Entering its ninth year, the Groundswell event provides a forum for farmers and anyone interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of Conservation Agriculture or regenerative systems, including no-till, cover crops and re-introducing livestock into the arable rotation, with a view to improving soil health.
Groundswell is a practical show aimed at anyone who wants to understand the farmer’s core asset, the soil, and make better informed decisions. It is a two-day event featuring talks, forums and discussions from leading international soil health experts, experienced arable and livestock farmers, agricultural policy experts, direct-drill demonstrations and AgTech innovators.
The Groundswell Festival provides a forum for farmers, growers, or anyone interested in food production and the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of regenerative farming systems.
The British Society of Soil Science will be exhibiting at the event and you can find us at Stand DF D33.
On Monday 14th July, UK organisations have a unique opportunity to meet with a senior delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in London as part of their UK Roadshow programme. The ADB UK Roadshow aims to connect the ADB with the latest UK expertise, technologies and solutions that can drive Asia’s growth and development.
The ADB delegation will include senior representatives of the Sector Group, ADB’s UK board member, as well as Senior Specialists and Directors for five sectors:
Our overarching theme for the event, ‘Applying British Solutions for Asian Growth and Development,’ provides participants with a valuable platform to present the latest UK solutions and insights to ADB’s sector teams as part of thematic panels and roundtables.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while continuing its mission to eradicate extreme poverty in the region. ADB assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. Its work spans both physical and social infrastructure, ensuring the advancement of critical sectors such as energy, education, healthcare and agriculture.
By advancing sustainable energy solutions, improving social services, and investing in resilient infrastructure, ADB continues to shape a more equitable and sustainable future for the region.
The event will start with registration and light breakfast from 10:30, followed by sector/thematic sessions and roundtables, 1-2-1 meetings with sector teams, and a networking reception. The full agenda will be shared with attendees.
To find out more, click here
The British Society of Soil Science 79th Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July from 4:15pm – 5:15pm (UK time) during the Natural England Soil Health Conference in Sheffield. The AGM is essential for conducting formal business of the Society. Without it, we are unable to elect your representatives, or carry out essential business such as approving our accounts and appointing auditors.
If you would like to register to attend the conference and the meeting in-person, please click here. Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.
If you would like to attend the AGM but are not able to make it in person, the meeting will be broadcast via GoTo Webinar. To register to view the session online, click here.
Members are asked to vote on the resolutions in advance of the meeting. This will provide equity to all members who have the opportunity to vote, regardless of whether they will be able to attend the meeting.
The resolutions will be announced in due course and members will be able to cast their vote.
To submit your vote, click here
The Royal Agricultural University is hosting a free online workshop on Thursday 17 July from 1-3pm on on engaging & recruiting farmers into collaborative research projects.
It will be an interactive workshop with short presentations and break out discussions to share approaches and top tips for maximising farmer engagement and participation in collaborative research projects.
This is the second session in an online workshop series from the Bridging Fields programme for researchers wanting to collaborate more effectively with farmers
We are pleased to announce the next Zoom into Soil webinar will take place on Wednesday 23 July from 12-1pm (UK time) and is free of charge to register. Join professionals from BSSS Corporate Member, Arcadis, and also Lancaster University as they discuss soils in planning and construction.
In this webinar, Dr Bruce Lascelles and Dr Jess Potts from Arcadis and Prof Jess Davies and Prof John Quinton from Lancaster University discuss the reality of how soils are accounted for in planning and construction and the change that is needed in local planning policy to ensure that soils do not continue to be overlooked and to ensure their critical role in our sustainable future is recognised and delivered.
The webinar includes one hour BASIS and NRoSO CPD points.
We look forward to welcoming you on the webinar.
You can register for free at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6169781304487065180
We want to provide a space to foster new ideas and share best analytical practices, to assist with optimising instrument performance, data quality and instrument lifetime.
The event will be split across two days with the following areas of focus for each:
You can attend either one or both days, depending on your interests. The event is free and open to anyone who uses or might use elemental or TOC analyzers, but is only available for a limited number of participants.
Early-career researchers, students and users from under-represented groups are encouraged to attend.
The full programme will be available soon, and will include presentations from expert users, and from our team of specialists and engineers. Attendees will receive a CPD certificate for their attendance.
