Wednesday 7 May: ‘What is Wild? An exploration of science, history, and concepts.'  

The intention is to explore and discuss concepts such as ‘wildwood' and the balances of open savanna or closed forest in past landscapes. In particular, we wish to examine the influences of humans in shaping the vegetation in early landscapes (such as the Mesolithic and Neolithic) and the implications for contemporary management and wilding. This inevitably involves the bringing together of palaeo-ecology, palaeo-botany, landscape history, historical ecology, and more to consider the past, the present, and the future.  

Thursday 8th May will switch the focus to ‘Welcome to the Urban Wild'.  

The discussion moves to the present-day and the future as projects to re-wild in rural spaces sit alongside changes in the urban heartlands, and the expanding green-to-grey peri-urban zones and our urbanised human society.   

Speakers include Ted Green and Jill Butler, Dr Keith Alexander, Dr Matthew Adeleye, Professor Peter Bridgewater, Professor Peter Rowley-Conway & Dr Michael J Allen.

​

For more information visit the UKEconet webpage, advance booking through the online system is required.

Attendees are also invited to a special free event on Wednesday evening 18.30pm - 20.30: ‘An evening with Mark Cocker presenting ‘What is Wild?' followed by a discussion led by Ted Green and Jill Butler', at the University of Sheffield Arts Tower, S3 7NA. This is included in the booking for conference delegates but is also open to those unable to attend the main event who will need to book via the webpage. 

For more information about the content and booking, please contact Professor Ian Rotherham at syeconet@gmail.com or @IanThewildside.