Creating vibrant places for people, nature and business

The Forest of Bowland AONB is hosting a FREE symposium next month for anyone working in tourism, travel or place-based marketing. We’ll share the learnings from our Eco Escapes sustainable tourism campaign and hear from a panel of experts on how travel and tourism can become more sustainable and inclusive.

Lancashire’s protected landscapes joined forces to promote sustainable tourism in the county’s rural areas in 2022 via the Eco Escapes campaign. Eco Escapes is designed to build momentum behind a new model of less carbon intensive tourism in sensitive rural environments.

Launched last summer with funding from Lancashire County Council, the Eco Escapes campaign promotes a more sustainable approach to rural tourism by encouraging visitors to use public transport and explore Lancashire’s protected landscapes on foot, by bike, e-bike or all-terrain mobility scooter.

Hosted by Caz Graham from BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme, the Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Summit takes place at the award-winning Holmes Mill in Clitheroe on Tuesday, March 21st.
Sustainable or ‘slow’ tourism is moving up the travel agenda and the good news is that many of Lancashire’s outstanding natural environments can be reached by train and explored on foot, by bike – or increasingly – by e-bike.

Eco Escapes encourages visitors to arrive by train and explore Lancashire’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty on foot, by bike or on e-bike. The Eco Escapes website: www.ecoescapes.org.uk provides car-free sustainable travel plans which link main stations and visitor attractions and highlight visitor destinations which support sustainable tourism.

The Eco Escapes website is a rich resource for visitors who want to tread lightly, reduce their environmental impact and support local independent businesses.

With expert speakers from across the North of England and further afield and panel discussions and workshops, the symposium will explore the drivers of sustainable tourism and what it means for the rural visitor economy.

It will look at the benefits of adopting a more sustainable approach for businesses and the importance of embracing diversity and engaging new audiences who are receptive to environmentally conscious tourism.

Delegates will take a deep dive into the importance of celebrating local distinctiveness to encourage visitors to support independent businesses in the rural economy and the Eco Escapes team will share their learnings on the pivotal role of building a rural business network to underpin a rich sense of place and increase awareness and engagement.

Speakers will also explore the potential of public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling to broaden access to rural areas among under-represented groups.

Green Tourism will be presenting awards to the businesses who have successfully completed green Tourism accreditation as part of the Eco Escapes scheme.

For delegates who like to get hands on, the programme will also include opportunities to sample selected Eco Escapes experiences on foot, by e-bike or at the end of a fork on one of our increasingly popular foodie tours.

BOOK NOW: www.forestofbowland.com/forest-bowland-symposium

A limited number of press passes will be available to bona fide members of the media. Contact Mark Sutcliffe at Salar Media to discuss your needs: [email protected]

PROGRAMME
9.15 – 9.45 Arrival, Coffee & Networking

9.45 – 9.50 Welcome/housekeeping – Caz Graham

9.50 – 10.45 Keynote: Vicky Smith – Earth Changers www.earth-changers.com/
Growing a Responsible Tourism destination

10.45 – 11.00 Eco Escapes Introduction – Hetty
11.00 – 11.15 Coffee break

11.15 – 11.45 Eco Escapes business intro & panel:

Dalehouse Barn: Dominique Ashford

Bowland and Bay: Katie Wilson

Browsholme Hall: Eleanor Parker

Wildlife Tours: Jenny Wren

Community Rail Partnership: Brian Haworth

11.45 – 12.00 The tourism potential of walking, cycling and wheeling: Active Travel England

12.00 – 12.30 Holmes Mill Tour

12.30 – 13.30 LUNCH

13.30 – 14.00 Keynote: Soraya Abdel-Hadi – All the Elements

14.00 – 15.00 Sustainable Tourism and Inclusion panel:

People Enjoying Nature – a positive mental health legacy – Cathy Hopley, The Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership

The Healing Power of Nature – Stacey McKenna Seed, Rewilding Outdoor Therapy

The Pendle Peat Pie – tackling climate change with every slice – Kerry Morrison

Nature-friendly farming and tourism – Sarah Robinson, Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, Forest of Bowland AONB

15.00 – 16.00 Tea break & demos/networking:

16.00 – 16.30 Green Tourism Accreditation Overview & Awards – Andrea Nicholas

16.30 – 17.00 Final comments and closing remarks

OPTIONAL DAY 2 ACTIVITIES
We have arranged preferential rates for overnight accommodation in the Spinning Block Hotel at Holmes Mill. We’ll also be hosting an informal social event in the evening.

FIELD TRIP 1: A wild car-free walk from Clitheroe 4 Hours approx

A 7-mile walk from Clitheroe Station into the foothills of Pendle Hill with a hearty picnic or informal pub lunch to look forward to en route.

FIELD TRIP 2: An E-bike Safari in the Bowland Fells 4 Hours approx

The Forest of Bowland is famous for its hilly terrain and expansive views from the uplands and thanks to a little electrical assistance, these amazing vistas are equally accessible to occasional riders and cycling enthusiasts alike.

FIELD TRIP 3: A Foodie Tour of rural Lancashire 3 Hours approx

Join the irrepressible Katie Wilson from Bowland & Bay Tours for a whistlestop tour of some of Lancashire’s celebrated foodie destinations. Don’t eat too much at breakfast!

Places for these three events are limited. Please reserve your place early to avoid disappointment.

We have arranged preferential rates for overnight accommodation in the Spinning Block Hotel at Holmes Mill. We’ll also be hosting an informal social event on the evening of 21st with duckpin bowling and food.

Book now