The next Manchester Permaculture event will be a visit to the Offshoots Permaculture project, located within a large walled garden, at Townley Hall just outside Burnley town centre. It is one of the most outstanding permaculture projects in the country, featuring organic gardens, ecological buildings, green woodworking and yurt building, community composting, renewable energy, grey water recycling, compost toilets, and much more. In addition the site provides a venue for a wide variety of training, events, community activities, health and well-being, and social enterprise.

Offshoots was established over 10 years ago, by local permaculturists, and as the project progressed, its management was passed over to an organisation called Groundwork East Lancs. The project is now operated by Groundwork, who raise funds, and employ 4 staff, whilst maintaining its permacultural roots, and a board of governors from the local community.

 More information about Offshoots can be found here on their website.

Saturday June 6th

Our visit to Offshoots will co-incide with their regular community volunteer day. We plan to arrive for about 11.00 o'clock, and will get a guided tour of the site, and will be able to meet local people and participate in the volunteer activities that are taking place. Please bring some food to share, plus also wear practical work clothes, and bring light waterproofs. The volunteer day finishes at 4.00, but of course people are free to leave sooner if they wish.

Travel Arrangements

It is possible to get a train or bus to Burnley, and walk or cycle to Townley Hall from the town centre (the Witch Way bus picks up in Manchester from Chorlton Rd and from the Town Hall). However, I am organising a car share, so we can travel there in convoy. It is roughly one hours drive, so we will be departing at 10.00. Please email me here if you can offer a ride, or would like a lift.  

Guided Tour
We can get an optional guided tour of Offshoots, lasts one hour, and will cost about £5 per head.
The guided tour will probably only be cost effective if there are a few of us there (say 12 or more). We will just have play this one by ear and see how many people come along on the day.