Europe Region

Introduction

World Urban Parks Europe Region is one of four regions intended to enhance member activity with related conferences, seminars, technical tours, working parties, and face to face meetings and networking.  The Europe Region includes the whole of Mainland Europe, Iceland, Ireland, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. 

Europe Region Committee

To ensure direct communication with the Board the Chair of the Europe Region is a Board director and is supported by an elected Deputy and Secretary, and committee members.

There will be further opportunity to join the regional committee, particularly if you are from a country not yet represented, or to join any Committee working party.

There will be opportunities for the Europe Region Committees and members to meet face to face at the Europe Region Congress, and otherwise by web conferencing.

Table 1. Europe Region Committee

Terms of Reference

Click here for the 2016 World Urban Parks Region Committee Terms of Reference describing the role and powers of the committee.

Action Plan 2016

Click here for the Europe Region Action Plan

Europe Region Congress and Events

World Urban Parks Europe Region is expected to have the strongest initial regional membership. The close proximity of countries and members will provide a number of opportunities to attend programmed events and activities with modest travel costs. The Europe Region Committee has responsibility to approve the annual Europe Region Congress, partnering with other Europe conferences and other related activity.

World Urban Parks Europe Region Congress at Birkenhead Park, in association with Wirral Council, UK, 16-19 October 2017

Open for Registration>>>

A World Urban Parks and Wirral Council partnered congress, this will be held at Birkenhead Park in the United Kingdom from 16-19 October 2017.

Located in the Merseyside area of the UK Birkenhead Park, designed by Joseph Paxton, is considered the first publicly funded park, and influenced Central Park in New York. There is a rich program with conference themes relate to community and heritage, including presentations and discussion on large urban parks.

The program outline is:

Prices in Great Britain Pounds are:

Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th October 2017
Early Bird Tickets Congress Delegate:
Members £300.00
Non-Members £365.00 (includes a 1-year WUP Membership)

Early Bird Day Tickets
Members £100.00
Non-Members £165.00 (includes a 1-year WUP Membership)

Registration, Accommodation, and Full Program are available here on the Birkenhead Park website>>>

Birkenhead Park Opening 1847

First World Urban Parks Europe Region and Hortis Congress, Albi, France 2016

The 1st World Urban Parks Europe Region Congress was held in partnership with Hortis, the French association for urban parks management, and their annual congress from 5-7 October. The venue was the Grand Theatre in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Albi, France.

Titled Green Heritage and Green Infrastructure: Evolution or Revolution in Society the congress featured 46 speakers and workshop presenters (17 international) plus Hortis region presenters and technical tour leaders for a dozen local destinations.  Overall the congress attracted an enthusiastic 374 registrants - for the congress, a large trade show and accompanying person tours. The conference was structured with a WUP half day on the 4th with about 30 members presenting on key issues in their countries and holding a Large Urban Parks Committee meeting, and the main congress from the 5th to 7th with morning presentations alternating with workshops or technical tours in the afternoon. Nine Hortis members received the World Parks Academy and Hortis partnered Certified Parks Professional - France certificates at the Gala Dinner on the 6th. International WUP members numbered 35 plus 7 accompanying persons.

Read the Congress Report>>

View the bilingual French-English conference program here.

 Presentation on Hortis and French key issues by Elisabeth Fournier, Hortis Secretary General, at the WUP Workshop

 Opening Address by Jean-Pierre Gueneau, President of Hortis, with WUP Chair Dr Anna Steidle waiting to respond; Grand Theatre, Albi

 Congress participants at the Garden of Martels in Giroussens

The previous major event in 2015 was the World Urban Parks World Congress in Ponte de Lima, Portugal from 25 - 30 May 2015. This was in association with the Smart Parks and Gardens Conference of the 9th Iberoamerican Congress of Parks and Public Gardens and Ponte de Lima Municipality. Although a World event, this was a great opportunity for Europe Region members to meet face to face and participate in related World Urban Parks workshops and meetings.

Ponte de Lima, venue of the first World Urban Parks Congress, 2015.

A number of the Europe Region members at a workshop prior to the Europe Region meeting.  

The most recent conference, supported by antecedent organisation Ifpra was the four-yearly Nordic Parks Congress, held in Malmö Sweden 20-22 August 2014.

Europe National Ambassadors

National Ambassadors (previously 'Commissioners') are appointed for the first 1-2 years of World Urban Parks in an ambassadorial role to assist new and transitioning members from their country. These are experienced and well-connected professionals. Where countries have national professional/peak parks, open space, and/or recreation associations that are members of World Urban Parks, these will also be a source of assistance to members. National Ambassadors operate independently but have an opportunity to meet other ambassadors and discuss issues at regional events, meetings and activities.