Crichton Conversation with Simon Pepper

The Annual SRUC Lecture

Saving Nature: people and protected areas

Director for Scotland of the World Wildlife Fund from 1985-2005, Simon Pepper has spent most of his working life involved in the debate about land use and the environment. A past Board member of the Forestry Commission and the Deer Commission as well as acting as an advisor to Scottish Ministers on Sustainable Development his agenda includes aspects of agriculture, forestry, fish farming, climate change, wild deer management and protection of the natural heritage.

It is the people-land-nature relationships which have interested him most, with highlights including the Millennium Forest for Scotland, the introduction of National Parks, and the campaign for Mar Lodge estate.  He draws much of the content of this talk from the experience of leading a panel exploring the future of Protected Areas for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Simon was Lord Rector of St Andrews University from 2005-2008. He and his wife Morag run a 40 hectare holding with 60 blackface sheep and 12 hectares of woodland in Highland Perthshire.

Doors open at 7pm and the lecture starts at 7:30pm prompt. If you would like to join us afterwards a one-course supper, followed by coffee, will be served at 9:00pm. Red or white wine will be available for purchase by the glass from Easterbrook Hall. Please note that supper must be pre-booked at least one week in advance of the event. No refunds will be made for cancellations made less than one week before the event.

Tickets for the lecture are £5, students free with Valid ID (lecture only), tickets for lecture and supper are £16.

Lecture sponsored by: Scotland’s Rural College