Buckingham Edible Woodland

Community GrowingGuide and Agreement

making growing food visible in communities

October 2013

Sections

A. Concept

B. The Development of the Edible Woodland

C. Terms of Agreement

D. Contact details

A. Buckingham Community Growing ConceptOutline

The increasing cost of local food, and current recession has focused individuals and organisations to look at local solutions to address:

Use of available land for community growing To develop training and education opportunities to equip community

members with the skills required to develop a resilient community Encourage and promote healthy eating Increase community cohesion Reduce carbon footprint Reduce food miles Increase access to locally grown food

This trend is now common place in the UK, being actively promoted by government and community groups. In the most successful community projects three strands have been successfully developed to future proof the sustainability :Community, Schools and Business. It is appropriate for the local council to become a facilitator in this approach, as the benefits to the population are part of what local government is there for.

Buckingham: What is right for us

Purpose‘to enhance the well-being and beauty of the community by local people growing edible and useful plants in a natural and sustainable way, increasing social interaction in the community, by creating an educational relaxing garden in an attractive setting’

It is envisaged that the Buckingham Edible Woodland will satisfy all the points in the outline above, it will provide a beginning, to start to develop an interest, skill development, and appreciation of those points. The project is a start in that direction.

Principles To bring people together, through growing, To be edible or useful The work is to be shared, anyone can participate It should be beautiful and relaxing, as well as functional, A place to be proud of and benefit our green space, To place to learn and educate us and our children, Developing and maintaining this garden must be fun, Owned by the local community, Promote wildlife,

Source locally where possible.

Governance

The Edible Woodland will be run by a group of participants, in a way that is devised by them. The Buckingham Transition group will assist with setting up the governance, by providing expertise and guidance, and setting up the garden. We will rely on participative forms of governance, the group must look to similar projects to guide governance and decide what is right to conform to the principles set out above.

In case of conflict or dissatisfaction, the Buckingham Transition group will assist. In the event of continuing discord, and only if necessary, the Transition group will have the ability to modify the group of participants running the Edible Woodland.

Participation and Support

The group working to develop the Edible Woodland we will call the Edible Woodland group. They will seek to gather participants to create and manage the Edible Woodland. They will also seek to fund any activities that require funding, by whatever normal funding means that are appropriate. It is recognised that the landlord has no obligation to provide any funding. However, the council may supply materials, skills and other resources if they deem it to be appropriate.

Land Identification and Access

It is proposed that the Edible Woodland group be set up as a part of the Buckingham Transition unincorporated association. This will provide the organisational structure, guidance, and insurance that will be required. If, at a later stage the nature of the garden organisation needs to change, then this can be altered.

Setting up for community growing

Buckingham Transition will lead the setting up of the Edible Woodland. The group will ultimately consist of those residents of Buckingham who wish

to participate, and will remain part of the Transition group unless agreed otherwise in the future.

The wishes of those who use the area, who live nearby, and who participate in the Edible Woodland, will form the basis for its development. This will be guided by the Transition group, until local people take further responsibility.

Openness, transparency, and inclusion will characterise the approach to communication.

Everyone who wants to participate must be able to participate. The group will design the methods by which the above is taken into account.

B. The Development of the Edible Woodland

Setting up method

The Edible Woodland will require a plan to develop into reality. A plan to achieve that is described in this section.

The plan is defined into sections; obtain support, agreement with landowner, design, set-up, maintenance, future development.

Obtain support

January 2013. The purpose is to present the overall concept and gauge support. Canvassing the idea around residents of the area in Buckingham. If support is not present, the project does not proceed.

Agreement with landlord

November 2013. Once support is gained, the core team of people who will take this forward is identified and set-up, and this forms the new group. At this point, the principles and concept is finalised, and the Agreement with the Landlord is finalised and signed.

Design

The group develop a conceptual design, and submit this design to the Landlord. The Landlord is required to feedback on viability, and acceptance that the overall design will fit into the concept of the public open space.

The group will also raise funds, gain involvement of the wider community, and create links with other organisations, and businesses. Skills will be sought, source of materials, costs, and details of the design finalised.

The design is proposed to be a ‘Forest Garden’. A forest garden is a garden that follows the permaculture principles of three levels of plants, growing in a symbiotic relationship with each other; small trees, shrubs, and herb layer. A forest garden does not become a forest, the word forest is simply a term to signify that the relationship between the plants that mimics that of a natural forest. Most of the plants are to be for food. The term Edible Woodland is more descriptive as a name.

A forest garden looks like a mature garden with shade, after a few years. Here are some forest garden examples:

The appearance of the garden will be of a natural setting, within a public park. There will be no straight lines of plants. We hope to design different areas to the woodland. This design will fit in with the current groups of trees in the parkland.

The overall shape of the garden is to be defined by the area to be planted. This area is currently assessed to be 2330 square meters.

The area is a flood plain, with flooding occurring every two years or more. It is planned that the garden will survive these temporary floods, as the flooding only lasts a few days at the most.

We hope that the concept of the garden is proven in three years. By this time there will be some clear view of what this garden will develop into. Then, there may be a request to expand the area, dependent on the wish of the council, and the participation of local residents. In the worst case, the area will remain the original size.

It is proposed that the area will be completely open, and that a path is developed over time for easy mud free access. Current grass will eventually be replaced to allow for the new plants, but this grass will not be removed all at once. A discussion with the council has occurred prior to planting, as some grass cutting will still be required for a time.

