35th Wildlife & Rural Crime Conference

The annual Wildlife Crime Conference will take place this year between 4th and 6th December 2024.

Venue
The Woodlands Event Centre, Wyboston Lakes
Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedford MK44 3AR
W3W: modifies.truth.worlds

Focus
Our annual conference is where law enforcers, statutory agencies and NGOs gather to hear the latest approaches, successes and challenges of combating wildlife crime in the UK. There will be a comprehensive programme of presentations from key agencies, evening award ceremony and as always, excellent opportunities for networking.

The 2024 focus will be the 4P’s – Prevent, Prepare, Protect and Pursue.

Conference timings

Wednesday 4th December
Bedrooms available from: 15:00
Bar opens: 17:00
Dinner @ Olive Restaurant: 18:30
Networking events @ Bamboo lounge: 20:00
Bar closing: 00:00

Thursday 5th December
Coffee & networking opportunities: 09:00
Conference starts: 10:00
Lunch: 13:00
Sessions end: 17:00
Bar opens: 18:00
Buffet Dinner: 18:00
WWF Awards Ceremony: 19:30
Bar closing: 00:00

Friday 6th December
Conference starts: 09:25
Lunch: 12:00
Close: 15:30

Access to rooms
Wednesday arrivals: access to bedrooms will not be before 3pm.
Thursday arrivals: conference will start at 10am. Access to bedrooms will not be before 3pm. Delegates who drive are advised to leave their luggage in their car as there is only a small luggage store that can be utilised within the Woodlands Event Centre.

Draft agenda
Please note this is subject to change:

Rosewood Suite, Wyboston Lakes

Conference Programme
Any updates to the above agenda will be published here. Programmes will be available as hard copies at registration.

FAQs

Q: Can I pay with cash/is there an ATM on site?
A: THE SITE IS CARD ONLY. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Q: How do I get to Wyboston Lakes by car?
A: Wyboston Lakes Resort is ideally located just off the A1 and the A421 on the A428 towards Cambridge. 
* From the M1 exit at junction 13 onto the A421 proceed to the end and join the A1 for approximately 1 mile and exit onto the A428 towards Cambridge, Wyboston Lakes Resort is on the Right hand side.
* From the M11 exit at junction 13 and take the A428 towards Bedford, proceed until you reach St Neots and take the road signed A421 for 100 yards the main entrance is located to the left before the traffic lights,
* From the A1 exit onto the A428 towards Cambridge, Wyboston Lakes Resort is on the Right hand side.

Q: Is there parking?
A: There is plenty of parking, free of charge.
There are also charging facilities for electric vehicles 24/7 – 10 Tesla Super Charge points and 6 EON chargers at the Waterfront Hotel, 4 at the Willows, 6 at the Woodlands, and 4 at the Knowledge Centre.

Q: How do I get to Wyboston Lakes by train?
A: The nearest rail station to Wyboston Lakes Resort is St Neots, on the Great Northern service, a 48 minute train journey from London King’s Cross. St Neots and Sandy Train Stations are both 10 minutes drive away.
* Panther taxis: + 44 (0)1480 471111
* Jack’s taxis: + 44 (0)1480 211110
* Anglian Taxis: + 44 (0)1480 475 222

Q: Can I fly to Wyboston Lakes?
A: Luton Airport is only 45 minutes away.
Stansted Airport is only 45 minutes away.
Heathrow Airport is approximately 90 minutes away.

Q: Do you have a map of the complex?
A: Yes, click here for the map.

Q: What is the dress code?
A: Smart casual throughout conference.
Dress code for the awards evening (Thursday) is ‘dressy casual’ (jacket, shirt and tie, suit, dress or dressy separates).
Formal dress (ballgowns/black tie) is not required but feel free to dress up as much as you wish.

Q: Where will my bedroom be located?
A:Bedrooms will either be in the Woodlands Event Centre or the Willows Training Centre. Both are within the Wyboston Lakes complex.

Q: What time will I need to check out?
A: You must check out of your room by 11am.

Q: What facilities will I get in my bedroom?
A: Each room is well equipped with a workstation, TV, laptop safe, tea and coffee making facilities, iron/ironing board and hair dryer.

Q: Is the site fully accessible?
A:Wyboston is committed to meeting all customers’ needs and have invested specifically to create equality. They will make every effort to meet everyone’s needs and will not shy away from extra effort to deliver hospitality. All accessibility requirements should be declared on your booking form. If you are unsure, please contact NWCU.

Q: Will a delegate list be supplied?
A: No

Q: Will there be workshops?
A: We hope to have a selection of workshops on the Friday afternoon but this will only be confirmed closer to the event.

Q: Will the conference be recorded?
A: No

Q: Can I share images of the presentation slides on my socials?
A: Whilst we encourage use of social media to publicise the conference, please be mindful that this is an enforcement conference and some slides will not be suitable to be shared. If in doubt, check with NWCU.

Q: Will there be an after dinner speaker?
A: We will try to secure a suitable speaker but this will not be confirmed until nearer the event. If you have anyone you think would make a fantastic speaker, please let NWCU know.

Q: I have dietary requirements, how will you meet them?
A: All dietary requirements should be declared on your booking form. If you forgot to do so or are unsure if it was included, please contact NWCU.
Wyboston Lakes caters for all dietary requirements and these are clearly advertised in the restaurants and refreshment areas.

Q: Will there be a set menu plan?
A: We have chosen to have a themed buffet dinner at Wyboston Lakes so everyone will be able to make their own selections from a wide range of delicious items.

Q: What are the networking events on the Wednesday evening?
A: Come along for a ‘wee blether’ within the Bamboo lounge at Woodlands Event Centre where NWCU will lead you through some exciting, fast paced network building so you can chat to a wide range of different partners.

Q: Can I bring my dog with me?
A: Wyboston is a pet free resort so dogs are not allowed on site or within bedrooms unless they are service animals.

Q: What efforts are you making to ensure the conference is sustainable?
A: Wyboston Lakes has a sustainability obsession. Every little bit is done to help reduce energy usage and carbon footprint. 

• There is a nature reserve on site which is supported by the Wildlife Trust.
• The venue actively seek to reduce paper consumption in all areas across site and have already reduced flip chart use by replacing with squiggle boards and digital flip charts.
• Thousands of eco-conscious guests have chosen to have a tree planted instead of having their room cleaned under our Room2Grow initiative, with over 10,500 trees planted on the resort.
• Working with waste management partners, Wyboston is a ‘Zero to Landfill’ complex.

Q: What fitness and wellbeing activities can I do while there?
A: During your stay, your package comes with complimentary use of the Health & Leisure Club – operated by 1Life – free of charge, which has a gym, pool and sauna.
* Wyboston Lakes has a walking and jogging track.
* There is a wellness walk onsite.
* You can also purchase a treatment at the Y Spa, which is located within the Waterfront Hotel. Use of Y Spa facilities, which includes the Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Spa is not automatically included in your reservation. If you wish to use the spa facilities, please book in advance. Spa Opening Times: Wednesday: 10.00am – 5.00pm; Thursday: 10.00am – 8.30pm; Friday: 10.00am – 5.00pm.