National Convergence 2022: A Festival of Permaculture

9-11 September at Hill End, Oxfordshire

We are back, in real life and in Oxfordshire for our national convergence. 

2022 is all about celebration, coming together, breaking bread and raising a glass. It has been a long time coming but we are so excited to embrace one another again (hugging is optional). The convergence is a thriving hub of ideas, community and sharing experiences; we invite you to join us and take part. 

We'll be returning to the idyllic surroundings of Oxfordshire, at Hill End where we last gathered back in 2019. Hill End is an eco-activity centre with camping, dormitories and lots of meeting spaces onsite.

Advanced ticket sales close at midnight on Thursday 9th September.

Buy a ticket

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are coming to the Festival, this weekend, you should have recieved an event information pack. If you have not recieved your event info pack, please email [email protected]

Information about how to get to Hill End and all FAQs can be found on our FAQ page:

FAQs

What's on?

Connect with your fellow permaculture tribe and positively contribute to our planet's future. With over 50 sessions and counting, our programme reflects nature’s diversity; we really do have something for everyone.

Festival Programme

• A jam-packed day of forest gardens including how to propagate your own forest garden, forest gardening in small spaces, the joys of community forest gardening, lessons from our 10-year forest garden trial and a special edition of Gardeners’ Question Time- put your forest garden questions to our expert panel!
• Join our dedicated ‘Build your permaculture place’ afternoon and work with our expert projects team to take your permaculture project forwards.
• Get stuck in at one of our practical workshops. Whether it is learning how to apply biodynamic preparations to your compost, site your compost toilet, carve a spoon, make an oak peg or spin some yarn, there will always be something to turn your hand to.
• Adam Alexander, ‘The Seed Detective’. Taking us on a journey that began when we left the life of the hunter-gatherer to become farmers, Adam tells tales of globalisation, political intrigue, colonisation and serendipity – describing how these vegetables and their travels have become embedded in our food cultures.
• Susan Young, ‘Growing Beans.’ Susan shares how easy it is to grow a huge variety of delicious beans throughout the year and give tips for harvesting, drying and how best to cook. She will have lots of beans with me to show and I will answer all your beany queries.
• Rakesh Rootsman Rak and James Atherton, ‘Intersectional Permaculture: Creating accessible and liberatory spaces to meet everyone's needs.’ James and Rakesh explore how we can create spaces of abundance for all, while centring the experiences of historically less-heard or less-visible communities.
• Looby Macnamara, shares her groundbreaking project work: ‘Mothers as Natural Leaders’ and ‘Cultural Emergence Designing’.
• Aranya, ‘Three Cheers for Pooh!’ Hear about the not inconsiderable challenges of siting their compost toilet!
• Sarah Spencer, ‘Think like a Forest’. Sarah shares how, in order to address the climate emergency, biodiversity and wellbeing crises, we must transition our organisations from the outdated 'machine' mindset to a mindset of the organisation as a living system.
• Robert J Somerville, ‘The Barn Club’. Robert shares the story of the friends, families and strangers who gave their time for free to build an ancient timberframe barn using tradition hand craft methods. Hear about how they achieved something truly memorable, while honouring the elm trees that were once ubiquitous in our forests.
• Jackie Thoms and Trish Cliff, ‘Warm Data Lab’. "How do we think our way through the messes we're in when the way we think is part of the mess?" Warm Data Lab is an inviting and simple way to bring a group of people into conversation around complex issues. All you need to bring is yourself, your curiosity and your stories. The knowing is within you, and everyone is welcome.
• Bob Meyhew, ‘Relocalising the grain economy’. Bob talks about the trials and tribulations, successes and failures, and his vision for Reclaim the Grain, a project to re-localise the grain economy by bringing together farmers, millers and bakers all over the country.

Buy a ticket

A community of changemakers

Our workshops are facilitated by our wonderful Convergence community. Whether you are just starting out on your permaculture adventure or you are an elder, we welcome all people and all perspectives. It’s the rich, diverse conversations that happen when we are together, that are the springboard for change.

Join your permaculture tribe and work together to develop solutions for your ecosystem, your community and our planet.

Practical sessions

Whether it is learning how to apply biodynamic preparations to your compost, site your compost toilet, carve a spoon, make an oak peg or spin some yarn, there will always be something to turn your hand to throughout the weekend.

Whilst we encourage everyone to get involved, we appreciate that leaving space for discussion and connecting with your fellow attendees is just as valuable.

Dine together

We believe that eating together is a great opportunity to connect with fellow permaculturists and share experiences. Our wonderful catering team serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, all included in the ticket price.

There is also a community cafe to stock up on drinks and snacks between meals!

Laugh together

Our evenings are a time for reflection and celebration, we aim to have something to suit your energy levels.

Tell stories by the fire, learn the Charlston or Lindy Hop, cosy down in our cinema and leap in the air playing permaculture BINGO! Bring an instrument, a story or just yourself.