The second instalment of the State of Our Trails Summit will take place in the shadows of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales on July 4th.
Held at Bangor University’s Menai Science Parc from 10:00-16:30 BST, the event is hosted by Trash Free Trails in association with Red Bull, Trek Bikes, Santa Cruz, Specialized, Bosch eBike Systems, The North Face, EOCA, Komoot and Bangor University.
The organisers note that… ‘Multinational bike brands, landowners, riders, runners and roamers will come together, from Red Bull to National Resources Wales, to put the protection and enhancement of the trails and wild places, at the ‘top of the bill’.’
The summit schedule begins with a publication of a world first comprehensive review of the current scientific understanding on the prevalence and impacts of plastic pollution on recreational trail ecosystems.
The summit will then broaden in scope… ‘with the aim of catalysing the creation of a global alliance of organisations with a stake in the sustainability of the recreational trail resource.’
A series of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and nature connection activities will take place, delivered and facilitated by a wide range of speakers. These include: former downhill mountain bike champion Manon Carpenter, semiotics professor Dr Nathan Abrams, trail builder Glen Jacobs and UK Cabinet Office COP negotiator, Stan Townsend.
‘The day will culminate in a co-design workshop where delegates will begin the process of creating an independent alliance, by drawing up a statement of intent, that is entirely free of the objectives of individual organisations and totally focused on protecting and enhancing the resource upon which we all depend for our livelihoods and wellbeing.’
