Programme
This programme is still subject to change although changes should now be minor.
Pre-conference sessions and events | ||||
These sessions and special events are not part of the main conference registration. All are limited in numbers and require separate booking. In some cases there is an extra cost to cover our expenses. See each listing for booking availability | ||||
10.00 - 15.00 | Legacies of innovation: Dartington and Fingle led by the Woodland Trust's Dave Rickwood A tour of Fingle Woods with a view to its historical significance as an early 20thC experimental woodland site connected to the Dartington Experiment and a look at how the forest's re-shaping is a continuing experimentation that looks ahead to 21stC forestry and beyond. Cost includes lunch and transportation from Dartington. [BOOK HERE] £15.00 | |||
10.30 - 13.00 | Forest Bathing Sessions with Nature & Wellbeing Collective BOOK HERE An experiential workshop exploring the health and wellness benefits of forest bathing. Spending mindful time in nature can improve your life — physically, emotionally, and creatively. Three sessions will run in parallel, each with two ANFT Forest Therapy guides. Read more and BOOK HERE £35 | |||
13.30 - 15.00 | Tours of the Agroforestry research site on the Dartington estate with Martin Crawford Agroforestry is the growing of both trees and agricultural / horticultural crops on the same piece of land. This tour takes you around the 24-year old 2-acre forest garden at Dartington now considered to be an archetype. There will be an afternoon session starting at 13.30. Sorry, Fully Booked You can purchase a copy of Martin's seminal book on Forest Gardening here. |
Throughout the event | ||||
The FILM PROGRAMME runs all day Thursday and Friday in Studio 3. Read more about the film programme | ||||
An audio SOUNDSCAPE by David Clarke is available to listen to at any time by following this link Duet of the SoArWing | ||||
The Evolving the Forest EXHIBITION runs throughout the event at various sites across the estate. Parts of the exhibition remain open until the end of August. | ||||
TRADE SHOW showcasing both commercial and non-commercial projects and organisations will be open throughout the event. |
Wednesday, 19 June | ||||
Great Hall (except as noted) | ||||
14.30 | Registration (Tea/coffee) | |||
15.45 | Welcomes: Sir Harry Studholme; Rhodri Samuel; Andrew Woods, President of RFS; Jez Ralph, Timber Strategies | |||
15.55 | Welcome and Housekeeping: Jez Ralph | |||
16.00 to 17.00 | Keynote 1: Prof Fiona Stafford; Why Trees Matter Tickets are available to non-delegates BOOK HERE | |||
17.00 to 18.30 | White Hart Bar open for pre dinner drinks | |||
18.30 | The Tilhill Forestry Gala Dinner [pre-booking essential, by Thursday June 13 (delegates only)] | |||
20:00 | Presentation of the James Cup for the best article in the Quarterly Journal of Forestry 2018. Awarded to Jonathan Spencer | |||
20.05 | A Marking of Centenary of Forestry Commission followed by A Conversation with Sir Harry Studholme, Beccy Speight and Piers Taylor chaired by Prof Gabriel Hemery (Sylva Foundation). Tickets are available to non-delegates BOOK HERE | |||
21.45 | Session ends; Bar remains open until 23.00 |
Thursday, 20 June | ||||
THROUGHOUT | The ART EXHIBITION runs throughout the conference; the FILM PROGRAMME runs throughout Thursday and Friday. An audio soundscape by David Clarke is available to listen to at any time by following this link Duet of the SoAring | |||
TRADE SHOW showcasing both commercial and non-commercial projects and organisations | ||||
Time | The Great Hall | Studio 1 | Studio 6 | Elsewhere |
9.00 | Registration (Tea/coffee) | |||
9.15 | PLENARY: Housekeeping | |||
Climate change impacts (1): Resilient Landscapes This session is sponsored by Woodland Trust | The Sublime Forest / the mythic forest | Material: contemporary timber-based design This session sponsored by Tilhill Forestry | ||
9.30 | Abi Bunker Resilient Landscapes a Woodland Trust presentation | Clive Cazeaux The aesthetics of the forest visual and sensory aesthetics, theorising sensory experience | Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis From forest to last What is the role of wood in the future circular bio-based economy, and how will we need to adapt the way we build? Dan is a featured speaker by invitation of Tihill Forestry | |
10.00 | Mark Broadmeadow Horses for Courses: developing policy to support adaptation how species choice, provenance choice and management systems will cope under both current and future climate scenarios. | Camilla Allen Three Cathedrals of Trees: from allegory to architecture exploring botanical architecture within the context of tree-like cathedrals and cathedral-like trees. Ranges from the Palatine 17thC to Milton Keynes new-town design | Cullinan Studio What is the future of working with timber? A roundtable conversation with audience participation with Charley Brentnall of Xylotek, Chris Marrow of Chris Marrow Forest Management, Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis of Edinburgh Napier University and Carol Costello of Cullinan Studio, chaired by Hannah Durham of Cullinan Studio. | |
