The Threat to Dartington Forest Garden: Why Land Access Matters

The Dartington Forest Garden in Devon, one of the UK’s most inspiring examples of regenerative farming, is under threat. This living classroom of agroforestry, biodiversity, and soil regeneration could soon be lost, sending shockwaves through the sustainability community. Its potential closure highlights a much bigger issue: access to land for regenerative agriculture and the barriers preventing local, sustainable food systems from thriving.

Why Dartington Forest Garden Matters

Set within the Dartington Hall Estate, this forest garden is a shining model of farming with nature. It blends trees, shrubs, perennials, and fungi to create a resilient, productive ecosystem.

Unlike industrial farms that rely on chemicals and monocultures, agroforestry restores soil, supports wildlife, and stores carbon. It’s farming that regenerates rather than depletes.

But Dartington Forest Garden is more than a food system. It’s:

• A community learning space offering workshops in permaculture, composting, and soil health.

• A habitat for biodiversity, home to pollinators and wildlife.

• A living example of climate action, showing how local food can help balance the planet.

Losing it would mean losing a hub of education, innovation, and ecological care.

Please sign the petition to help protect this vital space.

The Growing Land Access Crisis

Access to land is one of the biggest challenges facing regenerative growers in the UK.

Today, farmland ownership is increasingly concentrated in a few hands. Land prices are rising, and small-scale, community-based projects are often left without a foothold.

This creates a serious problem:

• Short-term leases make it impossible to plan for long-term soil health.

• Developers and industrial agriculture are prioritised over community-led projects.

• Planning policies rarely support agroecological enterprises or forest gardens.

For soil to heal, it takes decades. Without land security, projects like Dartington Forest Garden simply can’t survive long enough to reach their potential.

Why We Need More Forest Gardens, Not Fewer

At a time of food insecurity and environmental stress, the UK should be expanding regenerative farming, not closing it down.

Forest gardens like Dartington show what’s possible when people and nature work together:

• Food is grown without chemicals.

• Carbon is stored in soil and trees.

• Communities thrive through shared learning and access to fresh, local produce.

We need land reform that supports small-scale growers, not just large agricultural estates.

Policies should favour community food projects, urban agroforestry, and local soil regeneration over developments that harm ecosystems and displace growers.

A Call to Protect Regenerative Food Systems

The potential loss of Dartington Forest Garden is a wake-up call.

We must protect the spaces that protect our planet.

Here’s how you can help:

Support Local Growers

Buy from community farms, CSA schemes, and regenerative growers. Every purchase helps land stay in the hands of those who care for it.

Advocate for Land Reform

Write to MPs, sign petitions, and support campaigns calling for fair access to land for small farmers and food co-operatives.

Raise Awareness

Share the story of Dartington and other projects facing closure. The more people know, the stronger our collective voice.

Get Involved

Volunteer with community gardens, compost projects, or food forests. Even a few hours a month can make a difference.

A Shared Future for Land and People

The future of UK food and farming is at a crossroads.

Will we prioritise short-term profits, or invest in soil, climate, and community resilience?

At Generation Soil, we know the answer.

We stand with the growers, educators, and citizens fighting to protect Dartington Forest Garden and to create a future where access to land is a right, not a privilege.

Together, we can build a food system rooted in regeneration, fairness, and connection to the earth.

Let’s save the land that sustains us, and the generations still to come.