Recapping an inspiring Soils and Stones project event

On the 3^rd April 2025 we were delighted to hold our latest event, bringing together volunteers and partners of the SocEnv Soils and Stones Project. Held within the fantastic Paradise Suite at Arup’s Birmingham Centenary Way offices, the event firstly provided opportunity for delegates to boost their CPD, through a series of insightful presentations.

CPD and networking

• Rebecca Hearn CEnv and Kerry Murray of Murray Environmental and Midlands Land Events (MidLE) presented on the launch of The SILOtoSOIL Tool. The tool, developed by MidLE and reviewed and hosted by SocEnv, highlights the wealth of existing soil related expertise, guidance, and publications available across different disciplines and locations.
• On behalf of Applied Microbiology International, Dr Ashish Malik presented the findings and recommendations from their recently published paper: ‘Improving soil health in the UK: why a microbial approach is indispensable in attaining sustainable soils’.
• Daisy Ronn presented a case study on behalf of our hosts Arup on the topic of: Sequestering Carbon in Soil using Biochar and Enhanced Mineral Weathering.
• Martin Ballard CEnv of Wates Group and lead of the Soils & Stones project, provided an update on project progress so far.

Lunch, kindly sponsored by SLR Consulting, also provided the opportunity to network and review pre-publication drafts of the two Soil Management hierarchies developed by the project’s Executive Committee, one for development sites and the other to be applied in rural settings. These hierarchies will be published in the coming months once the consultation period has concluded.

Discussion

The final section of the agenda was dedicated to discussion on making the case for soil within the UK’s current political and regulatory environment, including recent changes to the regulatory landscape in the UK (see also the recently published Corry Review).

This discussion was Chaired by Chris Berryman CEnv (SLR Consulting), with the following identified by delegates as particular priorities:

• Determine a clear definition of soil health and associated metrics.
• Call for the review of the Agricultural Land Classification with extension for a consistent and comparative risk-based approach for soil health across land types.
• Unlock the full potential of Soil-Based Carbon Sequestration.
• Make the case for legislative coherence and a joined-up approach to policymaking (as emphasised by the Environmental Policy Forum).
• Emphasise the economic growth opportunities that good soils and stones management provides.
• Engage the public on the value of soils (e.g., through campaigns, visual representations and graphics such as those provided by the FAO etc).
• Emphasise the need for the recycling of soils and aggregates, tying into the Government’s push for a Circular Economy and the dedicated taskforce.
• Connect into the work of the Soils in Planning and Construction Taskforce, including their upcoming report on Local Planning Policy for Sustainable Soils (register for the free, open to all report launch event here).
• Increase awareness of the consequences of poor soil quality/ management, e.g., flooding.

Looking ahead

We will be embedding these priorities into our aims for the next eighteen months, which also include making the case for simplifying soil standards.

Many thanks to all those who attended and helped make this a wonderful event. We look forward to holding further events in future, both online and in-person, and to continue the steady progress of the Soils and Stones project. As often cited by our partners at MidLE, we can make a difference by Breaking down SILOs and understanding our SOILs.

Interested in getting involved?

Would you like to contribute to our project, collaborate with other experts and attend similar events in the future?

Please note: the project is open to those with membership of an environmental related professional body (one of our Licensed Members, or Institutions with a closely tied remit such as the British Society of Soil Science). Ideally volunteers should also hold Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) registration, though this isn’t essential. Indeed, involvement could support progression to CEnv registration through one’s respective professional body.

If you would like to express interest in getting involved, please get in touch with Sarah via the link below. We also recommend viewing our short project explainer article (see below).