A knowledge exchange event connecting research and practice for urban Scotland.
This meeting provides an opportunity to learn about the latest research and developments in creating healthy, connected urban ecosystems through nature-based solutions. Through presentations, site visits, networking and facilitated discussions, participants will explore case studies across Scotland, identify evidence and implementation gaps, help shape future research and practice priorities, and build connections across sectors.
Day 1 – Creating healthy, connected urban ecosystems
Session 1 – Plenary: where are we now? What have we learned?
The morning session will explore how NbS have been integrated into Scotland’s urban environments over the last five years and how they have contributed to healthy, connected urban ecosystems. Plenary speakers will provide (inter-)national perspectives bridging research and practice, including case studies from across Scotland’s towns and cities. There will be a panel discussion to close, and participant engagement will be central.
‘Lunch & Learn’ with the Scotland NbS Hub
The Scotland NbS Hub will launch its new Lunch & Learn series with an in-person audience with Dr Husam Al Waer (University of Dundee).
Session 2 – Facilitated workshops
Through site visits, case studies, and facilitated activities, these workshops will build a detailed picture of current knowledge and best practice from real-world settings, review needs and priorities across sectors and identify opportunities to trial and scale innovative solutions.
- Planting for Pollinators: Building a biome-positive city from the bottom up
- Working with Water: Restoring the water cycle through healthy urban ecosystems
- Seeing the Trees: Designing an Urban Forest Observatory for Scotland
Day 2 – Sustaining and scaling healthy, connected urban ecosystems
Session 3 – Plenary: reflective panel and cross-cutting perspectives
The day opens with reflections from each of the key workshop themes from Day 1. A practitioner panel – spanning built environment, horticulture, education, enterprise and community engagement – will respond with real world perspectives on the recommendations and gaps identified.
Session 4 – Walking conversations & roundtables
The session focuses on what it takes to sustain, care for, and scale healthy, connected urban NbS through facilitated conversations visiting RBGE’s demonstration sites, followed by roundtable discussions.
- Green Jobs and Skills: Building opportunity pathways and horizon scanning.
- Community-Based Solutions: How do communities engage with and benefit from healthy, connected urban ecosystems?
- Urban Ecosystems in Practice: How do we design, deliver and measure healthy, connected urban ecosystems?
Session 5 – Plenary: where are we going? How do we get there?
The event will close with speakers reflecting on the establishment and long-term maintenance of NbS and collective next steps for healthy, connected urban ecosystems.
To register your interest in attending this event please fill in this form by 18 September 2026. We will contact you shortly after with further registration details.
For more information, including workshop descriptions, please see: Plants with Purpose Knowledge Exchange - Overview.
The cost of the event is expected to be £40 per day (£15 per day for students and unwaged). We have limited funds for assistance should this be a barrier. Please write to us at naturebased@rbge.org.uk