We will run a series of weekend courses focused on practical skills and knowledge for sustainable living and land-based livelihoods and projects, applicable in both rural and urban contexts. Experienced tutors will share their skills in growing food; foraging; planting and looking after trees, hedges, orchards & forest gardens; making traditional herbal remedies and willow crafts. The courses will be held at Berrington Hall Housing Co-op, a low-impact community near Shrewsbury.
The project will bring together people of different ages & backgrounds, building links across generations, enhancing wellbeing and strengthening community networks. A theme linking courses will be how we can collectively respond to the climate & nature crises by making our communities more resilient, reducing carbon emissions and living in nature-friendly ways.
Courses will be actively promoted to young people, with 1/3 of places free for 18 - 25's and 1/3 free for representatives of local community groups.
What we'll deliver:
- Run 12 one-day courses focused on practical skills for sustainable living & land-based livelihoods & projects.
- Provide 40 free places on one-day courses for 18 - 25 year-olds
- Provide 40 free places on one-day courses for representatives of local community groups
- Provide 40 free places on one-day courses for other local residents
- Offer opportunities for course participants to develop their skills through volunteering with Crabapple Community
Why it's a great idea:
Locally, as in the UK generally, there has been a decline in the knowledge and practice of land-based skills and traditional crafts. In parallel with this, people have become increasingly disconnected from nature and the decline in biodiversity is accelerating. As a society we need to reverse these trends if we are to successfully tackle the climate & nature crises and build community resilience in a changing world.
This project seeks to inspire and support local residents, particularly young people, to try out skills, crafts and approaches relevant to sustainable living and taking care of the land and nature; while at the same time reducing social isolation and boosting individual & community wellbeing.
The project will also support and strengthen connections between community initiatives and networks by bringing together members of different groups e.g. community growing projects, food-shares, re-wilding projects. This will build resilience both in local communities & in nature.
Steps to get it done:
- Confirm dates & details of courses with tutors
- Set up booking system via Eventbrite
- Run series of social media posts introducing each course and each tutor
- Reach out to young people aged 18 - 25 via youth groups and colleges etc
- Reach out to local community groups
- Run the courses!
If you're interested in finding out more and booking onto a course, please email us at [email protected] and put "Skills for All" in the email title.
The courses cover 6 main topics/skills areas, with 2 days on each topic. However each day is designed as a stand-alone course, so participants can choose whether to book onto a single day or 2 linked days. For example, there will be 2 days on different aspects of looking after fruit trees: one day covering planting fruit trees and winter pruning; and the other day covering bud-grafting and summer pruning.