversity connectivity and pollinators. Also discussed were landscape projects which feature current and future issues around conservation, farming, water catchment and heritage protection. Delegates shared experiences, ideas and best practice with fellow countryside professionals looking to encourage a wider vision for countryside management beyond a park or site boundaries.

Ian Brooker (CMA International co-ordinator); Urs Wegmann (IRF European Region representative) and Roger Cole (ERF Vice President)

We were joined by Urs Wegmann a Swiss ranger colleague. Urs is now the IRF European Region representative and President elect of the European Ranger Federation. 

Also attending were the CMA patron Chris Baines and the CMA Vice President Roger Cole.