Art Exhibition - We are delighted to present an exhibition of original art by Stephen Tromans QC.  Stephen is a founder member of UKELA and former Chair. He says:

'In 2014 I took up oil painting, which has since become an important part of my life.  Prior to lock-down I had been planning an exhibition in London to display and sell art for UKELA funds.  That initiative has had to be deferred, but in conjunction with the Plymouth Conference organisers I am pleased to have created a virtual gallery.  Lately, more of my work has taken on an environmental theme and I have specially made some pieces which have connections with the marine location of this year’s conference and some of the conference themes. In the catalogue you will find the images, a description, a little about each painting, and the price.

I hope very much you will enjoy looking at them.  If you’d like to acquire one, please e-mail me at stephen.tromans@39essex.com.  There is a donations page on the UKELA website where you can pay. All proceeds, after the cost of mailing the work to you, will go to UKELA funds to support our work in making environmental law work for everyone. I’d be most honoured if you would like to acquire an original piece for your home or office.'

Browse the Catalogue

Gala Dinner - We weren't able to be in the spectacular surroundings of the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, but we were very lucky to hear after-dinner speaker, Paul Rose. 

Quiz and Cocktails  

Sponsored and run by the team at Francis Taylor Building, the quiz tested our delegates' environmental knowledge as well as general knowledge.

Music - We were pleased to welcome Blythe Pepino, who lead us in an informal singing session 

Blythe Pepino is a singer, a songwriter, a front woman, an activist and a choir leader. She fronts the band Mesadorm – an alt acoustic-electro indie band which has been hailed on BBC Radio 6 and whose debut album was marked as one of the best alternative albums of 2018 by the Guardian. She writes music in her studio, often on her piano, which can end up in any number of articulations on stage or on the street. Her voice is versatile in emotion as it is in range and tone. Although she has graced stadium size venues in the past these days she covets intimate connection between audience and performer. Blythe also combines music and her love of harmony singing with activism. She co-leads Sam Lee’s ‘Fire Choir’ - a London based community choir singing songs of political change at protests as well as in concert. She also occasionally teaches privately influenced heavily by her experiences recovering from vocal fatigue via The Lichtenberger Method of singing with Belgian actress and singing expert Priske De Handschutter.

Yoga - We started mindfully on Friday morning with a 45 minute yoga practice led by Lucy Freeman of Yoga Blend, Plymouth.

Driven by a passion for holistic wellbeing, Lucy Freeman gained her 200hr Yoga Teaching Qualification in early 2016.  With an extensive background in movement, and a more recent experience within massage and body therapy, Lucy draws upon her knowledge of the body to offer intelligent and stimulating classes. Predominately based in the South West of the UK, she currently teaches for Yoga Blend in Plymouth.  

“My passion lies in making yoga both accessible and relevant. In the recognition that every body is unique, I aim to honour the needs of the individual whilst creating space to become inquisitive about our relationship to the body, the mind, and consequently the world around us.”

Bar and Chat - Our sponsors opened up their bars for informal discussions on topical themes to finish the conference in relaxed style.