Dorset 10th to 12th September, 2024

National Heathland Conference

10th to 12th September, 2024 at the Springfield Country Hotel, Wareham in Dorset

Click here to download the agenda as a PDF.

Useful information for delegates here.

Latest News

  • Information for delegates
    Information for delegates

    We suggest bringing a name badge if you have one please (blank badges available if not). Venue: Springfield Country Hotel, Grange Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AL. There is a large…

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  • Update
    Update

    Update 6th September 2024: We’re really looking forward to kicking things off on Tuesday! Booking has closed, catering numbers are in and the speakers are primed. We’ve had a wonderful…

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  • Sales deadline
    Sales deadline

    Update 23rd August 2024: Not long now! Bookings have been coming in steadily and we’re delighted with the response. If you’re wavering or still finalising funding, be aware that ticket…

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  • Frances McCullagh
    Frances McCullagh

    19th August 2024: Frances McCullagh is Senior Heathland Specialist at Natural England and will be chairing a session on day 1 and speaking on day 3. She is one of…

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  • Agenda update
    Agenda update

    Update 15th July 2024: The agenda is almost finalised and bookings are rolling in. The conference will address key heathland issues, focusing on; working as partnerships, rewilding, heathland ecology and…

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  • Georgina Sharp
    Georgina Sharp

    21st June 2024: Speaking on day 1 of this year’s conference is Georgina Sharp, Project officer for the Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation Partnership since May 2023. Georgina is…

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  • Agenda now available
    Agenda now available

    1st June 2024: Just three months to go and the agenda is taking shape. The last few speakers are being confirmed and the finer details being pinned down. Book now…

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  • Aaron Bhambra
    Aaron Bhambra

    31st May 2024: Speaking on day 3 will be PhD student and entomologist in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Birmingham, Aaron Bhambra. Aaron…

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  • Dr Scott Pedley
    Dr Scott Pedley

    May 19th 2024: As the programme comes together, watch this space for news! The first speaker to be announced, speaking on day 1, is Dr Scott Pedley, a Senior Lecturer…

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  • Booking open!
    Booking open!

    8th May 2024: We’re delighted to announce that booking is open for the National Heathland Conference 2024. 10th to 12th September, 2024 at the Springfield Country Hotel, Wareham in Dorset….

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  • National Heathland Conference CIC
    National Heathland Conference CIC

    25th April 2024: We’re delighted to announce that National Heathland Conference CIC now exists as a fully registered legal entity. What does this mean? As a Community Interest Company we…

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  • Update
    Update

    2nd April 2024: Apologies, we had hoped to get booking open by now. We are almost there. The contract has been signed with the venue and the programme is coming…

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  • Meet the team
    Meet the team

    Another key member of the conference team is Chris Panter. Chris is Technical Director at Footprint Ecology, where he has worked since 2014. His interests lie in big data, analysis…

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  • Meet the team
    Meet the team

    This website, the conference, and indeed the last two conferences, are the passion project of Steve Fry. Formerly the Senior Ranger at Chobham Common National Nature Reserve in Surrey, latterly…

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  • Update
    Update

    21st September 2023: Booking opens March 2024. Please bear with us, we’re in the early stages of setting up the conference and putting together a steering committee. We’ll publish more…

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  • Welcome
    Welcome

    30th August 2023: We’re delighted to unveil this new website, the first dedicated website for the National Heathland Conference. If you haven’t already done so, put a date in your…

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What and why?

This website and the small organisation behind it have a simple core purpose, the facilitation and promotion of a biannual conference for land managers, researchers and enthusiasts who work on or study heathland in the UK.

We believe there is an important, arguably critical, need for periodic face to face conferences where information and experience can be shared. Past conferences have clearly shown there are many benefits not only in the pooling of knowledge but in the creation of friendships that last decades and the regular renewal of acquaintances that otherwise are increasingly online.

About Us

Heathland