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The Permaculture Association have announced the launch of this year’s British Permaculture Convergence, a bi-annual event that brings together many of the most active and forward-thinking members of this diverse and growing network. Renowned international permaculture teachers Geoff and Nadia Lawton will offer workshops.
Following on from last year’s successful International Permaculture Convergence, the event will be a unique forum to share groundbreaking ideas and practices, develop new skills, and discuss strategy, as well as meet and greet with other permaculture practitioners from across the country. Permaculture is a holistic design framework for delivering sustainability at any scale.
The location for this year’s event is the Nell Bank Centre in the beautiful Wharfedale in West Yorkshire. Nell Bank is an outdoor education centre for school children and those with disadvantaged backgrounds or disabilities. Situated in 12 acres of woodland and meadow, the Centre offers a great background for the event with excellent conferencing facilities, dormitories and a camping ground.
Andy Goldring, CEO of the Permaculture Association, is delighted that the event is back:
“The Convergence is always a brilliant event, a chance for the permaculture community in this country to get together in a fantastic location; celebrate our achievements; discuss ideas and practices new and old; eat great local, organic food and look forward together to whatever is coming next. It really is a unique event that offers a great deal to those who attend each time. We always get great feedback.”

Confirmed to appear at this year’s Convergence is the leading permaculture teacher and designer, Geoff Lawton. Geoff runs the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia and is a prolific writer and film-maker. Geoff will be appearing alongside his wife, Nadia Lawton who hails from Jordan in the Middle East. Together they run projects focused on re-greening the desert in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Also set to speak is BBC documentary-maker and regenerative farmer, Rebecca Hosking.
The British Permaculture Convergence offers a range of practical skill-sharing sessions, case studies and talks on subjects across the spectrum of permaculture – anything from natural beekeeping to redesigning public spaces, biochar-making to circular economies.
Many of the UKs leading teachers will be present to offer workshops ranging from permaculture in the garden to case studies of projects in urban schools. Alongside these will be contributions from partner organisations including The Federation of City Farms and Gardens; The Kindling Trust; Ecology Building Society and more.
Attendees are encouraged to offer their own workshops and activities as well as their musical and lyrical skills as part of Saturday Night’s cabaret. Regular Convergence-goers describe it as a cross between a serious conference and a festival, with chances to celebrate as important as opportunities for learning.
“I can’t tell you how invigorating it is to be surrounded by so many intelligent, innovative, inspiring and dynamic people. You can’t help but come away feeling full of admiration, determination and hope.” said one attendee in 2014.
The event is organised by the Permaculture Association and is open to members of the charity, which you can join via their website for a small fee. Tickets to the event range from £65.00 upwards with camping and limited dormitory accommodation offered onsite for the weekend. Head to the Permaculture Association website to find out more:
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Editors Notes:
Contact Dan Hurring, Events Coordinator at the Permaculture Association for more details:
events@permaculure.org.uk
07792 353864
More details on the Convergence can be found here:
www.permaculture.org.uk/convergence-2016
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/PermacultureAssociation/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1036032016472116/
For Geoff Lawton
http://www.geofflawtononline.com
Permaculture is a holistic design framework for delivering sustainability at any scale.
The Convergence is coordinated by the Permaculture Association, which is the national charity that supports members and the public with advice, support, information and training about the theory and practice of permaculture. The Association works to support people in specific sectors and professions understand the value of the permaculture design approach in relation to their activities. It was established in 1983.
www.permaculture.org.uk
The International Permaculture Convergence gathered people from around the world to the UK in 2015: www.ipcuk.events