Webinar: Nature and Us – natural heritage interpretation in 2021

With Sunita Welch MAHI and Susan Cross FAHI

Public attitudes to the natural world and the environment are changing fast. The climate and biodiversity crises are headline news. The global Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of nature and natural areas for well-being and the inequalities in access to these areas.

What positive roles can interpreters and countryside managers play in this this new landscape? Susan Cross and Sunita Welch both have several decades of experience of working with natural heritage, nature and countryside organisations. In this webinar they will talk about some recent work in protected landscapes and conservation agriculture, discussing how audiences are changing and drawing out key lessons and current trends. There will be time for questions and discussions with participants.

Register online and an invitation will be sent to you a day or two before the event.

OUTLINE PROGRAMME

Introduction:  What do we mean by ‘nature’? Biodiversity, landscape and well-being

 Part A: Detailed Case Study

• Understanding different audiences and different needs
• Interpretation for diverse audiences on a low budget
• The importance of experience

Question and Answer session

Part B: Who visits, who doesn’t and why?

• Barriers and bridges to engagement: what we know and don’t know
• Impact of the pandemic on access to nature: new expectations
• Perceptions, preconceptions and misconceptions

Discussion: How will you be with your new audiences in 2021?

Conclusions