AGAINST the background of the growing fuel crisis, experts from as far afield as America gathered in the Lake District to spark new thinking on landscape, heritage, nuclear power, forests and cities.

More than 90 people shared their views at the Cityscape Landshape symposium, at the Low Wood Hotel, this week.

The petrol shortage meant Mike Doyle, deputy chair of the North West Development Agency, was unable to make the journey from Liverpool to give his talk on the opening day.

However, figures from the National Trust, John Ruskin's home Brantwood, the Grizedale Trust, BNFL, arts company Welfare State International and English Nature were among those who shared expertise on issues such as the risks and reality of nuclear power, the public perception of heritage, and local rites and global needs in Morecambe Bay.

Even the first night dinner seating plan was devised to ensure each table had a wide range of opinions "to stimulate passionate and informative conversation".

Organic farmer Catherine Mack, who lives near Bath, kicked off the debate by talking about the challenges facing the new Countryside Agency, of which she is a board member.

She was followed by two speakers from the USA - Joe Browder, who advises governments and is a key figure in the restoration and protection of Florida's Everglades, a vast area of marshland and coastal mangrove; and Mike Pasqualetti, professor of geography at Arizona State University.

Absent from the event - which was organised by Carlisle's Cumbria College of Art and Design - was Friends of the Lake District.

Explaining why the charity chose not to attend, secretary Ian Brodie said the office was "very short-staffed" this week because of holidays and paternity leave, and a member of staff could not be spared for three days.

Also, the cost of the conference - £ 200-plus - had to be weighed against the value which FoLD would get from attending.

"We decided that what we had seen of the programme did not warrant that level of expenditure," explained Mr Brodie, who described the programme as "a little academic".

FoLD held some of the speakers in very high regard, he added.

"We hope the conference is successful and we would value working with the college people from Carlisle in future to find programmes which have a wider interest for the practitioners in the county."