Rural Idyll Workshop, led by Glyn Evans at the "Climate Change: How Christians Respond" conference

There were 2 parts to this interactive workshop.  Firstly Glyn had us discuss in small groups a cartoon drawing of `Tomorrow's Sustainable Village' and identify some of its features such as community woodlands and allotments, locally based services, recycling banks, solar panels and good bus links.  We then compared the `idyll' with the `ideal' - considering how people's expectations of rural life match up with what happens in practice, and the role of the church in building sustainable community.

The second part had us testing our knowledge of agriculture with multiple choice quizzes and then discussing some of the complex decisions involved in modern farming.  For instance farm subsidies now focus more on environmental schemes which sounds great, but will this mean that we will end up importing more food, with the added pollution problems of transporting it thousands of miles?

The workshop provided us with much food for thought, and no easy answers.  However, it was encouraging to hear some `success stories' as participants shared examples of how they are helping to make their own rural communities more sustainable.

(this report on Glyn Evans' workshop was sent in to us by Emily Wilkins)

Also on this site see a report entitled Farming crisis how can we help? (Sage Words May 2001) concerning a meeting Glyn took around the time of the foot and mouth crisis.