The Dedham Vale & Stour Valley Forum 2023

A National Landscape fit for the 21st century?

The Dedham Vale National Landscape and Stour Valley Forum is an annual event where anyone with an interest and passion for conserving and enhancing the Dedham Vale National Landscape & Stour Valley can come together to discuss a range of issues affecting the area.

The 2023 Dedham Vale and Stour Valley Forum will take place at the National Trust tearooms, Flatford on Thursday 14th September 2023.

The theme for the 2023 event is: A National Landscape fit for the 21st century?

The event will take place from 6:00pm - 8:00pm, with an optional guided dark skies walk afterwards.

Programme of events

6:00pm - Doors open/Informal networking and refreshments


6:30pm - Welcome of forum

Chair of Dedham Vale National Landscape and Stour Valley Partnership


6:35pm - Highlights from the work of the staff team over the last 12 months

A flavour of the work of the staff team over the last 12 months

Claire Cadman, AONB Officer


6:45pm - Farming in Protected Landscapes programme

What the programme is and some early successes

Lynn Eldrett, Farming in Protected Landscapes Support Officer


7:00pm - Questions and Answers from first two speakers

Moderated by Emma Black, Countryside Projects Officer


7:10pm - Managing a nationally significant landscape

The role of the National Trust

David Piper, Countryside Manager, National Trust


7:30pm - Practical Actions for Climate and the Environment

Practical Actions for Climate and the Environment (PACE): the initiatives of this local community group and, in particular, the Water Quality of the Stour

John Hall, PACE


7:50pm - Questions and Answers from last two presentations

Moderated by Emma Black, Countryside Projects Officer


8:00pm - Reflections, arrangements for Dark Skies walk and close

Chair of Dedham Vale National Landscape and Stour Valley Partnership


Paul Gallifant, Dark Skies Group: Introduction and arrangements for the outdoor dark skies element, including the opportunity to observe night skies and discuss dark skies

From 8:10pm - to finish by 9:30pm

Join members of the Dedham Vale Dark Skies campaign and the Dedham Vale Society to observe the night-time skies and discuss dark skies


DON’T FORGET…

Sunset is at 7:18pm on this day and it will be dark at Flatford. There are steps between the car park and venue. We recommend bringing a torch