In June 2018, the Environmental Funders Network welcomed 40 environmental leaders from across the sector for a two-day retreat at West Lexham, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
The aims of the gathering were to strengthen relationships, foster knowledge exchange, and weave together elements of the sector that have not been networked before, establishing relationships and trust that might bear fruit for years to come. There was time to exchange skills and information on key issues of importance to the sector and also time to take a step back, connect with the beautiful surroundings of Norfolk and take the breathing space so needed to think both about the 'big picture' and the 'personal picture'.
We hopeful that the conversations that took place and the connections that were made will help strengthen the effectiveness of the sector over time, and that the levels of sharing and the relationships developed will improve the chances of successful future collaborations.
The facilitators 'harvested' some of what happened over the two days and created this site as a reminder to the participants of what happened when they came together.
The aims of the gathering were to strengthen relationships, foster knowledge exchange, and weave together elements of the sector that have not been networked before, establishing relationships and trust that might bear fruit for years to come. There was time to exchange skills and information on key issues of importance to the sector and also time to take a step back, connect with the beautiful surroundings of Norfolk and take the breathing space so needed to think both about the 'big picture' and the 'personal picture'.
We hopeful that the conversations that took place and the connections that were made will help strengthen the effectiveness of the sector over time, and that the levels of sharing and the relationships developed will improve the chances of successful future collaborations.
The facilitators 'harvested' some of what happened over the two days and created this site as a reminder to the participants of what happened when they came together.
Arriving, warm sun, a hug, a hello.
A treehouse, a tent a swim.
Chilli stewy stuff, a glass of wine
Circle welcome care
Halloumi Sharks Gin Moths, Bats, Qi Gong
Sleeping
Birdsong, Kingfisher, Energy moving up and down
400 years of tree and a vision for 400 more
Warm sun, jets, dragon flies and bird poo
Mapping infinity circles
Take more care of myself
Make time for renewal my own mental health
Walk away when I stop learning
I'm letting go of my career
Death means I've done my job well
Death brings intense grief, we don't think about this or manage it well
It's just a different energy thats needed
In maturity you forget how much you care
I need to celebrate more
I'm drawn to the future
The quality of the energy here is forward looking
I'm liberated by death
I'm stuck in a 3 - 4 year cycle, I need more stability
We go round and round this cycle, who is driving it ?
Between us we could help each other
How can we compliment not control?
How do we build trust?
Macaroni cheese
Sun cream please
Travel plans - wot leaving already, I wanna live here
Taboos, blind spots, limiting beliefs
A whirlpool of perspectives, insights, needs and pivot points
Searching for threads and some roots
People are part not apart of nature
Change is not linear
From evangelism and vandalism to dialogue
Diversity, a compelling narrative, a shared vision
Failure, fear, shame the need to show it works
The environmental sector can't change things alone
Can we stop competition for a year?
Thumbs UP
Take aways
Swimming, walks soft time alone
Laughter, unsuresness
Happiness, unease
Press the stop button
Tagine, salad, wine and
chocolate brownies
Long walks, a fire, photos, look this way
Story as light, as web, as glue
Be vulnerable and expect a hangover
Take your time and find your own way
Let's talk about failure in order to learn
Children who don't know what a garden is
Forgotten women who built a bridge
A baroness's parents in the cupboard
Failure is natural in life, it's just a minute and people love you for it
Universal recycling, baby steps
You don't get everything you want at the time but it comes
When you move you take yourself with you
The problem with endangered species is there are just too many of them
But he didn't stick around did he?
You try your hardest to do what you believe is right, you still get undermined
British badgers and Syrian hamsters
Putting my foot in the holy water, literally
Going for green cookery and ending up in gay porn
I've failed at failing
Maybe we can laugh at it all
Good luck to all of us
Wine and Marshmallows
Sleep
Wake up - Tuesday
What wants to happen now?
Retreat Participants:
Liz Ballard
Lang Banks
Alice Bell
Jade Berman
Michael Blencowe
Hannah Braithwaite
Natalie Buttriss
Jolyon Chesworth
Shlomo Dowen
Katy Duke
Clara Goldsmith
Sam Harding
Gillian Hosier
Emily Howgate
Jonny Hughes
Deryck Irving
David Johnson
Elaine King
Louise Krzan
Willie Mackenzie
Alistair Maltby
Ed Matthew
Carina Millstone
Alastair Moralee
Joanna Musker-Sherwood
Trewin Restorick
Jane Rosegrant
Ella Saltmarshe
Jean-Luc Solandt
Sandra Swanson
Hugo Tagholm
Alison Tickell
Hendrikus van Hensbergen
Andrea Van-Sittart
Kerri Whiteside
Howard Wood
James Wood
Julie Wozniczka
Host team and facilitators
Emma Clyde
Jenny Dadd
Florence Miller
Linda Mitchell
Jenn Morgan
Marcus Pibworth
Max St. John
Liz Ballard
Lang Banks
Alice Bell
Jade Berman
Michael Blencowe
Hannah Braithwaite
Natalie Buttriss
Jolyon Chesworth
Shlomo Dowen
Katy Duke
Clara Goldsmith
Sam Harding
Gillian Hosier
Emily Howgate
Jonny Hughes
Deryck Irving
David Johnson
Elaine King
Louise Krzan
Willie Mackenzie
Alistair Maltby
Ed Matthew
Carina Millstone
Alastair Moralee
Joanna Musker-Sherwood
Trewin Restorick
Jane Rosegrant
Ella Saltmarshe
Jean-Luc Solandt
Sandra Swanson
Hugo Tagholm
Alison Tickell
Hendrikus van Hensbergen
Andrea Van-Sittart
Kerri Whiteside
Howard Wood
James Wood
Julie Wozniczka
Host team and facilitators
Emma Clyde
Jenny Dadd
Florence Miller
Linda Mitchell
Jenn Morgan
Marcus Pibworth
Max St. John