THE HEARTS OF THE FEN: FOLK OF THE The People Who Shape the Ouse Washes Landscape A conference by the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership

Wednesday 9 November 2016, 9am – 4pm The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely, CB7 4BB

Overview of the Conference This conference - the third in a series of three taking place annually - will explore the heritage of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership area and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The conference will introduce you to some of the characters and stories that have played a part in shaping the Ouse Washes Landscape and are continuing to shape local heritage for future generations.

The Partnership aims to increase awareness of the significant stories of the area. Bringing together local people and partner organisations with a range of heritage interests will promote the unique historical events which have shaped the landscape and its communities and which continue to do so.

PROGRAMME – ELYSIAN HALL

09:00 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Welcome & Introduction to the Day Elizabeth Stazicker, Chair, Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership [& chairing the day]

09:40 The Fen Drainage Story – Promoters, Engineers and Workers Philip Saunders, former Principal Archivist, Cambridgeshire County Council

10:05 The Riots: The Butterfly Effect Deborah Curtis, Director, The Field Theatre Group

10:30 Fenland Utopias Christopher Evans, Executive Director, Archaeological Unit

11:00 Refreshments and time to view exhibitions

12:00 Leisure on the Great Ouse waterways Mick Jones, Managing Director, Jones Boatyard St Ives

12:25 Soil in their Souls – A History of Fenland Farming Rex Sly, Fenland Farmer, Historian and Author

12:50 Migrant Links Anita Grodkiewicz, Centre Manager, Rosmini Centre

13:15 Buffet Lunch + further time to view exhibitions

14:15 Muses on Fenland's Poetic Past Mike Petty, Local Historian and Lecturer

+ a special reading of ‘Exposure’ by Mary Livingstone, Fenland Poet Laureate 2016

14:40 Peter Scott’s journey to WWT Leigh Marshall, Centre Manager, WWT Welney Wetland Centre

15:05 David Smith, Fen Skating Association and Fen Skater

15:30 Communities of the Future Kirsten Bennett, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire ACRE

The Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership is led and facilitated by Cambridgeshire ACRE (Charity no 1074032)