LUC’s Director of Landscape Planning Kate Ahern spent two days at the Valuing Nature conference at the University of Kent where she presented a poster on our work in ecosystem services and how landscape and seascape character assessment can help.

The poster Out at Sea; Out of Mind looks at the cultural benefits and services provided by the environmental setting of the seascape and how these can be incorporated into marine spatial planning, with examples of a range of innovative participatory approaches developed by LUC.

The Valuing Nature conference asked “how might a participatory approach transform the way valuation analyses are carried out within research and practice?” and invited speakers to address issues surrounding the value of nature, ecosystems and spatial optimisation.

Kate said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to get out of the office and hear some fascinating lectures, take part in stimulating debates and return refreshed with vigour and verve for new projects.”