Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Event to explore the health and wellbeing of planet and people
The event, part of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie Conversations guest lecture series, will be held on Thursday 8 June at Headingley Campus and will see Pam Warhurst CBE discuss her concerns for the health and wellbeing of populations, present data on effective practices as well as asking whether current practices and policies are as effective as they could be.
Event organiser Dr Eric Brymer, a Reader in the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett, explained: “There is a growing body of research from a wide range of disciplines that indicates experiences in the natural world facilitate the enhancement and maintenance of health and wellbeing. Although the links between environmental experiences, mental health and psychological wellbeing are commonly accepted, the nature of these links and the ramifications for nature are less well explored. The session will be an interactive session that aims to bring together practitioners, policy makers and academics in a collaborative and supportive manner.”
Pam Warhurst CBE, added: “When it comes to health wealth and happiness for ourselves and our planet, we have the professionals, we have the best practice and we certainly have the need. So how come we are so poor at joining the dots, investing in a kinder future and turning best practice into normal practice?
Pam, co-founded Incredible Edible Todmorden, a local food partnership that encourages community engagement through local growing. Incredible Edible started small, with the planting of a few community herb gardens in Todmorden, and today has spin-offs in the United States and Japan. Incredible Edible Todmorden empowers ordinary people to take control of their communities through active civic engagement.
Pam has previously served as a member of the Board of Natural England, where she was the lead non-executive board member working on the Countryside & Rights of Way Bill, and Deputy Chair and Acting Chair of the Countryside Agency. She was also until recently the Chair of the Board of the Forestry Commission, which advises on and implements forestry policy in Great Britain.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts & Manufacturing, and chairs Pennine Prospects, a regeneration company for the South Pennines. Pam has also been leader of Calderdale Council, a board member of Yorkshire Forward, and chair of the National Countryside Access Forum and Calderdale NHS Trust.
Due to her work promoting and encouraging community change, Warhurst was named a Fellow of the 'Royal Society of Arts & Manufacturing' and was named a 'Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire' (CBE) in 2005.
In 2013 Pam was awarded an honorary Fellowship from Leeds Beckett University.
Speaking at her ceremony, Pam commented: "The Incredible Edible project is an experiment to see if we can unite us all around the concept of food, help us to work better together, redefine the spaces we're in and build a stronger town for our children. We're seeing if we can replicate it all over Yorkshire and all over England.
"I'm delighted and touched to receive the award of Honorary Fellow of the University. It's a fantastic university and to be given this honour is really meaningful and a once-in-a-lifetime occasion."