We aim to organise a conference or seminar each year, focusing on a topical theme. Our conference is located in a different part of the UK (excluding Scotland).
2025 CMA Conference – Communities Helping Nature to Recover
Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 November 2025
YHA Ironbridge, Coalport, Shropshire
This year’s CMA training conference concentrates on how ‘Communities are helping Nature to Recover’ and showcases areas, sites and projects where Countryside Managers, groups and individuals have come together to build successful people focussed nature partnerships.
Speakers will include CMA Patron Chris Baines, one of the UK’s leading independent environmentalist, Delia Garrett, Chief Executive of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, who will both be talking about the importance of community involvement in countryside and green space management. We will also be joined by Niki Goth, a Ranger from Switzerland, and Imogen Hammond from Clwydian Range & Dee Valley who will be talking about their experiences running Youth Ranger Projects.
Further speakers will be joining us throughout the 3 days to share their ‘real world’ knowledge in managing community involvement in national landscapes, urban environments and local nature partnerships.
Our workshops will be centred on the CMA’s involvement in engaging with the wider public, embracing the volunteer moment, the link between Nature Recovery and health and wellbeing as well as supporting the development of more youth involvement in nature conservation.
The field visits, which are always a feature of the CMA Conference, range from the wild and atmospheric landscape of Stiperstones National Nature Reserve in the Shropshire Hills, to the more formal 200 acres of Attingham Park and the historic environs of Ironbridge and Care Drewyn in the Clywdian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.
Led by local site staff, it’s where the real knowledge exchange takes place and our history as a practical based association really comes to the fore!
With the Conference based at the Ironbridge Youth Hostel it’s ideally located to explore this diverse part of the country.
So, whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out on a career in Countryside Management, the CMA conference provides an unrivalled, cost-effective opportunity to meet like-minded peers, develop your skills and knowledge, benefit from the experience of fellow professionals and increase your personal network and contacts.
Book now to ensure your place!
2024 CMA Conference – The Wild West
Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 November 2024
YHA Okehampton Bracken Tor, Okehampton, Devon
Thank you to all those who came to speak, listen and participate in this year’s conference, it was a great few days with new friendships forged and much learnt. Thank you to all those who have sent in their images, here are but a few…
Our previous conferences:
2023
Delivering Nature Recovery
2022
Reconnect, Reflect, Respond
2019
Landscapes, the Big Picture
2018
Engaging Communities, Enhancing Lives
2017
New Opportunities in the Outdoors – creative approaches to funding, partnerships and publicity
2016
