The UrbanByNature Scotland: Place event held on Thursday 20 July 2023 was an outstanding success, uniting esteemed panellists and hosts to delve into the value of participatory design and nature-based enterprise in Glasgow's sustainable development ecosystem.

As attendees began to populate the event, Nicola expertly launched the webinar. Dr. Ria Dunkley, our gracious host, kicked off the proceedings by introducing the event and extending a warm welcome to our first speaker, Dr. Michael Pierre Johnson, an esteemed Innovation Leadership Fellow in the Creative Economy at The Glasgow School of Art. Dr. Johnson's captivating presentation focused on the significance of participatory design and nature-based enterprise in driving Glasgow's sustainable development journey.

Next on the virtual stage was Dr. Carey Doyle, the adept Manager of the Community Ownership Hub in Glasgow and Clyde Valley, who passionately discussed placemaking and community empowerment. Following Dr. Doyle's enlightening presentation, Etive Currie, a Senior Planner at Glasgow City Council, engaged the audience with insights into the Place Standard Tool and its pivotal role in assessing the quality of urban spaces.

The event reached new heights during the lively live Q&A session, where all three speakers returned to further enrich the discussion. Dr. Ria Dunkley concluded the event with closing remarks, announcing the forthcoming UrbanByNature event in September, which will center around financing. Details and registration information will soon be shared on social media and Eventbrite.

Notably, Glasgow has demonstrated a commendable understanding and connection to Nature-Based Enterprises (NBEs), and the field continues to expand. The Scottish Place Standard Tool has been a remarkable success, with collaborations involving the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Healthy Cities Network across Europe. Impressively, the Place Standard has been translated and widely adopted in approximately 15 European countries.

The "UrbanByNature Scotland: Place" event exemplified the power of participatory approaches and nature-based solutions in propelling Glasgow's sustainable development journey forward. The engaging discussions and insightful presentations left a lasting impact on all participants.

Thank you for being part of this momentous event, and we look forward to welcoming you to our future UrbanByNature gatherings.