The La Hague conferences and debates

The La Hague lecture and debate series, part of the annual cultural program, offers a forum for discussion and reflection. Each session features a renowned expert addressing a current issue or theme. These lectures aim to help us acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes that empower us to become responsible actors contributing to a more sustainable world.

A UNESCO Global Geopark is a territory with a geological heritage of international significance. This means that it holds within its very core precious records of Earth's history. This heritage allows those who live there, and the visitors who discover it, to become aware of and find the keys to understanding the geodynamic context of the planet we all live on. For this reason, the territories that host these geoparks have set themselves the goal of being true educators about the changes occurring today, raising awareness of the challenges of adaptation and resilience, and promoting the sustainable use of exploited and extracted natural resources, while also fostering respect for the environment and the preservation of landscape integrity.

Default image illustrating the content of the La Hague Conferences and Debates page of the Geopark - La Hague

Natural and plant heritage of La Hague (2026)

When we talk about heritage, we often think of human constructions… But this overlooks a whole aspect of its definition, which goes far beyond buildings, or even material possessions. It also misses the fundamental concept of “natural heritage,” which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century.

According to UNESCO's definition, this now refers to "all natural features, geological or physical geography formations and defined areas that constitute the habitat of threatened animal and plant species, as well as natural sites that are of scientific, conservation or beauty interest".

Preserving our natural heritage is of paramount importance at a time when our planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges. Natural ecosystems, true jewels of nature, harbor unique biodiversity, including a variety of animal and plant species, as well as landscapes of remarkable beauty.

The preservation of natural heritage also has a cultural and identity dimension. Natural landscapes are often intimately linked to the history and culture of local populations, thus constituting a precious legacy to be passed on to future generations.

Safeguarding our natural heritage means contributing to maintaining the ecological balance of our planet, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the quality of life for human beings. And to safeguard it, you must know it.

1st Conference-Debate

March 10, 2026 – Hedgerows: Living Heritage in Distress

Manche is the department with the highest density of hedgerows in France. This rich heritage is a true marker of the territory, with significant added value. The hedgerows that make up this bocage landscape provide multiple benefits: environmental, acting as windbreaks for animals and crops, and improving water quality; ecological; aesthetic; and economic, through biomass production. Their proper maintenance requires sustainable practices, replanting, and the promotion of all the benefits they provide.

This conference will be moderated by Marine Levrard, Réseau Haie Normandie

2nd Conference-Debate

May 21, 2026 – Our garden allies

Promoting biodiversity in your vegetable garden is essential for creating a healthy and balanced environment, conducive to abundant and sustainable harvests. By incorporating natural helpers such as pollinators, pest predators, and beneficial microorganisms, you contribute to strengthening your garden's ecosystem. This approach not only reduces the need for chemical products but also encourages positive interactions between different species, resulting in a garden that functions in harmony with nature.

This conference will be moderated by Christophe Jarry

3rd conference-debate

October 26, 2026 – Differentiated management of green spaces

A concept that emerged in the 1990s, differentiated management has been defined in many ways. But all definitions agree that it is a more environmentally friendly, ecological management method, an alternative to intensive horticultural management, and one that adapts to the use of the land.

This conference will be led by Axel Equilbey, a DPLG-certified landscape architect

Past conferences and debates

Water

2025

Long controlled and often forgotten, rivers are now, in this era of ecological transition, placed at the heart of regional issues. The 2025 conference series provided an opportunity to understand our relationship with the region's waterways and the complexity of considering them when envisioning our landscapes of tomorrow.

The Stone

2023-2024

Emerging from the cliffs, shaped by humans, stone is a strong element of La Hague. Between low walls and old buildings, this series of conferences and debates invited us to take a close look at the history of which the stone is a witness, a sharp look at the issues it supports, between preservation and sustainable development.

Landscapes, gardens and biodiversity

2022-2023

La Hague is a territory with remarkable agricultural, natural and built landscapes, recognized and protected. This series of conferences and debates invited us to take a different look at these vast spaces, these paths, these streets, these gardens, and this biodiversity that surrounds us; a look attentive to the history in which, from landscape to garden, they are situated; a sharp look at the challenges they face today.

The climate

2021-2022

La Hague preserves within its cliffs the archives of nearly 200,000 years of climate history. It is through understanding these archives that the first series of lectures and debates began in 2021. Sea levels have been fluctuating for a very long time, but why? What traces of these fluctuations are visible in our landscapes? And what are the challenges we face today?