10.30 | Chris Reynolds Resilience: alternative species for resilient forests increasing species diversity for future resilience | Tilla Brading Unfurling the Forest: trees in contemporary art, poetry and performance A review of artistic responses to the forest | ||
11.00 | BREAK (Tea/coffee) | |||
Urban Forestry | Climate change impacts (2): Working the Land | Landscape / Responses to Landscape | Workshops 1-4 (all run 11.45-13.15) NOTE all workshops are limited to 10 participants [BOOK NOW] | |
11.45 | Beatrice Jarvis The city is a tree: the oldest forest of a new town. Urban forests as platform for somatic experiences in the city Through the lens of her father Dr Robert Jarvis (part of the original planning team for Milton Keynes), investigates how the first forest plantation of the city embodies key ideas of urban planning. It compares the expectations for the city and the lived experience. | Keith Kirby Evolution or Revolution for Future Forestry Re-planting for climate change | Adri Schokker and T S Anna The Forest: inside the virtual forest outlining a new approach to mapping the forest using an artist-designed hand-held 3D 'forest scanner'. | Mick Bracken and Harriet Bell Pioneering Agro-forestry at Dartington a tour of a sites on the Dartington estate working in collaboration with the Woodland Trust Sorry, fully booked |
12.15 | Tree Urbanistas: the urban forest at the heart of 22nd Century living
a roundtable and whole group discussion exploring the proposal that by 2118, as climate change has ravaged urban existence, urban areas only function with trees and nature at the heart of the economy. We will explore this considering productivity, health, welcome and values. With Jane Hull, Principal Adviser Social Forestry, Forestry Commission Jude Hassall, Senior Policy and Programmes Officer, Sustainable Development - Greater London Authority Prof Alan Simson, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Forestry, Leeds Beckett University Helen Davies, Postgraduate research student, Centre for Environmental Science, Southampton University Nick Grayson, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager Birmingham City Council and Birmingham University | Adrian Newton Increasing awareness of forest collapse through science and art with a focus on the communication of forest collapse through both through scientific and artistic practices | Lotte Scott Hyle - Wood and Matter in the Avalon Marshes an artist presentation about a long-term project exploring peat on the Somerset Levels. | Karen Price & Liz O'Brien How to Hygge a tree A hands-on workshop exploring techniques for using trees and woodland for positive wellbeing. Based on a programme at Westonbirt Sorry, fully booked |
12.45 | David Haley Trees of Grace: the last ash and the return of the Green Dragon Artist-led paper referencing artists working to mitigate climate change, in particular the Harrisons. | Carol Ballenger Defining Treescapes an artist presentation about a group looking at woods and forest, particularly at Dartington. Involves artists of various artforms as well as scientists | Paul Cookson Traditional futures a hands-on crafting session imagining ‘new timber products’ and talking about timber items no longer regularly produced Sorry, fully booked | |
Heather Marie Wilson Forest Bathing for Wellbeing An experiential workshop exploring the health and wellness benefits of forest bathing. How spending mindful time in nature can improve your life — physically, emotionally, and creatively. Heather weaves her personal transformation story and scientific evidence with exercises/discussion for a compelling workshop. Sorry, fully booked | ||||
13.15 | LUNCH | |||
14.15 | The Launch of the Dartington Forest Manifesto, followed by The Royal Forestry Society's NDG James Memorial Lecture: Prof Kathy Willis CBE/ The framing of the UK's Forests: past, present and future. Open to general public, non-delegates can BOOK HERE | |||
SESSIONS | The Great Hall | Studio 1 | Studio 6 | Elsewhere |
Forestry future / Policy | Landscape | Health and Wellbeing | Workshops 5-8 (all run 15.30-18.00) NOTE all workshops are limited to 10 participants BOOK NOW | |
