What is our land for?

On Wednesday the 13th November we will be hosting our Farming Conference on the question ‘What is our land for?’

The conference, which will take place in person and online, will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities related to land use in the South East of England.

The Conference will run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm online. If attending in person, pre- and post-event refreshments and network opportunities will be available from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

The South East of England is a microcosm of the broader issues facing the UK. It encompasses bustling urban centres, vast agricultural lands, and areas of significant natural beauty and biodiversity.

The land here supports a high population density, a robust economy, and crucial infrastructure. However, this also brings challenges such as housing shortages, environmental degradation, and the impacts of climate change. Moreover, the region’s agricultural land is often of marginal quality, which poses significant challenges for profitable food production when we see increasing pressure on the land and decreasing government support for agriculture. This reality compels us to consider whether the focus should shift from food production to enhancing environmental and biodiversity outcomes. Whether we should embrace the relentless tide of commercial development or resist it at all costs. Where does the balance lie? What is our land for?

BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today presenter Charlotte Smith will be chairing and will be joined by a distinguised panel of leaders in their fields – Paul Christian, Managing Director, Sentry; Tom Heap, journalist and author; Tim Slaney, Interim Chief Executive Officer, South Downs National Park Authority and Ben Taylor, Managing Director, Iford Estate.

Photographers will be present and should always ask permission for individual photography. If you do not wish your image to be included in the background please make yourself known to Society staff when you attend.

Host or Publisher South of England Agricultural Society