Past events at Wild Acres

Developing Roots Day

Sowing Seeds of Health, Growth, Creativity and Community at Wild Acres April 2024

“It was a lovely day with a warm, community feeling.”

Our Developing Roots Day was a fantastic success, bringing together local leaders, creatives, and community members for a day of collaboration and inspiration. With representatives from Stroud District Council, Dursley Town Council, and the Green Party, the event featured dynamic brainstorming sessions that led to several innovative ideas for future projects. A strong interest in partnership opportunities emerged, setting the stage for potential collaborations that will enhance the work we do at Wild Acres.

Key findings from the day include:

A desire for more nature-based creative activities centred around land, art, and food.
Opportunities for educational workshops in traditional skills, foraging, and sustainable living.
A need for regular community events like biodiversity days, family days, and inclusive networking sessions.

The event was made even more special by the delicious food prepared by our co-producers, along with the perfect weather. The Developing Roots Day played a crucial role in refining our strategy, helping Wild Acres strengthen its community impact through creative and nature-based initiatives.

For a detailed look at the ideas generated and the future plans from the day, you can read the full report here.

Wild Acres Developing Roots Report 2024 Download

Easy to Read Report

Testimonials from Developing Roots Day

We were delighted to receive some great feedback from those who joined us on the day:

“It was really lovely to be reminded that if you want and would benefit from all the wonderfulness of being outside and connecting with nature, you have to make an effort to do so! It was great to see so many people making that effort and trying to share it more widely.” — event participant
“Excited by the opportunities and potential for Paradise residents. I now need to take this forward with my staff and enthuse them about the potential so they can carry it forward.” — Paradise House team
“I felt that I would like to refer many clients to Wild Acres. Transport might be an issue for those who don’t drive, but if a course was put on, it might be possible to get funding for that.””— local community member
“Encouraged – meeting new people who are like-minded with similar interests and values about what’s important in life, like kindness.” — attendee of the event

Next Steps for Wild Acres

Following the success of Developing Roots Day, Wild Acres will take the following actions:

Phased Implementation: Over the next three years, we will introduce new programmes, starting with pilot workshops to refine our offerings.
Key Roles: A Development Manager will be hired to oversee initiatives, with team members and volunteers leading projects and managing partnerships.
Monitoring Impact: We will gather feedback and measure success through metrics on community engagement and environmental sustainability.
Addressing Logistical Challenges: We’ll work on solutions for transportation to make future events more accessible.
Enhancing Future Events: Suggestions for improvement, such as structured networking and showcasing day-to-day activities, will be implemented to enrich future sessions.

Wild Acres is excited to move forward, building on the momentum and creating meaningful collaborations and projects.

Join Us in Making a Difference!

At Wild Acres, we believe in the power of collaboration to create lasting change. We’re always looking to partner with organisations and individuals who share our vision of building a more creative, inclusive, and sustainable community. Whether you’re interested in co-hosting events, supporting our projects, or bringing new ideas to life, we’d love to hear from you!

Get in touch with us today to explore partnership opportunities and become part of Wild Acres.

Let’s work together to grow something truly special.

Upcoming Events: Check out our programme of upcoming events and workshops suitable for various ages.

Events and activities

A Big Thank You from Wild Acres!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended and participated in the Wild Acres Development Day. Your support and enthusiasm are invaluable as we move forward.

Special thanks to the players of The National Lottery for their support, which makes our community days possible. It is because of the generous support from The Community Fund, Gloucestershire Community Foundation and the Windsor Family Trust that enabled the Developing Roots day to happen along with the research and report that has come out of the event.

A further thanks to Sally Oates, Assistant County Organiser from the National Garden Scheme who presented Wild Acres with a plaque marking the contribution made by the NGS to Wild Acres. Thank you for supporting our project!

And finally a big thank you to all the Co-Producers who’s contribution on the day made the event amazing!

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