15.30 | Myc Riggulsford The Charter of the Forest and our common rights historical overview and social relevance of the 13thC Forest Charter | Naomi Hart Forest Time - performative talk a slow time in the old growth forest in NW Tasmania and conversation in general about time as a non-linear concept particularly in relationship to nature and ancient woodland | Tomas Remiarz Forest Gardening: A new old practice to transform how we live in cities This presentation also links to the tour of Martin Crawford's Agroforestry research site on Wednesday | Justin Carter Blood from Stone: exploring human connections with trees through ink-making, klecksography and storytelling. a hands-on participatory workshop creating ink from oak galls and bark Sorry, fully booked |
16.00 | Roderick Leslie Transforming the Forestry Commission historio/political overview of the first 100 years with a glimpse into the next 100 years | Jason Griffiths Reading the Forest: insights into people-forest relationship through literary heritage survey of our relationship to the Forest of Dean through literary writing from the 19th and 20th centuries | Raj Patel Old Skills New Ways: Exploring creativity through using traditional skills. | Cullinan Studio in collaboration with Workshop Collaborative and Xylotech Prototyping with Timber an opportunity to work in a group to investigate the use of wood in lightweight structures, experimenting with different types of timber to create a timber canopy, no previous experience required. BOOK NOW |
16.30 | Omer Aloni Forests, timber production and fears of deforestation at the League of Nations Forest policy in interwar context of the new League of Nations | Stuart Mugridge Alder Carr: a poetic exploration of a Norfolk wet woodland a ranging exploration of Carr woodland and its very specific traits | Panel / Conversation Inez Aponte Inhabiting the forest a group discussion and panel presentation The relationship between humans and forests is an ancient one. Yet in an age where forests are under threat from industrial human activity, that relationship feels broken, with the human species often seen as a plague rather than a native. This panel discussion centres on the importance of rebuilding this ancient relationship, in particular for our children and young people. Invited guests include Roger Worthington from Forestry England, Ann-Marie Culhane, an artist who works within the natural environment in socially-inclusive ways, Mark Renouard (CEO EarthWrights), and Chris Salisbury, Director of Wildwise. | Harriet and Rob Fraser Space for Imagining a hands-on creative workshop in the woods Sorry fully booked |
17.00 | Andrew Heald Planning the future: who, how and where. The UK’s new sustainable forests. Afforestation as a response to climate change mitigation | Bram Arnold Transparent Modular Specifics: eco-logical foot-printing investigating carbon sequestration, afforestation and measuring carbon footprint | Dartington Estates team Tours of the Dartington estate with particular attention to forestry and other innovations. Details to be announced. Sorry, fully booked | |
17.30 | Jenny Pickerill Forest futures: lived-in, living and live the conflict between humans and the environment with particular reference to the Tasmanian Forest Agreement (2012) | Mandy Haggith A-B-Tree Seeds for Creativity a survey of a long-term project celebrating the link between writing and trees | ||
18.00 | Sessions close | |||
18.30 | Launch and celebration of Oliver Rackham's Ancient Woods of Helford River. | |||
19.15 | Supper (buffet) [BOOKING REQUIRED] | |||
20.30 | Screening of Arcadia - Barn Cinema programmed as part of the Evolving Forest Fringe. Book tickets directly from the Barn Cinema, but contact us first for a delegate discount code for tickets at £5.00 each (usual price £9.00) | Soundart Radio TIMES TBC | ||
21.15 | Starting around 20.30 we begin a special evening at The Nest in Dartington's North Wood - open to the public. This will include a performance of Tom Marshman's acclaimed We need to talk about Bambi (details and booking TBA), a story-telling event from Chris Salisbury (details TBA) meanders, a campfire and a bar - all set in a beautiful and magical woodland site. At around 21.45 we begin a poetry slam with a number of guest poets (details TBA). Conference delegates do not need to book - all are welcome. Tickets will be available to the general public at a cost of £8. Booking coming soon. | |||
21.45 | 'Nightpaddle' a canoe paddle along the river as night falls and the night creatures emerge. nightpaddle is a bookable event with limited numbers BOOK HERE £35 | |||
22.00 | The bar at The Nest will remain open until about 23.00; the White Hart Bar will also be open until 23.00. | |||
23.45 | Overnight sit by the River Dart [BOOKING REQUIRED] |
Friday, 21 June | ||||
THROUGHOUT | The ART EXHIBITION runs throughout the conference; the FILM PROGRAMME runs throughout Thursday and Friday. An audio SOUNDSCAPE by David Clarke is available to listen to at any time by following this link Duet of the SoAring | |||
TRADE SHOW showcasing both commercial and non-commercial projects and organisations | ||||
