Future Countryside Conference 2025

Bridgette Macilwaine
Jun 7
4 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

The Future Countryside Conference 2025 at Chatsworth House brought together a diverse group of professionals and offered a valuable platform for addressing the pressing issues facing rural Britain, communities, biodiversity, landscape use and farming.

Thankful for the invite to attend this significant conference which offered a valuable setting for fostering cross-sector collaboration and discussions. Many thanks to the Future Countryside team Nick Herbert, Chair of the Countryside Alliance and a key figure in rural policy discussions, and Julian Glover, a Trustee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and policy adviser, and thanks to the Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner and his team.

Many thanks to Lord William and Laura Burlington and Jane Marriott from the Chatsworth House Trust for the beautiful location and setting for the conference and the evening networking BBQ.

Nick Herbert opened with a motivating introduction and the drive behind organising the Future Contryside Conference, "it's fair to say that the challenges facing the countryside have been the focus of intense debate, and whether your concern is about farming, or nature or both, concerns are considerable and collectively we face great uncertainty, so what can bring us together?

Can we reach a shared view of the way forward?

Can we find the opportunities and a positive vision as we navigate the difficulties of resource constraints and changing policy?

Can we persuade our political masters of the value and importance of the countryside as a whole as a national asset and to express to politicians the value and importance of the countryside for all?

Attending an event such as this offers invaluable opportunities for the varying attendees to take part in cross-sector collaboration, who are dedicated to the future and success of our landscapes and to discuss innovative solutions for rural challenges, to contribute to national strategies on land use community support and am delighted to have the opportunity to attend as a Senior Landscape Architect to share experiences, challenges and the importance of Landscape Architecture for the future of thriving and resilient landscapes.

The attendees included:

Policy makers, Ecologists & Biodiversity Specialists, Sustainability Consultants, Agricultural & Land Management Professionals, Farmers, Agri-Tech Innovators, Estate Managers, Conservationists, Political Figures, Government Officials, Local Government Representatives, Academic & Research Institutions, Rural Community & Social Development Leaders, Corporate Leaders and Financial Experts.

From left to right: Nick Herbert, Roger Mortlock and Alastair Driver

Alastair Driver, UK Re-wilding Specialist from Rewilding Britain noted the importance of the Government to support farmers and land owners who are delivering and supporting nature recovery schemes and delivering on the Governments objectives, to support large scale restoration of ecosystems to the point where nature is allowed to take care of itself. Alastair noted that his work over the past 10 years has been truly inspiring, focusing on re-wilding landscapes with both public and private landowners.

Roger Mortlock, CEO of CPRE questioned what is planning for? For balance, and not just economic growth, in the pursuit of sustainable development, we need to manage the land for the long term, focusing on safeguarding the countryside and nature, improving housing standards and rethinking delivery. we'll be judged in 20 years by the quality of our houses and not simply the quantity, as well as highlighting the genuine lack of access to affordable housing for the younger generations. Roger urged attendees to not solve these problems in isolation, we all understand and recognise the interconnectedness of the threats we face to communities, landscapes and nature, but one of the issues of today is that we often seem to consider the solutions in silos.

It was a great pleasure to meet Roger in person, as a recent addition to our Parish Council, I'm also the CPRE Representative, so it was brilliant timing to discuss and opportunities and stategies on how we can work together towards similar goals.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England offered perspectives on environmental conservation and sustainable land use, while noting the current country wide concerns that we’re all aware of regarding flooding, droughts, biodiversity and food production.

Alignment with Global Sustainability Goals

By addressing the issues of climate change, nature protection, land use and food security, the event aligns with global sustainability objectives, enabling attendees to contribute to broader environmental and social goals. Several speakers and discussions highlighted the complexities arising from competing land uses, such as conservation efforts versus agricultural practices, and the need for collaborative solutions to navigate these tensions.

Participants gained insights into emerging technologies, practices and policy discussions in areas such as regenerative agriculture, nature recovery, landscape use, combating climate change, producing food and rural enterprise, equipping them with tools to implement change in their communities. Discussions also highlighted the importance of engaging younger generations in shaping the future of rural areas and raising awareness of environmental stewardship.

A countryside for all

Collaborative Resolutions

“The conference served as a platform to advocate for policies that support sustainable rural development, equitable funding, and the integration of environmental and health considerations into land use planning” – Read more on the countryside-alliance.org website.

The conference concluded in actionable strategies aimed at addressing the challenges faced by rural Britain, which encompass sustainable agricultural practices, enhanced rural infrastructure, landscape resilience and policies that support both environmental conservation and economic growth.

More information:

Future Countryside brings together a unique coalition of interests and inspires a shared commitment to creating a sustainable, resilient countryside.
The Countryside Alliance is dedicated to championing and preserving the rich heritage, natural beauty and vibrant communities that define the countryside.
Rural Solutions helps those who own and manage land, property, and estates to create remarkable spaces and enterprises which enable people and places to thrive.
Farmers Weekly is a leading UK based media brand providing information and resources for the agricultural industry.

I do hope that the ongoing discussions and collaborations initiated here drive meaningful positive change in the countryside to shape a sustainable and prosperous future, a beautiful and resilient place to life for both communities and nature.