Managing Loss in the Historic Environment: Ecocultural Approaches

Overview

This transdisciplinary 1-day course provides training and knowledge exchange for those involved in managing complex change (including the potential for substantial harm or loss) in heritage assets and landscapes. It is aimed at a cross sector audience, including historic and natural environment practitioners, cultural resource consultants, regulatory and local planning authorities, landscape architects, curators, and ecological surveyors. In-person and online participation is possible.

We will review environmental drivers for change in the historic environment (in UK and international contexts), discuss a range of established and emerging options for managing anticipated impacts, and then explore approaches with an ‘ecocultural’ emphasis, seeking integrated historic and natural environment outcomes. Participants will gain awareness of relevant policy developments and develop confidence in applying new approaches and navigating context-specific challenges.

Detailed case studies will ground exploration of key themes, leading participants in thinking about how to define, accept and learn from (partial or total) loss in the historic environment, and how to assess the risks and rewards associated with adaptive, integrated approaches. The programme includes contributions from National Trust and Historic England staff directly involved in developing policy and practice to address the challenges explored in the course.  In the afternoon, those attending in person will be invited to share cases from their own work in a participatory workshop applying the approaches introduced in the morning session.

Programme details

9am- Registration

9.30am- Welcome

9.45am- Concepts and Contexts: Defining Loss

10.00am- Triage Scoring and Tipping Points: Accepting Loss

10:15am- Transition and Transformation: Learning from Loss

11.00am- Short break

11.30am- Loss in (Provisional) Practice: flash talks from the National Trust and Historic England

12:30pm- Recap and Resources

(online course ends)

1.00pm- Lunch

2.00pm - Release Café Participatory Workshop   

3.15pm- Coffee/tea

3.45pm- Risks and Rewards: Assessing Loss

4.30pm- Final Discussion and Questions

4.45pm- Course Concludes

Fees

Description Costs
In-person tuition £305.00
Online tuition: Half day only £145.00
Hot Lunch £19.25

Tutors

Caitlin DeSilvey

Course Director

Caitlin DeSilvey is Professor of Cultural Geography at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus. Her research into the cultural significance of material and ecological change has involved extensive collaboration with archaeologists, conservation architects, ecologists, heritage practitioners and others, and has informed new approaches in heritage practice, focused on accommodating process rather than securing preservation. Her monograph, Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving (UMP 2017), received the 2018 Historic Preservation Book Prize. From 2020-2022 she led the Landscape Futures and the Challenge of Change project in collaboration with the National Trust, Historic England and Natural England. Her advisory roles include membership of the National Trust Historic Environment Advisory Group and the Bord Ertach Kernow Change Working Group

Dr Andy Brown

Guest Speaker

Dr Andy Brown is Analytics Director for Historic England. After an early career in archaeology he spent 30 years in the front-line of applied heritage conservation, working with owners and other stakeholders on finding sustainable solutions for heritage assets undergoing change. He now leads on growing the evidence base for heritage through research and analysis. His part in Historic England’s Climate Change Programme is to develop decision-making tools to help managers of heritage assets to plan for an uncertain future.

Dr Ingrid Samuel

Guest Speaker

Dr Ingrid Samuel OBE is Placemaking and Heritage Director for the National Trust, and responsible for strategic leadership, policy and practice across the Trust’s heritage and landscape assets. She is also strategic lead for planning and development, including major infrastructure proposals impacting the organisation, and for the NT’s climate adaptation programme. In each of these areas Ingrid’s focus is on balancing conservation and care with an effective and appropriate approach to evolution and change. She leads nationally for research across this range of responsibilities. A former senior civil servant, Ingrid was Head of Heritage and Architecture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport before the NT. She has a doctorate in history from the University of Cambridge.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.

Accommodation

Please enquire at the time of booking for availability and prices with Continuing Education Residential Centre res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 270362.

All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms.