Events celebrate spearheads of Bristol’s localisation movement

Grassroots organisations are joining forces with a global network for this month’s Planet Local Summit.

The ‘celebration of the worldwide localisation movement’ organised by international non-profit Local Futures will present discussions on food, farming, economies, climate and culture.

Bristol-based partner organisations are holding events in the run-up to the Summit to highlight the city’s existing localisation initiatives.

The Community Farm is offering a tour of its vegetable gardens as part of a Farming, Feasting and Fermenting event on September 24 – photo: The Community Farm

According to Local Futures, localisation refers to ‘building economic structures that allow the goods and services a community needs to be produced locally and regionally whenever possible’ to support sustainable social and ecological wellbeing.

The pre-summit events begin with an open day at 5 Acre Farm, Backwell, on September 23. The Tobacco Factory’s regenerative farm supplies the venue’s farm shop on North Street, Southville, and veg boxes citywide. Visitors can take part in a farm tour and harvest sustainably-grown flowers and produce.

A Farming, Feasting and Fermenting tour on September 24 takes in the Community Farm, Wilding Cider and the biodynamic Limeburn Hill vineyard, finishing with Sunday lunch at The Pony Chew Valley. It’s hosted by Bristol food titans Josh Eggleton (The Pony), Phil Haughton (Better Food) and Florence Pardoe (GOOD: Stories in Food).

Sustainable education pioneers Shift Bristol will be at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft on September 25 to discuss building strong foundations for resilient grassroots networks. Panellists from Shift, Bristol Commons and the Transition Network will consider group dynamics, communication and tools for collaborative working.

And over September 30-October 1 visitors to St. Paul’s Church on Coronation Road can take part in a ‘pick your own’ trail of gardens, allotments and public spaces, and workshops including a preserving class from COR chef Mark Chapman and a cooking competition judged by Masterchef’s Woei Lee, as part of BS3 Jammin.

Shift Bristol, an organisation educating around sustainable futures grounded in ecological and community health, will hold a session on building grassroots resilience as part of pre-Summit events – photo: Shift Bristol

Amongst Summit contributors from every continent, Green councillor and Bristol Central MP candidate Carla Denyer will contribute to a panel on strengthening local economies; first elected Bristol mayor George Ferguson will discuss localizing in the city; and Patrick Holden, Sustainable Food Trust founder, will consider the future of UK farming.

On the conflict between the prospect of a global gathering held in the name of more localised futures, Local Futures explains, “The Summit provides an essential platform for in-person connection and collaboration between localisation activists from different areas of the globe.

“A genuine dialogue between people from the Global North and South is a building-block of a holistic critique of global ‘development’ and industrial ‘progress’.

“The face-to-face strengthening of connections…across the globe supports the vitality of the movement…By bringing changemakers together in Bristol, the Summit collectively furthers the movement for the restoration of social and ecological health.”

The Planet Local Summit takes place at St George’s Bristol and Bristol Folk House, Park Street, and the Tobacco Factory in Southville, Sept 29-Oct 1. Livestreaming tickets are also available.

To volunteer at the summit in exchange for free tickets visit planet-local-summit.localfutures.org/volunteer/

To explore the programme and book tickets visit planet-local-summit.localfutures.org/

Main photo: BS3 Jammin

This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.

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