Tyting Community Project

Between the dates 22nd May and 24th May, we send an invitation to all citizens, groups, schools and officials of Guildford Borough to come together and lead discussion groups with regards to the communal use of Tyting Farm, Halfpenny Lane, Guildford. The discussions will be held ON SITE, which comprises of 115 acres of grazing farmland as well as many outbuildings in desperate need of renovation and maintenance.

The division between people within our current model of society is creating a great deal of discontent in our lives and damage to the environment – caused by an unsustainable economic system and woefully inadequate communication. We realise the importance of creating more ‘open access’ spaces for people to co-operate, integrate, and pool resources and we propose re-developing the site for communal use, with the aim of creating a ‘sustainable template’ that empowers people for the 21st century.

Tyting Farm would make a perfect site for much needed allotment spaces for the local community (a perfect opportunity for people of all ages to connect and work together), as well as an educational centre that specialises in modern agricultural techniques and green energy solutions. Light agriculture such as Permaculture and forest gardening, as well as wild life conservation, will ensure the health of the local environment is preserved and if anything, improved.

A two week adjournment has been secured with Guildford County Court that has given the necessary time for us to open up the topic for public debate as how best to utilise the land. We press again that input from the local community and effective co-operation with local government is key if there is to be progress on this issue and are sending an invitation to all local groups, organisations, schools and individuals to lead open discussions about possible futures for the site.

We would like to re-iterate that the land is not under any threat from this proposal- It is simply an attempt to ignite debate about our current (and future) food and energy situation. In concurrence with the Guildford Councils ‘Sustainable Development Programme’ 2009-2026, we realise the need for an immediate increase in local food production and a drop in our energy consumption. This site is a perfect opportunity to effectively discuss our collective situation through coherent debate- we are introducing tried and tested methods of communication to encourage equal opportunities in decision making. We hope this will help us to reach a unilateral consensus issues that affect us and that with the support of the local community our network can help steer Guildford borough towards a green and sustainable future for the 21st century and beyond.

Is there a more pressing issue than our long-term sustainability? This initiative directly confronts any potentially catastrophic problems that we may face in the future through co-operation and effective communication. We are no longer prepared to wait for others to solve our problems for us and have taken direct action in occupying the farm and initiating this debate. We are acknowledging and expressing our personal responsibility for the environment and for ourselves, and we invite you to the same. Unity is key in these challenging times, but it is also extremely exciting for there ARE solutions to our problems- it seems all we have to do is get our priorities in order.

Please contact us via TytingFarmCommunity@gmail.com for more information; if you are interested in leading a discussion, or getting involved in any way you can.

You can also contact Chris Owen, Founder of The Common Unity Project, Guildford, via unitewithlove@gmail.com, or telephone on 07862 237 566.

Also, join the Facebook group: ‘Tyting Farm Community’ and get involved in the online discussion.

Many thanks and we really hope to see you next weekend!

Chris, Charly and Trish.