Eco~Village Network UK
Eco~Village Network UK
The Findhorn Community was started in 1962 in an ageing caravan park. Since then, the community has grown into a major centre of adult education, with over 4000 residential visitors a year, and in the early eighties, the community began work on an 12-hectare ecovillage project. This has now grown into 20 buildings, including "breathing wall" construction, turf roofs, and whisky barrel houses. Solar power and, since 1989, a wind turbine, provide some of the energy needs of the site. Plans for a further 2 turbines, as well as increasing energy efficiency, mean that the community estimate 90% of the energy used will be from renewable sources by the year 2005. All sewage is treated on site in a 'living machine', the northernmost such 'machine' in the world.
Findhorn defines itself as a New Age spiritual community, with the stated aim of demonstrating the validity of the underlying principles of all major religions and spiritual traditions.
Speak to Carmella or May East
Ecovillage Office,
Findhorn Foundation, The Park, Forres, Moray, IV36 0TZ;
Tel: 01309 690154;
Email: ecovillage@findhorn.org
The possibility of an ecovillage in Skye has come a little nearer with the purchase of the Orbost Estate: 4,500 acres in the North West of the island. The Local Agenda 21 group have recently formed and are involved in drawing up plans to present to the relevant authorities.
Contact Jo Fox
11 Ullinish, by Struan, Isle of Skye, IV56 8FD.
Consists of 14 people living in a 17th century farmhouse with 50 acres of land. Talamh has been in existence since 1993, and currently has plans for a charity, a visitor centre, wind turbines, and an ecovillage on the site. People are welcome to go and work on the site, in exchange for food and board; or people can stay as non-working paying guests. The worker's co-op there also organise various courses, on everything from self-build to shiatsu.
Contact:
Birkhill House, Coalburn, Lanarkshire, ML11 ONJ;
Tel: 01555 820400.
In the process of buying a site in West Lothian for about twenty self-build, affordable, timber- frame houses, with workshop facilities. A large proportion of the site will be reforested, some for coppicing, for firewood or craftwork. They are hoping to use wind power to avoid connecting to the national grid and will deal with their own sewerage on site. Outline planning permission is being sought and the council are very supportive.
Contact: SVCT,
33 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DH;
Tel 0131 558 8763;
Email svct@clan.com
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