First Workshop a Success

The first workshop hosted on 24 June by Sustaining the Williams Valley, Our River and Rainforest, proved a huge success. With around 70 people in attendance, people were treated to three exceptional presentations, an excellent lunch, and a visit to Fosterton Road to see riverside restoration in-situ.

The first speaker, noted environmentalist and philosopher Glenn Albrecht, recounted the words that he has come up with to describe people who love different aspects of place and nature. Glenn is known for coining the term ‘solastalgia’, the feelings of sadness or distress caused by environmental change, and he was able to elaborate extensively on this in terms of how people react to negative environment impacts around them.

Up second was Skye Moore from Local Land Services Hunter, with a fascinating presentation on the history of impacts on the Williams River since the arrival of Europeans. And thirdly was forest expert Alex King, who described many of the various trees that naturally occur in our district, and led the on-site visit following lunch.

Our thanks to our three presenters, the Settlers Arms for the great food, and to everyone who gave up their Saturday to attend.