The EUROSOIL is the official meeting of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS), it is among Europe’s most important Soil Sciences events and offers a fantastic opportunity for knowledge transfer among the Soil Sciences community.
The EUROSOIL is held every four years and attracts a large audience of over 2500 participants who present their findings through oral and poster presentations across up to 10 parallel sessions.
The event also features workshops and an exhibition of products and services aimed at raising awareness in society, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information and creating business opportunities.
Tickets and Abstract Submissions are now open.
Learn More: https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/EUROSOIL2025
An Introduction to Soil Classification
[Online Course]
This course is held over two days, and is aimed at researchers and others who want to gain a perspective of how their local field experimental sites and their results fit into the current picture of soil variation at UK and, in particular global scales. It includes introductory, technical and practical online sessions.
It is important that all delegates who wish to attend the course should be well versed in soil profile description, e.g. using the Soil Survey Field Handbook or have attended one of the BSSS ‘Practical Introduction to Soils in Great Britain’ training courses.
Delegates will receive a comprehensive course manual detailing the techniques for classifying soil types using a global classification system, copies of the Soil Survey Field Manual, and The Fragile Skin: Soil Landscapes of the UK, a X10 hand lens for magnifying soil features and soil classification recording cards for your future use.
The course is designed to give delegates:
It will provide the sound foundation you need to place the information gained from your local field studies or trials in their national and global contexts.
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If you have booked but would like to cancel for whatever reason, please refer to our Cancellation Policy.
The Contamination and Land Remediation Expo (CLR Expo) returns in 2025 as the premier event for professionals across the geoenvironmental sectors. Whether you're a contractor, environmental consultant, engineer, policy maker or an industry newcomer, CLR offers the perfect platform to connect with global innovators, discover the latest trends, and source groundbreaking solutions for sustainable land development.
With over 3,000 attendees in 2024, CLR 2025 is set to be bigger and better than ever, featuring cutting-edge solutions, live demonstrations, expert-led sessions, lucrative investment opportunities, and crucial insights to elevate your operation.
Why Attend CLR 2025?
CLR is part of the Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the UK’s largest event dedicated to environmental services and technology. The Expo unites eight co-located shows, and one free ticket provides attendees with a unique, comprehensive platform to explore the latest advancements in resource, waste, land, water, energy, air quality, and everything in between:
Find out more: https://hubs.la/Q03s8Jp40
Or register your interest: https://hubs.la/Q03s8JYr0
A Practical Introduction to the Role of Soils in Catchment Management
[Lancaster University]
This course covers two days and is targeted at people who want to improve their understanding of the role of soil in managing river quality and quantity. It includes introductory presentations on identifying key features of the soil, factors affecting water storage and run-off, identifying areas at risk of erosion, compaction and runoff, identifying key resources to help assess risks to water quality and quantity as well as field visits to demonstrate a range of soil management practices and mitigation measures.
You will be given a comprehensive course manual that details description techniques, copies of the Soil Survey Field Manual, a X10 hand lens for magnifying soil features and soil recording cards for you to use into the future.
You will leave the course having gained:
The course will provide you with the sound foundation you need to assess the interactions between soils and river flows and water quality.
Learning outcomes
Food and drink will be provided. (Please specify any dietary requirements under the relevant section in the registration form.)
A Practical Introduction to Soils in Great Britain
[Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire]
This course covers two days and is targeted at people who want to improve their field soil description and identification skills. It includes introductory presentations, practical sessions on soil description techniques and then field visits to demonstrate a range of soil types and to hone your profile description skills.
You will be given a comprehensive course manual that details description techniques, copies of the Soil Survey Field Manual, and The Fragile Skin: Soil Landscapes of the UK, a X10 hand lens for magnifying soil features and soil recording cards for you to use into the future.
The course will provide you with the sound foundation you need to progress to becoming a confident field soil practitioner.
Introduction to Agricultural Land Classification (ALC)
[Wednesday 12 - Thursday 13 November, Cranfield University] [This is a 2-day, in-person training course.]
Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) has a formal role in the planning system in England and Wales and is designed to prevent the loss of our best and most versatile land in line with the principles of sustainable development.
This training course, designed and presented by agricultural land classification (ALC) experts, offers a unique opportunity to learn about the background and technical basis of the current ALC guidelines.
