Even on a wet, grey morning, as we followed the paths and signs that led us deeper into woods originally planted for the Dartington Estate, it’s impossible not feel intoxicated by the smells, sounds and beauty of your surroundings.\u00a0 As you get closer, the various spaces and structures come into view that The Woodland Presents now quietly and without imposition, occupies.\u00a0 The Glade, as it’s known, immediately feels considered, welcoming, and organic.<\/p>\n
As destinations, Dartington and nearby Totnes have a reputation for doing things differently.\u00a0 ‘Alternative’ is often used as a blanket term, ‘new-age’ another that misrepresents the brand of collective outlook and ethos that draws like minded people to the area.<\/p>\n
It’s clear very quickly, that the people behind The Woodland Presents are not driven by an alternative agenda, but they do try to work on behalf of local trees and woods and support and bring together people who work with them.<\/p>\n
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Photos: Aubrey Simpson, Oliver Edwards<\/p><\/div>\n
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Al Tempest, (pictured left) was brought up and educated here.\u00a0 He made it his mission to learn from others already doing the work elsewhere he aspired to bring to his home town.\u00a0 In October 2016, The Woodland Presents became official, set up as a community interest company with a simple mission:<\/p>\n
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- Enrich and expand woodlands<\/li>\n
- Help people fall in love with woods<\/li>\n
- Make things with British timber<\/li>\n
- Teach other how to do these things<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The mission manifests itself in several ways that are already up and running, as well as plans for the future.\u00a0 The Glade is available to hire for events and courses<\/a> throughout the year, currently offering educational groups from the age of three upwards, poetry workshops, craft skills and more holistic sessions.<\/p>\n
There is also a varied scope of pop-up events that they host to help support their mission.\u00a0 These have included music events, private gatherings and showcasing local food businesses, giving them a woodland backdrop and putting the Glade on the map as a local venue.<\/p>\n
The centrepiece of the Glade sits like an embedded pine cone on the forest floor – the Nest. \u00a0 A simple, beautiful structure built by Workshop Collective Ltd<\/a> that has a tactile outer shell and a tardis like space inside that can seat up to fifty people.<\/p>\n\n\t\t