Field Trips
Tickets coming soon!
All excursions will take place on Wednesday 23 September 2026. When registering for the conference, please note that it is only possible to attend one excursion.
**At this stage the field trips are subject to change. Tickets with confirmed details of all trips will be available soon.
Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire
Site Visit: A417 Missing link, Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and Gloucester Services
Capacity: 100
Description: This field trip will involve visiting two nationally significant infrastructure projects and the acclaimed Gloucester Services;
- The A417 missing link: A landscape led highways scheme that will deliver a safe and resilient free-flowing road while conserving and enhancing the special character of the Cotswolds National Landscape. The £460m project delivers 3-miles of dual carriageway, one of the largest wildlife bridges in the UK (37m wide), the Gloucester Way Crossing, and a suite of other environmental enhancements. The trip will involve an overview of the project in the site office and trip to the projects exclusion zone where the construction site can be safety viewed.
- The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme: This project is one of the largest flood alleviation schemes in the UK. Located in farmland and floodplain meadows outside of the historic city of Oxford, the project will create a new stream and 5km long wetland corridor to reduce flood risk to the city and surrounding areas. The scheme will reduce flood risk to all Oxford properties and infrastructure currently at risk, while creating 20 hectares of new wetland habitat and 16 hectares of flood plain meadow.
- Gloucester Services is a unique example of a motorway service station build around sustainability, local enterprise, and ecological design. The services includes a nature-positive site layout, natural landscaping, uses green roofs and natural materials, supports local producers and provides commercial enterprise in a environmentally responsible way.
South Gloucestershire
Site Visit: Severn Estuary & Wetland Cluster - Aust, Severnside, Hallen Marshes & Oldbury Nuclear Power Station
Capacity: 90
Description: This field trip explores the Severn Estuary, one of the UK’s most ecologically significant tidal systems, designated as Ramsar, SPA, and SAC for its internationally important bird populations and intertidal habitats. Participants will examine how flood defence, wetland restoration, and energy infrastructure intersect with biodiversity and climate resilience. The itinerary includes Hallen Marshes, a flagship wetland mitigation site, and a visit near Oldbury Nuclear Power Station, where decommissioning and habitat restoration are reshaping the estuarine landscape.
Avonmouth & Severnside
Explore the Avonmouth & Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) Flood Defence and Ecology Mitigation Project, which delivers 17 km of
new flood defences and 80+ hectares of wetland habitat to offset industrial development impacts.
Hallen Marshes – Wetland Restoration & High-Tide Roosts
Visit Hallen Marsh, a newly created wetland north of Avonmouth, designed to provide high-tide roosts for waders and wildfowl and compensate for habitat loss in the ASEA. The site includes scrapes, ditches, and native planting to support species such as curlew, redshank, pintail, and water vole.
Oldbury Nuclear Power Station – Energy Legacy & Habitat Interface
Near Oldbury-on-Severn, participants will learn about the decommissioning of the Magnox reactors (closed 2012) and associated Environmental Management Plan obligations under ONR consent. Discussion will cover wetland restoration of former silt lagoons, which historically served as high-tide roosts for estuarine birds, and plans to regenerate Lagoon 3 as a valuable habitat.
Bristol Boat Trip
Site Visit: Brunel Boat Trip
Capacity: 50
Description: This boat tour will take in views of 3 of Brunel's master pieces, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain and Temple Meads Railway Station. The tour will also include speakers talking through different projects and schemes in and around Bristol harbour and talk through the harbour strategy. The trip will also include the Floating Ecosystem of Bristol Harbour, which were installed as part of the West of England Combined Authority's green recovery initatives, and provide floating platforms for fish, invertebrate, and bird habitat.
Somerset BNG
Site Visit: Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve & Belmont Estate
Capacity: 80
Description: This trip explores two pioneering approaches to nature recovery and sustainable land management. Somerset’s new “super” National Nature Reserves, participants will see how peatland restoration and wetland connectivity are being scaled up to deliver climate resilience and biodiversity gains. At Belmont Estate, we’ll examine how regenerative agriculture and rewilding are transforming a historic estate into a hub for nature-based solutions, community engagement, and biodiversity net gain. Together, these sites illustrate how joined-up conservation and land-use innovation can shape a greener future.
Bristol to Bath cycle path
Site Visit: TBC
Capacity: TBC
Description: TBC
UWE Walking tour
Site Visit: University of the West of England
Capacity: TBC
Description: TBC
Stops & Content: TBC
Stonehenge, Chalk Landscapes and Heritage
Site Visit: Chalk Landscape and Heritage - Stonehenge & Chalk Grassland Restoration
Capacity: 120
Description: Immerse yourself in southern England’s chalk landscape where prehistoric heritage meets modern infrastructure and nature recovery. Visit Stonehenge World Heritage landscape, explore chalk grassland restoration led by the Wiltshire Chalk Partnership and partners, and visit the roman town of Bath.
Stops & Content
Stonehenge World Heritage Site
On‑site orientation across the iconic monument and surrounding landscape; how visitor management, setting, and transport planning interact. We’ll review the recent policy and funding context around the A303 Stonehenge road scheme and tunnel debate.
Chalk Grassland Restoration (Wiltshire Chalk Partnership)
Landscape‑scale projects aiming to create ~2,000 ha of semi‑natural grassland, reconnect fragments, and build resilience under climate change. We’ll discuss seed sources, grazing regimes, and Big Chalk connectivity.
Wales: Severn Crossing Bridge & Wetlands
Site Visit: Gwent Wildlife Trust & Wetland, Gwent Levels & M4 Corridor
Capacity: 90
Description: This trip explores the Gwent Levels, a historic wetland landscape of international importance, and examines how major transport infrastructure including the M4 Severn Bridge and Second Severn Crossing intersects with ecology and policy. Participants will visit Magor Marsh and a viewpoint stop at the Severn Bridge, highlighting its engineering heritage and environmental context.
Stops & Content
M4 Severn Bridge & Second Severn Crossing Severn Bridge (1966)
The original Severn Bridge is an iconic suspension structure spanning the estuary with a main span of 988 metres. Its aerodynamic deck was designed to withstand strong estuary winds, a pioneering feature at the time. Opened in 1966, it replaced the Aust Ferry and carried the M4 motorway for three decades before being redesignated as the M48. Today, it stands as a Grade I listed engineering landmark, celebrated for its elegant design and historic role in transforming cross-border connectivity.
Second Severn Crossing – Prince of Wales Bridge (1996)
Opened in 1996, the Second Severn Crossing, now officially named the Prince of Wales Bridge, was built to relieve congestion and provide a more resilient route across the estuary. This cable-stayed structure stretches 5,128 metres in total length and accommodates three lanes in each direction. Its design addressed wind vulnerability and improved traffic flow along the main M4 corridor. Planning for the bridge involved extensive environmental studies on tidal range, estuarine ecology, and climate resilience, ensuring that this major infrastructure project balanced engineering ambition with ecological considerations.
Magor Marsh – Flagship Wetland Reserve
Last remaining fenland fragment on the Gwent Levels, with sedge fen, reedbed, wet woodland, and ancient drainage ditches (reens).
The Gwent Levels – Landscape & Heritage
Roman and medieval reclamation, 870 miles of reens, and archaeological finds. Designations: SSSI, SPA, SAC, Ramsar for biodiversity and cultural value.
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