I was a PhD student when my supervisor, Dr Martin Skov, organised the first ever global saltmarsh meeting. SaltmarshNET was intended to provide a forum for leaders in the field to put their heads together and identify the biggest research questions in our field. I was lucky to be part of that group.
The meeting was exciting, having the opportunity to talk to scientists that had inspired me. The exercise of writing ideas on a board, and discussing them together was eye opening. Though what really sticks in my mind was the snow.
The venue for our auspicious meeting was Nant Gwrtheyrn – a wind-swept farm converted to a conference centre, with stunning views across the Lleyn Peninsula and the Irish Sea. The night before the meeting was a cold one, and the steep road down to Nant Gwrtheyrn had frozen over.