This session brings together a fantastic group of conservationists and creatives to explore the theme of rivers, forests, the land, and the interconnected systems called “Flowscapes.” We were joined by Claire Zambuni, Alex Catallo, Michael Jones, Lucy Taylor, Sam Manning, and accompanied by Nick Andrew’s art. This was designed as a prequel event and collaborative space leading up to The River Summit and Festival.
Alex Catallo treated us to her poem “Threads of Vitality” which you can read here, or watch it in the recording.
Watch the Event Recording:
More about our contributors:
Claire Zambuni: Founder of The River Summit, and initiatives such as Testing the Waters Consortium and The Future for Water Impact Awards, she has 14 years of environmental communications experience, helping bring unlikely allies together around shared goals.
Alex Catallo: Founder of Connect the Wild, a living network for recovery that democratises access to philanthropic lending, and TerraCirca, a space for people of all backgrounds and viewpoints to come together, and an invitation to be present in community and nature.
Nick Andrew: Nick has researched and made drawings on location of the sources, tributaries and confluences of the five rivers (Avon, Bourne, Ebble, Nadder and Wylye) which define and shape the geography of South Wiltshire, flowing towards and through Salisbury. Nick’s work will be on exhibit at the The River Summit on Friday 4th.
Sam Manning: A forest ecologist and environmental writer who has spent fifteen years on the front-line of forest conservation and restoration in the UK. He is currently writing a book called “Flowscape: the hidden connections between oceans and forests” which explores the lost inter connectivity between these two biomes, and how reuniting them in our policy, land management and culture could be the key to saving and restoring both.
Lucy Taylor: Founder of Dorset Flowscapes and of The Make Work Play Project, an organisation on a mission to use the power of play to help organisations unfurl their potential. She is a TEDx Speaker, facilitator, coach, strategist, storyteller, and more.
Michael Jones: The Co-Founder of AgroReGenerations (ARG), Michael has spent more than two decades working across community building, sustainability, technology, education and environmental initiatives in Europe, Africa and Asia. His work is grounded in the belief that rivers, soils, food systems, biodiversity, public health and rural livelihoods cannot be treated as separate issues.
Future for Water. Creating change through unexpected collaboration September 4th and 5th – The Full Programme
The story of the River Summit and Festival has been emerging and evolving…
6th August 16:00-17:30 “Rivers & Flowscapes – from poetry to policy. A conversation with Change-makers.”
4th September 10:00-17:30: The River Summit
4th September 19:00-21:30: The Rivers of Film Festival
5th September 10:00-21:30: The River Summit Festival Community Day
October 2026, details TBC: Keep an eye out for our next event in the series
Exploring what happened at The River Summit, how we can continue to weave stories of these landscapes together, and looking ahead to our ASP Gathering in The National Forest on Saturday the 14th of November!
Come to one, two or all of them!
ASP is pleased to be an event supporter