There is an opportunity for the group to talk to the council about the placement of the benches currently along the river, to see if their location might benefit from being changed because of the garden, to enhance the experience of the bench use.

Set-up & Location

People come together to build the garden. It will take time to develop open land into a functioning Edible Woodland. The location is planned to be in the middle of an area that is little used by the public. It lies within the area BM321424. The site is marked with a boundary in the picture below. It is important to note that defining the boundary does not preclude an agreed approach to planting and managing around the boundary of the woodland.The overall dimensions are 85x 28 m.

Land use

The activities in the parkland will include planting, maintaining, cutting. In addition, benches and paths may be added. The frequency of how often volunteers will be located there will vary over the year. However, it is assumed that this winter will require volunteers to be present infrequently for a period covering several weeks. After that, the time required is ad hoc.

The public will have access at all times. Public activity will include all normal park activities that is expected from an area that contains trees.

It is possible that vehicular access may be asked for when items that are large are required to be brought to the site. Permission will be sought on such an occasion.

Maintenance and ongoing design

The garden matures and flourishes. Ideas will have been tried, with some working better than others. The garden develops into that which is best reflected by those involved.

The potential benefits of the garden will be explored, and the principles tested against what the garden has become. The principles may be modified to reflect this knowledge. Development will be dependent on skills that will be obtained from outside the group when required. The council has skills that are valuable to the group, and ongoing cooperation between the group and AVDC on such matters is a priority.

Widening the area covered by the woodland garden may be explored by the group and AVDC at periodic intervals.

A live and current risk assessment document will me maintained, that reflects the state of the woodland at any time. The frequency of its update will be six months.

Future development

Successful ideas and methods learned will be used to approach the Landlord for further development, either in the same area, or in nearby land.

If the concept does not succeed, then it is possible for the land to return to parkland. There are nearby trees, and simply keeping the existing fruit trees would be a realistic option. The group will enter in discussion with the council, and agree a practical way forward that satisfies the requirements the council has.

C. Buckingham Edible Woodland Agreement

TERMS FOR THE USE OF THE LAND

The terms are outlined to ensure flexibility to meet the needs for each site, location and community.

Term :- AnnualRent : - £1 per annum (if demanded)

Main Terms and conditions:-

1. The Group to ensure the site remains free from weeds, litter and rubbish) and maintained in a proper state of cultivation and fertility and to the satisfaction of the Landowner.

2. The land shall not be used for the purpose of any trade or business except the distribution of horticultural seeds plants and fertilisers etc by the group to its members. Composting material will be stacked in an orderly fashion, aesthetically pleasing in keeping with the public garden, as a compost heap or heaps, hidden from public view.

3. No nuisance or annoyance shall be caused or permitted.

4. No obstruction or encroachment shall be permitted on any adjacent path or footways.

5. No trees on the site shall be felled, cut or pruned without the prior agreement of the Landowner.

6. The grass (if any) on the site to be cut at the expense of the Group, or unless agreed otherwise. The current agreement is that the council contractor will continue to mow the grass, provided the grass is easily accessible.

7. The group to ensure the use of the land does not affect slight lines and highway safety.

8. No structures whatsoever will be permitted to be erected within the area without prior written consent of the Landowner. Cane supports will be permitted however these are not to exceed 1.5m.

9. The area must fit in with the concept of open public space. This means open and free public access, pleasing and fitting appearance, and must contribute to the public experience of the park.

10. No fencing of the land to be permitted without the prior consent of the Landowner. The group to be responsible for the provision and the

subsequent maintenance of any fencing, the size, height and design to be approved prior by the Landowner.

Insurance for agreements

Insurance is required in order to protect the individual’s, groups, associations, council and public involved in community growing to claims from third parties. It is necessary to include the following :

The Transition group shall indemnify the Landowner from and against all actions, proceedings, costs, claims, demands, damages, expenses, or losses in respect of any damage or injury to any person or the property of any person arising directly or indirectly from the use by the Group.

The group shall maintain insurance in the sum of at least £5,000,000, with an office of good repute in respect of third party and public liability claims.

The group shall be responsible for any damage caused to any pipes, sewers, cables or wires belonging to statutory undertakers or other adjoining owners which are presently in, on or over the Licence area or the approach thereto over the Landowner’s property and shall indemnify the Licensor against any actions or claims by the statutory undertaker or adjoining owners arising from the use of the land by the Licensee.

Termination of agreements

The termination of agreements is included to ensure flexibility for the individual’s, groups, associations, and council involved in community growing to reinstate any land that has been utilised within this project.

The licences can be determined by either party to serving on the other six month’s notice on the other.

This licence will be determined by the Landowner :-

1. Failure to comply with terms above.

2. If the site is required by the Landowner for any purpose whatsoever, upon the service of six months notice in writing to the Transition group except in the case of an emergency.

3. If the group is dissolved, or becomes bankrupt.

Upon termination the group or other agreed body in agreement with all parties will reinstate the land to the satisfaction of the Landowner. This six months process will include early notice of any problems, and discussions between the council and the group. In addition, options with regard to transferring the woodland to another group will be actively considered.

D. Contact details

Buckingham Transition:

John Mortimer24 Northend SquareBuckingham MK18 1NX

01280 817438

John.mortimer@uwclub.net

http://buckinghamtransition.co.uk/community-garden.htm