The inaugral Future Countryside event was held at Hatfield House on Tuesday 6 June 2023. 

Future Countryside set out with the aim of putting people at the heart of countryside policy, looking to bridge divides between experts and advocates in these different fields, as a place for shared discussion. The intention was to raise awareness of the centrality of countryside issues in people’s lives as the next general election approaches.

The inaugural event proved the need for a new approach to the countryside.  It was a place for all sorts of voices to be heard linked by the fact they care about the state of rural Britain and its future.  A report of last year’s event can be found here and a reflections paper authored by Defra’s Lead Non-Executive Director here.