Words by Paul Nolan, CEO, The Mersey Forest

On 20 October, we’ll be bringing together an incredible mix of researchers, practitioners, artists, educators, local authorities and community organisations for What Makes a Place?, the second event from The Mersey Forest Ideas Lab.
 
The theme of place feels particularly appropriate for St Helens. It’s a place shaped by its industrial past, its communities and its landscapes, and one with real and exciting opportunities to ask questions about how we think about place, culture, land, nature and development in the future.
 
We’ve put together a programme exploring the many ways trees shape our landscapes, communities and stories, with perspectives ranging from cultural heritage and landscape history to biodiversity, climate resilience and environmental regeneration.
 
Alongside presentations from speakers from across the UK and internationally, the day will include discussions, interactive sessions and an optional visit to Bold Moss the next day, giving us a chance to take some of those ideas out into the landscape itself.
 
I’ll also be contributing a session exploring how a new Staged Pathway approach could help guide decisions about derelict and underused land, balancing opportunities for woodland creation, biodiversity enhancement and development.
 
I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to St Helens and to what I hope will be a really interesting day of sharing ideas and seeing places differently.
 
If you’re interested in placemaking, regeneration, nature recovery, forestry or the future of our landscapes, we’d love you to join us.
 
What Makes a Place? | 20 October 2026 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/eqW2fjZ7