View our Vision presentation here

Land Roots is a Company Limited by Guarantee, but we have the heart of a co-operative, if you want to know more about our ethics see our Aims and Objectives and  our  Co-operative Identity Statement

Imagine a home from home where you can plant trees that you know your kids and grandkids can enjoy..... Imagine feeling a sense of belonging on the wonderful rich green land and being able to share in the pleasures and responsibilities of collective land ownership, without having to spend a furtune or give up the life you have now..... imagine all your friends and family sharing this land with you.... lets make it happen !

In recent open meetings we did some collective visioning  have a look at what people said they wanted to see and do on the land - every thing from artists retreats to recording studios to healing and spiritual centres to family eco-holidays that don't cost the earth... what about you?

Let us know what you would like   -  its up to all of us to manifest our best dreams of life !

The following  article  was  written  for  green  publications  like  permaculture  magazine  -  please  feel  free  to download  this article and  put  it  in  your  local  green  magazines and  Spread  the  Word!

Land Roots - Space for Life!

Sharon Pollitt -  Founder and Director of Land Roots, talks about this pioneering, not for profit, land share collective.

The challenges we face in these transition times are so great that they can seem overwhelming - but there's a fire in the belly of millions of good green people, who are responding to these challenges in very positive and empowering ways - we are going to need all the solidarity we can muster in the years to come. This is my response to those challenges, it will help to bring us together, bring healing to our communities and feed our children into the future!

Join us - were rolling it out!

Land Roots Co-operative is a new land share organisation. Our aim is to enable thousands of people to join together to collectively buy pieces of land - a home from home where we can gather and share in the pleasures and responsibilities of our collective land. The land will be developed as a showcase of permaculture design, good land stewardship and sustainable community living as a legacy for future generations.

Imagine planting trees that you know your kids and grandkids can enjoy – to feel that sense of belonging to land and place without having the sole responsibility of the single land owner or farmer or having to give up your life in the city - and off setting your carbon footprint in the bargain – its gotta be a winner.

The people based on the land will form a housing and workers co-op. They will organise and facilitate the activities and events that take place on the land and run eco-cottage industries. We are inviting people and groups to apply to be members of these land based groups, the amount of people who can be based full time on the land will depend on the accommodation available in the buildings and possible planning permission we can gain for further low impact dwellings.

Working with the planning system - At the moment, Britain's planning system doesn't make it easy for people with low income to settle in the countryside. It doesn't meet the needs of today or the demands of the future, for dwellings, farming, livelihoods or a healthy environment. However some forms of development can be carried out on the land without having to obtain planning permission. The 28-day rule is one of the 'Permitted Development Rights' and allows temporary use of land, for camping, gatherings, festivals, and other informal activities to take place on a piece of land, for up to 28 days in a single calendar year. The Land Roots collective land model is designed to work within the boundaries of the planning system.

• In 1960 small independent food retailers had a 60% share of the food retail market, by 2000 there share was reduced to 6%.
• Four supermarkets control 70% of food sales.
• Around 70% of the land in Britain is owned by around 1% of the population.
• In 1939 Britain had farm workforce of 15%, in 2000 it's was only 2%.

Land Roots aims to play its part in re balancing the food system by opening up large areas of collective land for local food production. We need to attract a critical mass of people to buy back enough of the land to turn the tide in favor of sustainable farming in the UK.

Offset your carbon footprint - Joining Land Roots will enable people to offset their carbon footprint, through the growing of local food for local consumption, planting trees, production of on site renewable energy and eco-holidaying at the green gatherings instead of flying abroad.

This is crunch time! It is essential that we grow in our understanding of our interconnectedness and interdependence with all life on Earth and strengthen our commitment to work together to protect it. We want to co-create places where we can feel a sense of hope and belonging, on land that we have all helped to buy - focal points for the green community to come together, share skills, celebrate our successes and ground our energies in practical land work.

A step towards 'Making the Earth a common treasury for all'.

Affordability for everyone is the key - so we are inviting people to pay a one off sum of  £250 each in the collective land fund – (could be paid at £21 per month for 1 year).

Imagine 4000 members at £250 each – that adds up to £1,000,000 - money enough to buy land to host annual gatherings for 4000 people and grow lots of food to feed us too.

The more people that join the more collective land we can reclaim to honour our stewardship responsibility to nurture the land for future generations. We would especially like to encourage farmers, gardeners, eco-builders, community organisers, fund raisers, artists, musicians, workshop leaders, holistic healers, parents, young people and YOU !

Be empowered to set up your own local Land Roots Green Gathering land ! The Land Roots formula is affordable, sustainable and repeatable and will enable groups of people to collectively buy land throughout the country - creating a wild life corridor for human beings!

 

 

Land Roots - a Transition Initiative - We will be working with the growing Transition network  – we are natural partners. Transition is all about the Local. Its about building community resilience, reclaiming our local environment and taking control of our destinies. Transition provides the inspiration to change things - starting at home and in your own towns and villages. Key topics include localising food supplies, Community Supported Agriculture schemes, strengthening community relations, supporting renewable technologies and much much more. We believe in the Transition ideals and are entirely committed to enacting the principles of the Transition movement in Land Roots, and spreading that message to others.

 

If you are part of a group aiming to buy land and you have similar aims to Land Roots, there may be ways of linking together to our mutual advantage – please get in touch.

 

The more land that the green network collectively own

the more power we will have

to improve the quality of life of our communities

 and our planet.

 

Realize the power of the collective

believe in our ability to create positive change

and take action !