David Goode (author of Nature in Towns and Cities), Mathew Frith (London Wildlife Trust) and Georgia Stokes (Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust) ask whether nature in cities is in safe hands; look at how we promote more involvement in wildlife in cities; and examine the conflicts of interest in promoting nature in cities and how they can be overcome. Chaired by Jane Memmott, University of Bristol.

Part of Festival of the Future City: Nature-Rich Cities

One of the great benefits of the current renewal of cities is the potential to make them nature-rich. This strand of the festival, organised in association with Avon Wildlife Trust, will explore how to integrate nature in urban living, design and planning, and debate the challenges of making our urban landscapes wildlife-friendly, both to protect existing wildlife and to attract more. 

Image credit: Tim Bernhard

Speakers

David Goode

David Goode has over 40 years of experience as an ecologist and naturalist working in both central and local government in the UK and an international reputation for environmental projects, ranging from wetland conservation to urban sustainability. He published Wild in London in 1986 and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology (2011). His most recent book is Nature in Towns and Cities (2014). He has worked in major cities in China, and in Santiago, Chile. A Visiting Professor at University College London since 1994, he was Honorary Professor at East China Normal University from 1996-2001. He is a member of the IUCN Specialist Group on Cities and Protected Areas.

Mathew Frith

Mathew Frith is Director of Policy and Planning, London Wildlife Trust. He is an urban ecologist with 25 years of experience of land management policy and practice in nature conservation with voluntary organisations, public bodies and government agencies, such as the London Ecology Unit, English Nature and Peabody. He has managed nature reserves, and developed policies to advocate the protection and creation of green infrastructure. He is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and a Green Flag Award judge.

Jane Memmott

Jane Memmott is Professor of Ecology at University of Bristol. Her research interests include pollination ecology, invasion ecology, agro-ecology, biological control, urban ecology and restoration ecology. She is the lead investigator of the Urban Pollinators project, which won the 2013 Bristol Genius award.

Georgia Stokes

Georgia Stokes is Chief Executive, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. She joined the trust from Northfield Ecocentre, which she led for six years, bringing projects such as Cycle South Brum and Urban Harvest to fruition. Follow her on Twitter @aquilaAngel

Image credits: David Goode – Tim Bernhard