Kent Downs AONB  would like to invite you to the ’ Landscape and Nature for All’ Conference that will take place on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th September 2011 at Hythe Imperial Hotel, Hythe, Kent, UK.

This is an exciting conference focusing on Protected Landscape management in Kent and Northern France.  Conference highlights will include:

• A choice of four field trips within Kent, UK and Nord Pas de Calais , France.  Trips will focus on – good practice for chalk grassland and adder management as well as wetland and bat habitat management; Community involvement in nature conservation; strategies to enhance ecological connectivity and woodlands.
• Landscape Mapping and Monitoring Workshop by  ‘Land Use Consultants’ and David Dixon, South West Protected Landscape Forum.  This workshop will present recent research on mapping practices in English and French areas of the Interreg Programme.  This will include an overview of a newly developed database of landscape mapping practices and recommendations for best practice and a common approach to landscape mapping and monitoring.
• 7 specialist debates on –  European funding opportunities; Multipurpose Chalk Grassland Management; Bats as habitat quality indicators; Improving community engagement in conservation; Blue-green grid strategy and implementation; Assessing Habitat Suitability for reptiles; Managing woodland landscapes for wildlife with a focus on butterflies.

The ‘Landscape and Nature for All’  (LNA) project brings together 15 French and UK partners working to improve the use and management of natural heritage in the Kent Downs AONB, UK and the PNR des Caps et Marais d’Opale in northern France.  This 4 million Euro project has been working on multiple themes including chalk grassland, woodland, wetlands, eco-corridors, community engagement, access, strategy and research and a network of Protected Landscapes in southern England and northwest France.  The LNA project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg IVA France (Channel) – England Programme.  This 4 year project finishes in December 2011.

Please contact Catherine Brady or Maria Domzal for more details and to register:
Kent Downs AONB Unit
West Barn, Penstock Hall Farm
Canterbury Road
East Brabourne
Ashford, Kent
TN25 5LL
United Kingdom
Tel.:+44 1303 815 174
Fax: +44 1303 815 179