Regional Report From Britain
Tuesday, 7 June 2005
Participants
Helen - Devon; Fraiser – Manchester; Looby – Wales; John – Wales; Steph – Wales; Ed – Scotland; Graham – S.W. Cork; Rod – Lancs; Andy – Mid Wales; Hannah - Bedfordshire
Summary
Regional separation to prepare for report back to rest of convergence.
Notes on process
Seated circle. Name round. Second round for local reports. Split with Europe caused some confusion and duplicity of reporting.
Key Points
Permaculture Association Britain (PAB) statistics were given by Looby (Chair of Association):
- 700 members, 3000 PDC graduates in the UK, Active website, 40 groups members, 2 business members, Earth stars CD, PAB Festival presence, biennial national convergence – 2004 very successful with 300 attendees, recent funding success, limiting factors = £, time / people power.
- To present back to rest of the world(!) four subtitles were developed to present a snap shot of present UK Permaculture from our perspectives:
Hot spots
- Regionally – Scotland, Isle of Man, Mid Wales, London, Brighton, Devon, Cork (temporary honorary county of UK)
General Themes
- Many grass roots initiatives starting
- However problems of social isolation in some areas for new projects
Limiting Factors
- £, time, people power
- Big problem with planning permission and insurance for permaculture dwellings
Emerging Issues
- Mainstreaming Permaculture – getting it out there
- Alternative teaching formats and accreditation network
G8 & Make Poverty History Campaign – Permaculture influence
- Regional Permaculture ‘cold spots’ getting warmer, e.g. East Anglia
[Scribe: Hannah]