We have weekly work sessions on a Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm followed by the permaculture workshops led by Niels 6-8pm - if you can't make it on Sat, why not come along on a Wed!

What to bring
There will be tea and coffee provided but don't forget to bring some lunch! Also, bring some decent shoes for outdoors, warm clothes, waterproof coat, and suncream and hat - who's know what the English weather will do!

Directions
Bardon Grange is located at the back of Oxley halls on Weetwood Lane:
Go up the Otley Road out of town and through Headingley -> turn right on to Weetwood Lane (just after Cottage cinema by Bryan's fish and chip shop) -> keep going, up steep hill, round S-bend, past entrance to The Hollies -> Bardon Grange is the first left - sign posted 'Bardon Grange nursery' and follow the lane round into the courtyard. Also, the 28 bus has a stop just outside Bardon Grange. If you need any help with directions just ask or have a look on the Facebook event.

Contact
If you’d like more information about the project or how to get involved in the Bardon Grange project please e-mail Lizzie, the Bardon Grange project coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit our Facebook group for more info,

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Lizzie Fellows

Annoucing the 2010 Leeds Permaculture Design Course (PDC)

Following-on from 3 successful courses the Yorkshire Teachers Network are delivering another full design course starting in Jan 2010. The course will be an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to learn new thinking tools and practical skills and to enable you to become a permaculture designer/eco-citizen.

The course will enable you to implement systems thinking in your daily/work life and on land or garden/allotment. To create abundant, low-maintenance green-spaces that integrate with the built environment in a sympathetic and ecological manner.

For more info and to sign-up contact:

Joanna Dornan at joannadornan[AT]yahoo.co.uk

Dates –The course is one weekend per month for seven months.

30 / 31 January is the first weekend
27 / 28 February
27 / 28 March
24 / 25 April
22 / 23 May
19 / 20 June
10 to 11 July is the last weekend

Cost –

Employed and/or household income over £15,000:

Sliding scale £300 - £650 based on your income and what you can afford. This is up to you. No less than £300 but you can pay more than £650 if you wish. Please bear in mind that this charge covers - admin, tutors, venue hire, handouts and permaculture association membership.

Concessionary rates:  people in receipt of benefits (household income less that £15,000):

Please note:  concessionary places are limited based on first come, first serve basis:

Weekly income less than £70 per week:  Course cost is £120 + £18 Permaculture Association membership + cost of certificate (£3)

People on other means tested benefits with household income less than £15,000:  Course cost: sliding scale:  £180 - £300 based on income and what you can afford.

We will be asking for voluntary donations each week to cover teas and donations to projects we visit – £1-2 each weekend from everyone is usually enough to cover the extras we like to include.  Transport for trips will be at students’ expense.

We prefer full payment in advance, however we can accommodate some payments in installments:  call Joanna contact details below to arrange.

Deposit – Deposit required to secure a place on the course.  Please send a cheque (payable to Leeds Permaculture Network) to:

Joanna Dornan, 19 Montpelier Terrace, Leeds, LS6 2EX:

Employed person’s deposit:

£100

Concessions deposit:

Lower rate concs:  £25

Upper rate concs:  £50

Venue – we have booked the training room at BTCVs (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) Hollybush Conservation Centre in Kirkstall , North West Leeds . This is a good space, allows walks in nearby countryside, has opportunities for practical sessions and is warm and comfortable. Additionally it means that we can use the resources of the Permaculture Association, which is based there. We are planning a number of visits too.

Times – we will open each day at 9, ask people to arrive by 9.30 and sessions will start promptly at 10. We will generally continue on till 5pm, although it is likely that we will show an optional video from 5.30, depending on how many people are interested.

Syllabus – we are still finalising the timetable for the course, and will of course be going through it on the first day to ensure it meets everyone’s needs. It is based on the internationally agreed syllabus and will cover permaculture ethics, principles, design methods, a group design exercise and lots of information about ecological thinking, sustainable living and appropriate technologies. A timetable from the 2007 Leeds course is attached as an indication of what we will cover.

Tutors – The main tutors will be Andy Goldring, Joanna Dornan and Niels Corfield, who have considerable teaching and project experience. We will also have a good mix of guest tutors, and of course 20 students each with a lifetime of experience, which we will draw on throughout the course. The course will be participatory, fun, challenging and we hope, deeply rewarding and life enhancing.

We have got lots of interest so far and a limit of 20 places, so booking now is recommended to avoid disappointment.  We will send a timetable after our tutors meeting in early January and a list of what you need to bring with you. You are encouraged to read and research permaculture before you come to the course, but this is not essential. A list of recommended reading and other information is available on the Association’s website – www.permaculture.org.uk

If you know of other people that may be interested to receive this email, please forward it to them

Joanna Dornan

Joanna’s contact details: 0113 3504943 (hm), 07923221268 (mb).