Based on sites and projects in and around Reading, FOLAR presents a series of lunchtime talks at the MERL in which different landscape types are explored in terms of how and why land-use and landscape decisions are made, and by whom. Actions taken invariably have long term consequences on places and people. How can land be valued, planned and managed to better reflect and accommodate the needs and involvement of local people? What sort of positive future landscapes will respond effectively to the complexities of climate change and biodiversity? Who is really caring for the landscape? There are no simple answers but we hope these talks, presented by a professor of architecture, a researcher in geography and environmental science, a landscape historian and two landscape architects, will open up good debate.