The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership has announced the key speakers for this year’s Ecological Summit on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Heartlands in Pool.   

This year’s summit promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a range of inspiring speakers including the BAFTA-Award-winning TV presenter and public speaker Michaela Strachan and CEO of Wildlife & Countryside Link, Richard Benwell.  

The one-day event is a unique opportunity for key stakeholders, including farmers, landowners, businesses and anyone else with a keen interest in our natural world to come together and make a pledge for nature, whilst also inspiring attendees to take action against the ecological emergency declared by the Partnership in 2021.  

Guests will be invited to participate in a series of action-oriented themed sessions, designed to inspire and encourage meaningful change to tackle the ecological and biodiversity crisis at different levels.  

Keynote speaker, Michaela Strachan said: “I am really looking forward to coming along to the Cornwall Ecological Summit. It’s so important to keep the conversation going forward when it comes to sustainability and biodiversity. 

“We need to be ambitious with ideas to push nature recovery. We need to keep it at the top of people’s minds and council agendas. 

“My talk is a celebration of the Watches which will hopefully inspire everyone attending to make their ‘Pledges For Nature’ whilst also being entertaining.”  

Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link added: “2023 could be the most important year yet for Local Nature Partnerships. 

“With planning reforms, farming and fisheries reforms, and just seven years to go to halt the decline of wildlife, now is the time to galvanise local communities, businesses and public authorities to re-double nature restoration plans. 

“With this conference, I hope Cornwall will once again show agenda-setting leadership.”  

The event and its subsequent actions will support communities, charities, landowners and managers, public authorities and businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to address the ecological and biodiversity crisis. 

“Through collective action and collaboration, the summit aims to deliver tangible results and make a meaningful contribution to creating a more sustainable future for the region.