Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People in UK Uplands and Protected Landscapes
CUMBRIA, March 27 & 28 2025
nothing happens in isolation
there is resonance between us all
Overview
This Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People (LUNZ) Hub gathering, led by the PLACE Collective in collaboration with the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, focused on land use, landscapes, livelihoods and cultures in the UK’s uplands and protected landscapes. With a participatory and creative framework, and a chance to see places of transformational change, it brought in perspectives from farming, forestry, peatland restoration, conservation, land management, economics, science, community initiatives and policy – and made space for listening to the land, plants and critters we humans live alongside.
Main Take outs
The event was a huge success, with 55 people joining the site visits on Day 1, and 86 people attending the conference on Day 2. For a summary of the main take outs, head over to the LUNZ Hub website here.
event details, in brief
Sharing knowledge, building capacity and joining the dots.
How can UK uplands and protected landscapes deliver for nature, climate and people?
What are the ingredients for success, and how might good practice be replicated and scaled up?
How can we link practice, research and policy?
The event is now passed, but there is more information here: follow this link: https://Resonance_LUNZ_CNPPA.eventbrite.co.uk
The gathering will be an opportunity to learn more about site-specific changes, and meet others from many specialisms. Outputs will feed into discussions and actions within and beyond the LUNZ Hub around the key themes of enabling just transitions; improving exchange of knowledge, evidence and insights to better link policy and practice; acknowledging the interplay of nature, people and climate; and discussing possible futures for ‘kith and kin’: place and people, landscapes and cultures. There will be a conference report, as well as illustration and poetry inspired by the day.
The content of this gathering builds on multi-stakeholder meetings facilitated through the LUNZ Hub, including events held across Cumbria to co-create a living tree sculpture as part of the Resonance project (https://theplacecollective.org/resonance/)
To find out more about previous LUNZ events and take outs, check https://lunzhub.com/resources and https://lunzhub.com/news/.
Programme
Day 1 (daytime): Meet the Change-Makers, See the Change. Site visits in the Ullswater Valley. Click to read more.
At Goldrill Beck, we’ll see the impact of river re-routing, in the company of Becky Powell, National Trust Riverlands Project Manager, and Danny and Maddy Teasdale from Ullswater CMCiC. This is one of the projects undertaken through Cumbria’s Riverlands Programme, and was awarded the UK River Prize in 2024. At Glencoyne Farm, we’ll meet farmers Candida & Sam Hodgson and National Trust lead ranger John Pring, to find out about the farm’s transformative journey over 25 years, and plans for the coming years including meadow restoration and tree planting alongside grazing of sheep and cattle.
Day 1 (evening): Conversations over food. Dinner in Ambleside.
Day 2: (daytime) Sharing insights, brainstorming, together. Conference at the Ambleside campus of University of Cumbria. More.
The day will include a series of short presentations, participatory exercises, breakout sessions for small group discussions, and a closing panel.
0845 – 0915 Registration and coffee
0915 – 0940 Welcome and Introductions, Percival Lecture Theatre
0940 – 0950 Resonance film
0950 – 1040 Lightning talks
1045 – 1115 Systems in action
1115 – 1140 Coffee
1145 – 1245 Breakouts
1250 – 1340 Lunch
1345 – 1430 Breakouts
1435 – 1500 Lecture Theatre – Session feedback and reflections
1500 – 1550 Panel discussion and audience questions
1550 – 1600 Closing the circle – wrap up and next steps
Download full programme and delegate pack here.
The LUNZ Hub and partners
The Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People (LUNZ) Hub is a consortium of 34 organisations, including research institutes, farmers groups, advisory services, non-governmental and arts organisations. The LUNZ Hub is a four-nation initiative running until 2027, led by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Leicester and funded through government grants. Its objective is to equip UK policy makers, industry, civil society and communities with the evidence they need to drive transformational change in land use.
This gathering is one of a series of LUNZ Hub ‘Big Tent’ events taking place around the UK to bring together consortium members, representatives from partner organisations, and stakeholders from beyond the consortium. The first Big Tent event took place in Edinburgh, in September 2024. Future events will consider themes relating to land use in lowland areas of England, and in Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This event is being run in partnership with the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, which delivers and promotes research and knowledge exchange relevant to national parks and protected areas, facilitating change by shaping policy, practice and perceptions. It is also supported by the National Trust, Ullswater Catchment Management CiC, and farmers Candida and Sam Hodgson, who will be talking about localised landscape change during the site visits on Day 1.
The wider Resonance project, which convenes meetings around the creation of a living tree sculpture, is being developed and run with the generous support of organisations including National Trust, Natural England, Lake District National Park Authority, Friends of the Lake District, and Forestry England.
More info
LUNZ Hub : https://lunzhub.com
Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas
Watch the short film about restoring Goldrill Beck here.
Logistics
Practical information will be shared on booking, but here’s an overview:
Public transport: the nearest mainline station is Oxenholme, with a rail connection to Windermere station, which is well connected to Ambleside by bus. Taxis are also available, with advance booking recommended.
For accommodation we recommend staying in Ambleside. Please note that Ambleside is a popular tourist destination, and while the event is not in holiday season, it’s a good idea to book accommodation in good time.
The university campus is in the heart of the town. Transport for the site visits can be arranged from Ambleside for those without access to carshare.
Questions?
Any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Rob: rob.fraser@cumbria.ac.uk.
Code of Conduct
The LUNZ Hub Leadership team are committed to creating a friendly, safe and respectful place for research, discussion and innovation. All LUNZ Hub Team Members are expected to show respect and courtesy to others both inside and outside the LUNZ Hub. If you would like to know more, or have any cause for concern, the Code of Conduct is available here.
