Why are UK landscapes missing part of their wild soul? Our fellow mammals have been part of our history, culture and livelihoods throughout history. However some of our most iconic wildlife species have already been lost, and while a few species are starting to return thanks to the efforts of conservationists, one in four of our remaining native mammals are at threat of being lost from our lives and landscapes.

So what can we do to bring back the wild things? Not only to national parks and remote landscapes set aside for nature, but to the landscapes close to where we live? In this panel we’ll explore the potential of our urban and farming landscapes to deliver for wildlife as well as humans, and consider what we can do – or call for politicians to do – in order to bring back the wild soul of the UK.

Speakers

David Wembridge

Conservation Research and Strategy Officer, People’s Trust for Endangered Species

David runs ongoing citizen science projects collecting records of mammals and other animals, recognising the importance of the built environment for wildlife and people alike.

Steph Wray

Chair, The Mammal Society

Dr. Stephanie Wray is an experienced Project Director and biodiversity expert with over 25 years of experience, specializing in assessing the impact of business on biodiversity and developing corporate sustainability strategies. She is a Chartered Ecologist, a Fellow and past President of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Steph has been a Director of RSK Biocensus, and founded the specialist consultancy Nature Positive in 2020 where she specialises in business impacts on biodiversity, natural capital and ecosystem services. 

David Brown

Land & Nature Programme Manager, National Trust

David Brown has worked as an ecologist for 30 years in the UK and Spain. For the past 12 years he has led the National Trust’s for nature recovery work across their flagship Purbeck Estate in Dorset. This includes working on the Trust’s own in-hand land, with their tenant farmers and across the wider landscape with landowners and farmers, aiming to create a connected, resilient landscape for nature and people.