Suffolk is set to host an influential European group’s conference on land ownership.

The group of European landowners and managers from the European Landowners’ Organisation (ELO), will visit this month to learn how estates and businesses in the eastern region are planning for the future.

The organisation, which represents the interests of the owners and managers of rural land and businesses within the European Union, will be here for their General Assembly from Thursday, May 21 until Sunday, May 24.

A conference entitled Looking to the Future: Land Ownership and the Estate 2030, co-organised with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), will be held on Friday 22 May. It will focus on a variety of issues affecting estates, farming, and the countryside in the future, and will be addressed by CLA president Henry Robinson.

Following the conference, the delegates, who will be based in Newmarket throughout their stay, will be given options on visiting a number of differing locations across the region.

This includes a tour of the Euston Estate, near Thetford, hosted by the Duke of Grafton. It will take in the estate and park, and will cover the challenges faced with restoration, growing differing crops, deer control, woodland management, and irrigation.

There are also options to visit Abbotts Ripton Hall, Elton Hall, and the Trumpington Estate in Cambridgeshire, and farms in Essex and Hertfordshire, covering topics such as estate management, wildlife and habitat creation, and renewable energy projects.

CLA East regional director Ben Underwood said: “The CLA is delighted that our partner organisation, the ELO, is visiting the eastern region to get a deeper level of understanding of how our estates and rural businesses tackle agricultural, environmental and commercial issues.

“Both organisations are devoted to putting a huge amount of effort into lobbying the European Parliament, helping to ensure the interests of England’s rural land managers are properly protected and promoted.

“Therefore this visit and conference will be an excellent opportunity to further strengthen links and to offer them a real insight into how our innovative farmers and landowners are looking to create a prosperous, yet sustainable, future for their businesses and the next generation.”