The Soil Beneath our Feet

Yes, the answer does lie in the soil and if you’ve ever wondered what those answers are the Brecon & Radnor Branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales are hosting an inspiring day of talks and discussions on Saturday 3rd November at The Town Hall in Talgarth near Brecon from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

A panel of expert scientists, farmers and conservationists will explore this important and complex subject chaired by Dr. John Scullion from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberyswyth University. His fellow speakers will be
Dr. William Stiles also from Aberystwyth University and Farming Connect;
Dr. Alan Feest – expert on biodiversity and fungi from Bristol University;
Ian Rappel – Chief Executive of Gwent Wildlife Trust;
James Cooke – Welsh Government Agricultural Land Use Policy Manager;
Rory Francis – Campaigns Manager for the Woodland Trust Cymru;
Richard Tudor and Geraint Powell, both Nuffield Farm Scholars and well-known practising farmers.

Fundamental to life on Earth, our soil is a non-renewable resource, and home to a quarter of all living species on Earth. But life within the soil is so often ‘out of sight, out of mind’. What organisms make up our soil and how important are they to life above ground? How are our activities affecting soil ecology and biodiversity? Charles Darwin spent over forty years studying the earthworm and its effect on our soils, yet today only about twenty five percent of worm species, six percent of fungi and less than two percent of soil bacteria have been studied and categorized.

‘Down to Earth’ Soil Symposium Day offers a fascinating and unique opportunity to share questions and answers in the company of a pre-eminent panel of speakers, and to discover more about our soils and how we can look after them, as we face the future challenges of the 21st century.

Refreshments are included.

To book please email: iainaitken@lineone.net or Tel: 01497 821668
CPRW Members £10 / Non-members £12 / Free to under 26

Directions:
For your satnavs the postcode for Talgarth Town Hall is LD3 0BW. Location map here. There is a large free car park just a couple of minutes walk away, shown on the map. A colour poster promoting the symposium is available for download here.

We look forward to seeing you there in Talgarth on Saturday 3rd November at the Symposium!