By the end of the course you will learn:
The course will include the opportunity to work within a group to undertake an ALC grading desk exercise to apply what you have learned. This course is designed for soil scientists who wish to extend their experience to (or refresh an existing awareness of) Agricultural Land Classification, those commissioning ALC surveys from specialists, and planners reviewing ALC reports.
Delegates are expected to have a level of competency with regards to soil sampling and classification; and these are topics which are covered on our practical Working with Soil training courses.
Food and drink will be provided.
[The Early Careers' Conference will be free of charge for BSSS Early Career members with one overnight stay included.]
We are pleased to announce that the next British Society of Soil Science Early Careers' Conference will be take place in Manchester on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December.
Venue: The Conference will be held at King's House Conference Centre, Manchester, M1 7HB
Abstract: The scientific committee is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts across five topics, linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:
Oral abstract submissions will be open until Sunday 31 August. Poster abstract submissions will be open until Friday 24 October.
You can find out more about the abstract themes and how to submit via the BSSS website.
About the Conference: The Early Career conference will take place on 1-2 December (immediately before the BSSS Annual Conference) and will be free of charge for BSSS Early Career members. A wide range of Early Career members from Academia, Industry, and Policy will come together for a variety of themed sessions, including talks, posters, and workshops, with social activities including a Conference Dinner (on 1 December). The packed two-day event will provide delegates with a fantastic opportunity to see the latest research and developments within soil science.
Programme: The full programme will be released in due course. Given the significant changes to our EC committee this year, we’re taking this opportunity to warmly welcome our new members, share some exciting updates on our progress, and allow time for networking before diving into presentations. Across the two days, you’ll have the chance to hear the latest scientific developments in soil science through a range of oral and poster presentations from your peers. We’re also hosting several workshops aimed at enhancing your communication skills and helping you better translate your science for different audiences.
One of the highlights will be a panel session showcasing diverse career journeys in soil science and the skills required along the way. This year, we’re expanding our options with parallel workshop sessions, including an option focused on soil classification and description—perfect if practical soil skills is more your style. We’ll wrap up the event with abstract awards and a final roundup
We are delighted to be working partnership with Manchester Accommodation BID in the delivery of the event, and would like to thank them for their continued support and expertise.
The British Society of Soil Science 2025 Annual Conference will take place from Wednesday 3 – Friday 5 December in Manchester. The overall conference theme is Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future. The packed multi-disciplinary event spanning the built, natural environment and agricultural sectors, set at King's House Conference Centre in Manchester, will provide delegates with a fantastic opportunity to see the latest research and developments within soil science.
About the conference: With the UK consultation on a new approach to land use highlighting the need to protect our most productive agricultural land and enhance food security, the role of soil health is more critical than ever. Across the world, there is growing recognition—from bodies such as the UK EFRA Committee—that soil health should be treated with the same priority as water and air. This conference will provide a platform to discuss these pressing issues, with a focus on:
Programme: The exciting and diverse programme will feature keynote speakers and experts across the 2 days. The full programme will be released in due course.
Tours: You can also choose to take part in a tour on Friday 5 December. Friday morning will provide an opportunity for delegates to visit a field site, near to Manchester, and learn about local soils projects. There will also be a local city walking tour that you can choose to do.
Gala Dinner: There will also be a Gala Dinner in the evening on Wednesday 3 December. This will consist of a drinks reception and 3 course meal, as well as entertainment and awards at Manchester Hall, providing an authentic experience for the conference. Tickets cost £78.00 and can be booked here - https://members.soils.org.uk/event-6210980
Sponsors: We have exciting sponsorship packages for our 2025 Annual Conference so if you are interested in supporting the Society and would like learn more, click here.
[The Gala Dinner is part of the BSSS Annual Conference.]
This will consist of a 3 course meal and a drinks reception, plus entertainment and awards in one of the most uniquely historic venues in Manchester, providing an authentic experience for the conference.
This is set to be a fabulous event and a great opportunity to sit down and network with other delegates. It will also be the perfect way to celebrate the work of the Society with a selection of awards and speeches over the course of the night.
Join us for a night to a remember in the elegant Goulburne Suite, whilst enjoying some of the finest local produce in Manchester.
To secure your place to this exclusive event, tickets are available at £65.00 + VAT
There are limited number of places so book now to avoid missing out.
[BSSS reserve the right to deny registration or entry to the Gala Dinner if the correct protocol is not followed.]