Quadrangle_Forest_Garden-The_Business_Case Vision * climate/ energy resilient food/ fuel/ fibre production * replicable model for diversification/ intensification/ income streams of dis/under-used pasture fields in UK "explore the possibility of combining camping, forest gardening and education into a replicable model that could be adopted by other landowners with dis- or under- used pasture as a means of increasing yields and income whilst capturing carbon and nutrients" * outdoor classroom, hands-on example of peramculture in practice for * camping facilities * community/ co-operative gardening * encourage intergenerational responsibility and interaction. * create stronger social and economic links between the urban and rural communities in and around London. Needs/ Demand * everyone likes fruit * need to develop low carbon food systems * equality access to green space/ nature deficit disorder * coommunity cohesion * forest gardening * skills exchange * provide a platform to educate and facilitate skills exchange within the local and international community. * ecological literacy * Local entprise/ economic/ plugging the leaks/ abundance of apples -> juicing/ drying etc. Benefits * low energy inputs * resilient to climate change * great teaching resource * lots of differnt outputs * community cohesion * long-term * added value to QT - enhance overall offering and educational teaching opportunites * be seen to be doing all the cool stuff * increased income generation Sensitivitites/ contraints * gas pipe * electricity cable * neighbours * parking * alkaline soil * planning * water supply * fuel supply Team Core Team * Josef * Alastair * Jessie * Deborah Contributors * Monica Partnerships * Co-op including John Keats ando ther neighbours * Peramculture Association - already contacted QT re LAND * Shoreham Village School * Transition Town Sevenoaks? * London Permaculture Network * Limina * United Diversity * Alastair Forest Row people? * Mark Organic * Shoreham Society * RUSS * West Kent Extra * Hadlow College * Steve Charter * Rochester Young Offenders Institution * Budget Income streams: * courses in outdoor classroom - 1st year: - 2nd year * camping * juicing/ drying - call/ email Ragman's Lane to get some ball park figures for juicing operation - 1st few years: others people's apples - later years: our own fruit * fuel? * Costs: * plants * tools * storage * experts * volunteer expenses * team expenses * marketing/ publicity * partnership development * milestone/ timelines * short - design - site prep - visits - research * medium * long max 3 pages Aims 1. Generate income for the Quadrangle to be financially sustainable 2. Develop usages and a ‘community in practice’* that will help to direct and shape the Quadrangle’s future. 3. For that income and community to support and maintain: • The preservation of the Quadrangle’s architectural heritage and the conservation of the natural and manmade environment of its setting and; • Develop and nurture appropriate, inclusive relationships with the local and wider community • Secure a sustainable future *A community in practice: a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession. The group can evolve naturally because of the member's common interest in a particular domain or area, or it can be created specifically with the goal of gaining knowledge related to their field. It is through the process of sharing information and experiences with the group that the members learn from each other, and have an opportunity to develop themselves personally and professionally. Q- who would form the Quadrangle’s ‘community in practice’ and what would be the common interest domain or area? Possible example: Core community brought together to do food- growing projects (orchard permaculture allotments). This could include: Transition Town, Local gardeners i.e. neighbours and Shoreham allotments holders, the village shop as an outlet for produce, the village school- children could come and plant and harvest. We may have more than one ‘community in practice’ but they could be linked. i.e. a community around the garden/orchard comes together to create and manage it. That could then become a focus for teaching and learning and a new educational community is formed- (working with local schools and collages). This could then be extended into adult education- courses/lectures on sustainability issues, climate change, resilience and energy descent. Vision - To create a unique ecologically designed, socially mixed centre for environmental and creative education and facilitated learning. - Making the Quadrangle available to the local community. - To offer educational experiences that help steer people towards contributing to an ecologically and socially sustainable society. See table of users and activities Principles 1. To create and sustain a space: - To promote sustainability and innovation - To explore questions, issues and generate ideas around sustainable living and ecological and social health - That supports a fusion between the arts and nature conservation - For both rural and urban communities to collaborate and skill share - That facilitates and enables skill sharing and networking 2. To widen access to green/rural spaces for those who are disadvantaged 3. Transparency of aims, activities and expenditure. 