Connecting Policy to Practice: UK Rural Development Networking Conference

The UK National Rural Network held its first rural development networking conference, hosted by the Rural Network for Northern Ireland, in the Holiday Inn, Belfast on Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th March 2010.

This major event aims to bring together those involved in the delivery of rural development programmes from across the UK and beyond.

Designed to inspire, motivate and connect, the event delivered a range of opportunities for participants to share ideas, knowledge and practice on the wide range of rural development programme activity taking place across the regions.

The two day event consisted of a full day of presentations, workshops and table discussions followed by a networking dinner. The second day also included two practical fieldtrips.

• Download the Conference Programme
• View the event Write Up
• View the list of actions participants indicated they would do as a result of the event
• Read the participant feedback of the event
• View the priority areas for the UK National Rural Network
• View the list of prioritised list of areas for future UK National Rural Network activity
• Read the Speaker Biographies
• View the Workshop details
• Download the Study Visit programme
• View the participants list
• View factsheet about the UK National Rural Network
• Read the summary of the Rural Development Programmes in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Download the presentations / talks by:

• Rebecca Frost - Programme Manager UK National Rural Network
• Gerallt Llewelyn Jones - Menter Mon
• Michael Dower - European Network for Rural Development
• John Davies - European Network for Rural Development
• Dr Kate Braithwaite - Carnegie UK Trust

View the workshop presentations by:

• Into the Den - Rural Entrepeneurship in the Rural Economy
• Villages for the Future - Working Towards a Model of Sustainable Living
• Wish you Were here? - Sustianable Tourism Development
• Eating Well - Eating Local - Growing Your Local Economy
• Old Problems - New Solutions - Tackling Service Provision in Rural Areas
• Building for the Future - Engaging Young People in Rural Development
• Farming as a Social Service - The Social and Health Benefits if the Farm for Others
• Feedback from the workshops