On 23^rd February, an international ENMaR conference was held in the city centre of Manchester. 80 people attended, including 24 who travelled from another country. The conference showed example projects and case studies from ENMaR regions representing five European countries. It gave an insight into how the Water Framework Directive is being implemented in the five regions. The projects are focusing on water management, tourism, agriculture, forestry and spatial planning. Richard Eckhoff from Germany, Inta Adamsone from Latvia, Enrique Arbones from Spain, Thomas Nyden from Sweden and Steve Burns from England talked to the 80 delegates about the example in their region and then took part in the project Theme Fair. Dr David Shaw from the University of Liverpool gave a keynote speech showing how the spatial planning system in England is capable of delivering the Water Framework Directive. In addition, the Environment Agency explained the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Northwest England.

In the Theme Fair, the presenters answered questions about their initiative against a backdrop of information on the ENMaR themes relating to and including posters on their specific local examples.

The conference was held at the Manchester Conference Centre, in the University of Manchester‘s Weston Building.

An afternoon visit to the Quays in Salford included a boat trip around the Quays and along the river Irwell. Before the visit, Dr Adrian Williams explained how the Quays and the Manchester Ship Canal are having new life breathed into them, and how oxygenation of the Manchester Ship Canal has improved water quality so much that both now sustain fish life where previously they could not. On the boat, Cllr Derek Antrobus and Chris Findley of Salford City Council told the story of regeneration around the Quays following the improvements in water quality there.

On Saturday 24^th February, the international ENMaR delegates travelled to Merseyside enjoying a ferry trip across the Mersey and visits to Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ on Crosby beach and Martin Mere.