UPDATE:
The latest from Martin. Not great.
“This afternoon our landlords have released a public statement (https://www.dartington.org/forest-garden-update/) which contain a number of misleading statements which we feel we have to correct.
“We have had constructive and productive discussions with Martin over the past week.”
No, we had one meeting on Weds 19th March when positive noises were made by DHT representatives. Then on Tuesday 25th March we had an email from David Triesman failing to address our need for long term security of the site.
“Eviction was not on the agenda and is not the intention.”
We were served notice by one member of DHT staff which was then queried by us, to be confirmed by Nick Harris (COO). Obviously eviction was on the agenda.
“Our objective is simple: to work with Martin to agree a physical solution for making the boundary of the forest garden secure and safe, meeting the needs of a prospective tenant for the larger adjoining site of the former college. Nothing more.”
That may be so, but that wasn’t what our meeting on 19th March concentrated on, which was our need for long term security of the site following an irrevocable breakdown in trust between ART and DHT as a result of the eviction notice.
“He has already gained a legal opinion telling him he has good security of tenure”
DHT have not rescinded their notice to quit. Whether they do so or not is now irrelevant as our lease runs out in just over 3 years in any case – this is not good security of tenure.
“That is a longer term conversation”
No, we agreed in our meeting on 19th March that security of tenure is something that we need answers to speedily. Thus our extreme disappointment that David Triesman’s letter of 25th March failed to offer us anything in the way of long term security options.
From our perspective any agreement to a physical solution – ie fencing – to satisfy the SEN school interested in taking over the ex-Schumacher College buildings is inextricably linked to DHT coming forward with a solution giving us long term security of tenure. We have written to David Triesman making this point and publically call on DHT to see sense and come to an agreement on this.”
I am so glad to be able to report more encouraging news regarding the fate of this important project. I went to chat to Martin on Friday 14 March, and felt outraged on his behalf at the Trust’s cavalier treatment of him and of the threat to such a long- established permaculture site and its legacy of training, influence and scientific data. The importance of its longevity cannot be overstated and nor can the inspiration that it has given to tens of thousands of projects, especially now, in the planet’s hour of dire need.
Martin has had a constructive meeting with key figures at the Trust and is hopeful that a way forward can be found which gives the project its essential long-term stability. He will be having further discussions next week.
Until the garden’s future security is confirmed, immutably, please continue to sign the petition. If you feel moved to donate, please keep your money for now – it might be needed for a crowdfunder. Donations on the petition site go to the Change organisation, who do great work enabling petitions like this to exist…but, unless money is no object, you might prefer to donate to the specific cause at a later date.
The original article follows:
In a move which has shocked local people, environmentalists and permaculture advocates, Dartington Hall Trust are ending the Agroforestry Research Trust’s tenancy. This can only be described as an act of eco-vandalism.
“Throwing us off is not the same as giving a tenant in a building notice – they can easily move. This food forest is irreplaceable. It is literally priceless. What the DHT are doing is ecological vandalism driven by greed… we obviously need a secure long term tenancy, and we spent 4 years negotiating this with Dartington Hall Trust and had a verbal agreement to go ahead with the last CEO Alan Bolden. Then with regime change they reneged on that agreement and refused to give us a long term deal.” Garden founder, Martin Crawford.
Please sign this petition. This project is a world-famous, precious and must be preserved. Here is a video to give you a flavour of the vital work being done by Martin Crawford on the site.
look out for an update of this short piece, written to alert readers to the petition.
