NTUK Summit 2026 - Innovation on the National Trails

On 26 November 2026, National Trails UK will be holding our second conference, the National Trails UK Summit, at The National Archives in Kew, London.

‍Innovation on the Trails brings together the teams working on the UK’s 21 National Trails with wider sector partners, policy experts and funders to explore the exciting work happening across the network and the ideas that can help secure its future.

Through talks, presentations and discussions, we’ll explore the many ways National Trails can deliver for people and nature, from health and wellbeing and economic prosperity to nature recovery and access, and what is needed to realise their potential.

Who is the NTUK Summit for?

The Summit is for the teams working on the National Trails and the wider partners, policy experts and funders who can help shape their future.

We are bringing these groups together in one room to share ideas, showcase innovation happening across the network and explore how we can work together to address the challenges and opportunities facing the National Trails.

Whether you work in nature recovery, the visitor economy, access and inclusion, the coastal margin or on the National Trails themselves, the Summit offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues, potential partners and funders and explore how together we can ensure the National Trails deliver for people and nature.

What can I expect from the day?

The programme will feature talks,  presentations, panels and networking showcasing innovation and exploring the ideas and approaches that are helping the National Trails respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

You can get tickets through our TicketTailor page:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/nationaltrailsuk1/2178968

Agenda

9.30 Arival and networking

10.00 Welcome to the Thames Path National Trail – Wendy Tobbitt, Partnership Chair and Hannah Gutteridge, National Trail Officer

10.15 National Trails UK Keynote – Polly Martin, CEO National Trails UK

10:35 Session 1 Lightening Talks: National Trails, visitor economy and inclusion. Supported by Outdoor Active.  

- Rhys Gwyn Roberts, Wales Coast Path Officer and Natural Resources Wales: From campaign design to on the ground impact – marketing and promoting trails in Wales

- Gini Mitchell, Wild with Wheels, and Sara Moon, Kent Downs National Landscape: What’s next after the ‘Putting Down Routes’ project on the North Downs Way National Trail?

- Sue Hilder, Sustainable Travel and Access Manager at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority: Inclusion in the international context: reporting back from the World Trails Conference 2026

10:50 Session 2 Innovation in the visitor economy

National Trails are vital for many tourism businesses, and connect millions of people each year to the outdoors. But how much do we understand the audiences for the National Trails? And what does that mean for the businesses along National Trails? Drawing on National Trails UK’s first-of-its-kind market research and website development, this session is a must, to understand the opportunity to build an inclusive community around the National Trails.

11:45 Session 3  What does it mean to feel welcome on the National Trails?

Many National Trails are actively trying to broaden the people who feel they belong on the National Trails. Infrastructure is upgraded, successful projects have been run, and training has been rolled out. How do we  move from individual projects to a more strategic approach? What could the role for NTUK be? And what  changes might we all need to make to have the biggest impact?

Panel chaired by Craig Grimes, Experience Community

12:30 Session 4  National Trails: A view from Westminster

With a new CEO at Natural England, and new Minister in DEFRA, what do they see as the key opportunities for National Trails in the next year?

Keynote from Jenny Riddel-Carpenter, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra.

14:00 Session 5 Lightening talks – Nature Recovery and Coastal Wildbelt

Setting the scene for the afternoon, hear from our 2025-26 Test and Trial recipients around how small investment in innovative ideas results in big impact for our National Trails.

14:15 Session 6 National Trails and nature recovery

Discover how National Trails are collaborating with partners to deliver innovative and evidence led change at landscape scale, becoming living corridors for people and nature.

Emma Ball, Specialist Ecological Advisor, Plantlife Biodiversity Consultancy will introduce our pioneering work habitat baselining National Trail corridors.

Our three pilot trails - the Cotswold Way, Coast to Coast Path and Ridgeway -  will then share their experiences and key learnings.

15:00 Session 7  What is Coastal Wildbelt?

Coastal Wildbelt is a once in a generation chance to deliver for people and nature at the coast. Explore the unique opportunity Coastal Wildbelt has to work with communities and young people, landowners and funders to deliver at scale, and how the work of Coastal Wildbelt is particularly relevant now.

Presentations by Tom Kennedy, Chair of the National Trails UK Coast Path Forum and Julian Gray, NTUK Trustee, discussing how Coastal Wildbelt came to be, and how the initiative can support coastal National Trails to deliver more for people and nature, together around our dynamic coastline.

Followed by a panel chaired by Sarah Mukherjee, CEO Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals. Here, panelists including David Cope, Duchy of Cornwall; Lisa Sensier, National Parks Partnership, Mary-Ann Ochota, Protected Landscapes Partnership will unpick why a Coastal Wildbelt is needed, and why the time is now to invest in our coastal National Trails.

Sounds great, where can I buy tickets?

You can get tickets through our TicketTailor page:

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/nationaltrailsuk1/2178968

Pricing details

If you are a National Trail Officer / work on a National Trail Partnership, and your partnership is a member of NTUK, you are eligible for an NTO discount ticket. If you’re looking to get over 5 discounted tickets for your partnership, please contact events@nationaltrails.uk

Not sure if you’re a member of National Trails UK? Contact the team info@nationaltrails.uk and we can let you know.

If you are not a member of National Trails UK, and you work on a National Trail Partnership, please book an NTO no discount ticket.

If you are from a partner, funder, or Government department / agency, please book a full price ticket.

If you have any questions about what ticket you should get, please get in touch with events@nationaltrails.uk

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