4. All users to feel part of our community in practice and contribute to the development and preservation of the Quadrangle. What Projects, activities, residencies and events using both the inside and outside spaces including: - Community permaculture garden - Community Orchard - Camping field trips/away days - Friends working weekends - Yoga and meditation retreats - Artists residencies - Education and training courses/workshops - Creative workshops - Events, performances and parties How DW and JT in 2010 and beyond will lead the development of projects and build the community in practice, a team of facilitators/hosts and partners. Who Proposed target groups: 1. Local community (including Transition Town groups) 2. Social entrepreneurs, artists, small businesses, creative organisations 3. Charities, social enterprises and schools and colleges 4. Family and friends (Friends of the Quadrangle) When See Table of 2010 projects and table of strategic action Strategic Aims 1. Trust Objectives Short-term strategy: 2010 as pilot year. The aim of this business plan and management of the Quadrangle in 2010 is to build the framework and foundations from which the Trustees can begin to see who makes up the Quadrangle community, to observe what works best and envisage a longer-term business model. Action: Plan and develop experimental and innovative activities, partnerships and proposals that will give shape to it’s future. This will include: • Making the space more user friendly and accessible i.e. initial investment in facilities, equipment/furniture, website and communication With a particular focus on: 1) Appropriate use of open spaces: • Research and development around setting up a community permaculture garden and orchard. • Clearing the woodland and researching possible uses for it- coppicing, forest gardening, camping. 2) Develop partnerships with local and wider community: • Friends of the Quadrangle network • Transition Town Sevenoaks and other Transition Town networks • Local food, permaculture and community gardening initiatives Guidelines/Conditions: Any activities must fit within the principles/conditions for use. No activity to be ‘experimental’ enough to jeopardise future developments and activities i.e. loud parties that upset the neighbours and give them enough cause for concern to object to planning application for change of use (Main Barn). Mid-term strategy: Stabilisation (3 years) to develop and secure partnerships with local groups, charities, non- profit organisations and other institutions over the next three years which contribute to the management of the Quadrangle and work with the Trust to build a model and business plan for it’s future. Long-term strategy: 15-20 year plan To turn the Quadrangle Trust into a charity in its own right or identify and build a partnership with a charity for the property to be transferred to. 2. Income/costs balance Proposal is that for 2010, to support the pilot year activities, the green goals and energy efficiency objectives and other short and midterm objectives DW loans the Trust between ...... This loan will support the business development with the aim of the Quadrangle becoming financially sustainable within the next three years. This could mean further loans in 2011/2012 towards building development and maintenance, management and marketing costs. Other potential revenue streams that don’t directly develop the Trust’s long- term strategy that could potentially decrease the amount loaned by DW: - Weddings, parties - Film location shorts Further details in chapter 4 and 7 Revenue streams that fit the long-term strategy- Renting, activities and events programmed and facilitated by: - JT and DW (i.e. Transition Town, Green Community, Naturewise) - Limina (of which JT is a partner) - Other organisations/groups i.e. Office away days, residential and courses- to be marketed and organised by JT* Factors/Variables to consider: Running costs (i.e. management and facilitation) depends largely on extent of usage- no. of projects, participants/users- which depends on legal status- whether we can get commercial use/rents. * see quote for Trauma Therapy course in November 2010 3.Sensitivities - Communicate and share ideas and developments with neighbours * - Family use and family time and areas. Updating and easy access to Quadrangle calendar (googledocs and password restricted zone on website) - Trust to have an ‘Environmental, Ethical and Equal Opportunities’ Policy. Aim- trustees to write (JT- draft to send around) - Clear guidelines on restrictions on use, donations expected and rates ** - - Maintaining the character and peacefulness of the place Change of use from domestic/residential to commercial- Aim to work level of consultation and timeframe. th * see outline of community consultation event on 20 March **see guidelines for use 4. Sustainability Financial: - Change of use from domestic/residential to commercial in order to have full public liability and to charge set hire costs. Aim- see above. - It would be easier to fundraise (apply to grant giving trusts and foundations) if the Quadrangle was a registered charity or associated with a charity. Aim: to work in partnership with and fundraise in collaboration with registered charities. Environmental: Environmental policy and green goals to include: - Renewable fuel- look into local provider of wood for fires/coppice our won trees - Thermal solar panels (installed) - Photovoltaic panels (aim to install in 2010) - Insulation - Water conservation/rainwater collection Social: - Guidelines for use, environmental and ethical policy talked though with new users, highlighted and downloadable from the website. - Companies/individuals to hire the space and subsidise use by charities and other non-funded groups. 4. Development see table of strategic action