We are pleased to invite you to a Development Day at Smithills Estate, delivered in partnership with the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management (IPROW).

These events provide an opportunity to connect with peers, share experience, and explore key challenges facing the sector. This is an interactive session rather than a formal training course, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own examples, insights, and questions to contribute to the discussion.

Event Focus

Outdoor spaces are facing increasing pressures from climate change, with wildfire becoming an increasingly familiar and complex challenge.

This session aligns closely with the ORN Action Plan, particularly the priorities of:

– Protecting nature and promoting responsible access

– Managing the impacts of climate change

– Supporting land managers to respond to emerging risks

Drawing on the Woodland Trust’s experience of managing a significant wildfire at Smithills Estate, Oliver Stainthorpe will share key insights and lessons learned, including the practical and often challenging realities of managing public access during high-risk events.

With contributions from the Forestry Commission and Natural England, the workshop will explore how access can be effectively managed within a statutory framework, while also considering wider adaptive strategies to improve site resilience. This includes the role of behaviour change, partnership working, and site design in supporting both safe public access and long-term environmental protection.