annual members gathering

May 27, 2017

The Sustainability Centre in Hampshire is home to the Permaculture Magazine, it boasts the woodland craftsman Ben Law amongst its many course tutors and we’re delighted to tell you it is WWOOF’s chosen location for this year’s Members Gathering and AGM on Saturday 23rd September.


We’re offering a day of activities and information-sharing with inspiring people in a seriously interesting setting. Staff and directors will be opening the day (after the brief business of the AGM) with a discussion panel where you can ask, suggest and share your WWOOF experiences, and get to know the team behind WWOOF UK as well as the other members attending the day.

Katie Hastings is a director of WWOOF UK and will lead workshops on the pioneering projects of Mach Maethlon in West Wales, including land share, a veg box co-operative and edible town initiative.

Sarah ‘The Herbalist’ Furey is a medical herbalist who works and teaches at the Sustainability Centre and throughout the local area, and she’ll be offering an informative session discussing how to grow and use herbs to boost immunity.

Throughout the afternoon, there’ll be the opportunity to take a tour of the many projects and experiments on the Centre’s site. Louise Arthur, who has been instrumental in establishing the wetland site and willow-growing enterprise at the Centre, will be leading the tours around the gardens, woodland, and buildings. Tours can be paid for on the day and cost £5 per person.

The Members’ Gathering is always a valuable time for members to get together and talk over the pleasures and challenges of being part of WWOOF and the organic movement. There’s lots of time within the day to chat with friends old and new, over tea, cake and lunch.

There will be a small cost for the day to include all refreshments; numbers will be limited, so please book soon via the WWOOF UK website; www.wwoof.org.uk. You’ll need to log in to your account to do this.

The Sustainability Centre is situated within the South Downs national park, right on the South Downs Way;  so if you want to make a weekend of it the Centre hosts Wetherdown Lodge, yurt hire and a campsite for overnight stays.  Visit their website to book accommodation; sustainability-centre.org/stay-with-us. WWOOF will be providing a shuttle service between the Centre and Petersfield train station; although there is parking on site, we very much encourage you to come on a car-free visit!

images: Sustainability Centre website, Mach Maethlon website, Sarah Furey website, Louise Arthur Facebook.  Please see links in text.

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