The Great Hall | Studio 1 | Studio 6 | Elsewhere | |
5.00 | Midsummer dawn silent listening / dawn chorus | |||
9.00 | Registration (Tea/coffee) | |||
9.15 | PLENARY: Housekeeping | |||
Forestry Futures | Value / Natural Capital | Ethics and Sentience | ||
9.30 | Jez Ralph Panel/Roundtable discussion Timber has been of central importance in UK forest policy for much the last 100 years. Do we need to renew our focus on timber or concentrate on other priorities? If timber production isn't the primary motivation is the Forestry Act still fit for purpose? This session will discuss the role of the public policy in setting the agenda for UK forestry for the next 100 years. With Ian Gambles, Director Forestry Commission England Adam Milton, Carpenter Oak Crispin Golding, Forest agent and silviculturalist Gabriel Hemery, Director, Sylva Foundation and author of The New Sylva Andrew Heald, Technical Director of Confederation of Forest Industries | Caroline Greenslade Breaking down the barriers: engaging with owners to encourage greater woodland utilisation Why is woodland managed without identifying human, structural, financial and environmental concerns? Arguments about management beyond the economic. | Simon Leadbeater Restoring the Sacred to Britain’s Woodland Groves; exploring degrees of sentience and how these affect our relationship with trees. a critical review of questions of tree sentience and how we live with trees | |
10.00 | Kate Prendergast The cynic in the forest: challenging contemporary discourses of economic value exploring discourses around price and value as they relate to trees and woodland | Sarah Abbott Rethinking the forest: tree sentience, relationality, representation and environmental empathy a consideration of trees as individual, agentic beings with sentience, intelligence, perception, and consciousness | ||
10.30 | Amy Burnett Forest capital: incentivising a transformation in capitals for net gains to trees and their environs a critique of Forest Capital and econometrics based around natural capital | Jude Allen Talking Trees: Close Encounters of the Sylvan Kind considering the voices of trees | ||
11.00 | BREAK (Tea/coffee) | |||
Climate change impacts (3): environmental shifts | Artist presentations | Value / Natural Capital (2) | Workshops 9-12 (all run 11.30-13.00) NOTE all workshops are limited to 10 participants BOOK NOW | |
11.30 | Nicole Manley Artist presentation - Seeing the wood or the forest outlines an art project based on a scientific study questioning how we manage forests in relationship to mitigating flooding | from Edwina Fitzpatick Lizzie Sykes Douglas Barrett & Katerie Gladdys Petra Regent Stacey Righton Iyamari Cherie Sampson (Skype at dawn from USA) Flora Wiegmann Huda Ismael (video presentation from Iraq) | Round table: Making nature’s values visible: can our trees and woodlands make us healthy, wealthy and wise? a panel/roundtable with Gillian Petrokofsky, Myc Riggulsford , Prof Kathy Willis (Univ of Oxford) A facilitated discussion on this important topic of central importance in a world where decisions concerning the public realm can be driven technocratically by notions of economics and 'value'. | Christopher Salisbury from Wildwise: Hunting Party: a hands-on experience/workshop around foraging and cooking. Sorry, fully booked |
12.00 | Andreas Rutkauskas Artist presentation - After the Fire about fire-adapted ecosystem design in British Columbia through use of large format photography. How to live co-operatively with fire. | Christine Fentz and Inger Kaergaard Being here: from anthropocene to biocentric participation a mix of walking, being outdoors and workshop. Meeting and interacting with trees and other species down to microorganisms. Sorry, fully booked | ||
12.30 | Lisa Schneidau Grief, regeneration and inspiration: stories of the Ash tree. a storyteller’s perspective of the ash tree, the World Tree, the trickster tree; creative responses to the looming tragedy of ash dieback | Dartington Estates team Experimental Forestry at Dartington a tour of past, present and future forestry experiments at Dartington Book here | ||
John Bruce Resilience - forest planning workshop Indoor workshop framed by a short presentation on the issues facing Thetford Forest which shows some of the techniques used to create a planning document. Followed by a hands-on workshop working as a group. Sorry, fully booked | ||||
13.00 | LUNCH | |||
14.30 | Facilitated discussion / closing event | |||
15.30 | END |
Saturday June 22
On Saturday June 22, the Dartington Hall Trust will run a number of forest-focused events for families and young people about the innovative work happening on the estate’s woodland. There will be an opportunity to take a tour of the forestry and agroforestry and hear more about the future plans for forest innovation. Full details and booking can be found here.