The Threat to Dartington Forest Garden: Why Access to Land for Regenerative Growing Matters

The Dartington Forest Garden, an inspiring example of regenerative food production and ecological stewardship, is facing potential closure. This news has sent ripples of concern through the sustainability and agroecology communities. The garden, a beacon of biodiversity, soil health, and community engagement, demonstrates how food can be produced in harmony with nature. Its potential loss highlights a much larger issue: access to land for regenerative agriculture and the barriers that prevent local, sustainable food systems from thriving.

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The Value of Dartington Forest Garden

Located on the historic Dartington Hall Estate in Devon, the forest garden is a pioneering example of agroforestry, a method of farming that integrates trees, shrubs, perennials, and fungi into a productive ecosystem. Unlike conventional monocultures, which degrade soil and require high inputs of chemicals, forest gardens work with nature, improving biodiversity, soil structure, and resilience to climate change.

The Dartington Forest Garden is not just about food production; it embodies a holistic approach to land use, blending food security with carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat creation, and community well-being. Over the years, it has served as a vital educational resource, offering training and workshops on permaculture, soil regeneration, and agroecology. Its potential closure raises urgent questions about who has access to land and how we value spaces dedicated to regenerative growing.

The Land Access Crisis

One of the fundamental challenges facing regenerative food systems in the UK is access to land. Farmland is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, with large-scale industrial agriculture prioritised over small-scale, nature-friendly food production. High land prices, restrictive planning policies, and the privatisation of common spaces make it incredibly difficult for agroecological enterprises to secure long-term tenure.

Regenerative growers, like those managing Dartington Forest Garden, face immense barriers when seeking land security. Without long-term access, planning for resilient food systems is nearly impossible, as agroforestry and soil regeneration require years, even decades, to yield their full benefits. Short-term land leases discourage investment in soil health and biodiversity, undermining the very goals of sustainable agriculture.

Why We Need More Forest Gardens, Not Fewer

At a time when the UK is grappling with food insecurity, declining soil fertility, and climate instability, we should be expanding access to regenerative farming, not shutting down pioneering projects. The Dartington Forest Garden exemplifies how food can be grown while enhancing ecosystems, yet its existence is being threatened due to competing land-use priorities.

We need a radical shift in how land is allocated and managed. If we are serious about food sovereignty, climate resilience, and community well-being, regenerative growers must be supported, not displaced. This requires policy changes to prioritise access to land for agroecology, community-led growing initiatives, and sustainable food production over profit-driven developments that do not serve local food systems.

A Call for Action

The potential loss of Dartington Forest Garden should serve as a wake-up call. We must collectively demand better protections for regenerative food projects, advocate for land reform, and support policies that ensure local communities have access to productive land.

What Can You Do?

• Support Local Food Initiatives: Buy from community-supported agriculture (CSA) schemes, local farms, and regenerative growers.

• Advocate for Land Reform: Engage with policymakers, sign petitions, and support campaigns for fair land distribution.

• Raise Awareness: Share the story of Dartington Forest Garden and other threatened agroecological projects.

• Get Involved: Volunteer with organisations working to protect and expand access to land for sustainable food production.

The future of food and land use in the UK is at a crossroads. The question is: will we allow short-term economic interests to dictate the fate of vital agroecological spaces, or will we fight for a food system rooted in regeneration, community, and environmental health?

At Generation Soil, we believe the answer is clear. We stand in solidarity with the growers, activists, and communities working to protect Dartington Forest Garden and to create a future where access to land is a right, not a privilege.

Join the movement for land justice and regenerative food systems. Our soil, climate, and future generations depend on it.