Park Ecovillage Trust's story
We all want to live in a cleaner, happier and more empowering world but we don't always know where and how to help. Park Ecovillage Trust (PET) co-creates healthy environmental, people friendly solutions to which all can contribute, enabling each and everyone to feel cared for, nurtured and supported.
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE
PET was founded in 2009. We are part of the Ecovillage associated with the Findhorn Foundation and the New Findhorn Association, a wider community that includes a local ecovillage and a worldwide spiritual fellowship.
The Trust develops community affordable housing under Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. This means that developers agree to offset certain adverse effects of the development, but we do much more than that.
Our 25:25 vision is to have 25 affordable homes by 2025. We currently own several properties within our portfolio at East Whins, West Whins, and the current project at North Whins. Homes are designed to a high eco-specification and we monitor the carbon footprint of the community in all aspects of life, with the exception of travel by flight.
FUNDING
West Whins: To make "affordable" sustainable, our funding strategy prioritised borrowing within the Community (through Ekopia and private loans) and an application to the Scottish Rural Housing Fund (RHF). Two Community members offered PET their pension funds as a loan, for a total of £140,000; and another person came to Ekopia offering a £100,000 loan. The Scottish Ministers decided to grant our project £130,000. The land was effectively gifted by Duneland for a nominal fee.
East Whins: A Community group formed to manage fundraising, with representatives from the following local organisations: Duneland Ltd,New Findhorn Association (NFA)Community Council, Park Ecovillage Trust and Ekopia Resource Exchange (an Industrial and Provident Society). PET made the purchase in 2012 through 3 interest free loans and Duneland Ltd's 'Section 75' donation.
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
PET have also created a wide range of projects for, by, and with the community. We assist, fund and promote further innovative educational, social and environmental projects with the following themes:
Delivering an effective, affordable Community housing program.
Pursuing an impactful carbon strategy involving both direct and indirect emissions.
Supporting care and wellbeing initiatives for the benefit of the whole community.
Useful learnings from Park Ecovillage Trust
Starting out often needs to be small-scale, so it's good to ask for all the help you can get. We are part of wider groups, and have lots of local partners. As word spreads and more people want to join the community, the growth can be exponential.
There are novel and interesting ways to raise funds. Two community members offered their pensions as a loan for one development. This fits with our ethos of community-based borrowing and makes us stronger, making a big difference alongside funds from external organisations.
Nobody likes 'behaviour change', but people increasingly understand that's what's required to allay climate catastrophe, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Park Ecovillage Trust's metrics
We have been conducting ecovillage community carbon footprint assessments for the past 4 years, and it has progressively been reduced through 2020. We are also seeking funding to assess becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
