Photocall: 9.45am, Saturday 17 May 2003. Guided 'toxic tour' of environmental hazards in countryside around Wrexham. Meet at North East Wales Institute, Mold Road, Wrexham. Booking essential as places on the bus are limited.

A guided bus tour of environmental hazards nestled in the scenic north Wales countryside will be the main feature of 'WEN Wales Taking Action: hidden hazards and what you can do' on Saturday May 17.

Women's Environmental Network is organising the day conference in association with the Environmental Law Foundation and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales. The tour will take in such delights as one of the deepest landfill sites in Europe, a chemical plant and an industrial site with informed commentary along the way. It will be followed by an afternoon of workshops led by the three organisations, exploring our relationship to the landscape and the impact of environmental and occupational hazards on our health. Workshops will cover legal aspects of environmental action, skills for effective campaigning and how to use and influence the planning system.

The day is free and open to anyone in north Wales and English border counties who cares about the environment. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come- first served basis so booking is essential.

Venue: North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, Wrexham; time: 9am-5pm.
To book a place contact WEN Wales Co-ordinator, Janet Williams on 01978 820819 or email wenwales@yahoo.co.uk

Ends

Contact: Liz Sutton, Press & Information Co-ordinator 020 7481 9004.

Notes to editors:
1. WEN is a national membership charity that campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women's perspective. It educates, informs and empowers women and men who care about the environment.
2. A programme for the day is below. The event is funded by the European Social Fund and the Community Fund.

Programme

WEN Wales Taking Action: hidden hazards and what you can do
Saturday 17th May
9.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m

Please note: the bus tour and plenary session are open to journalists but the workshops will be closed to enable participants to speak freely.

9.00 Registration, tea/coffee
9.45 Welcome
10.0 Bus leaves for toxic tour*
1.00 Lunch

2.00 Session 1
Workshop 1 "Legal Aspects of Environmental Action", Paul Stookes, ELF
Workshop 2 "Tools for Change skills for effective campaigning", Gloria Miqueles, WEN
Workshop 3 "Planning to Protect using and influencing the planning system", Helen Mrowiec, CPRW

3.0 Tea/coffee break
3.30 Session 2
Workshops repeated, as in session 1.
4.30 Final plenary session. Feedback from groups and next steps.
5.00 Close