Permaculture Association Gathering 2026

Saturday 24 October 2026 | Bridge 5 Mill, Manchester | Arrivals from 10.30am · 11am–5.30pm

Come and spend a day with the permaculture community in Manchester. Learn from people putting ideas into practice, meet others working towards a better future, share what you're doing and help shape what comes next for the Permaculture Association.

Whether you're a long-standing member, new to permaculture or simply curious about what it can offer, you're very welcome.

A day of learning, connection and conversation

Our Autumn Gathering is a chance to get together in person, exchange ideas and discover what people across the wider permaculture network are working on.

We'll be launching the Permaculture Association's new five-year strategy, exploring practical examples of permaculture in action and making space for the conversations and connections that help ideas grow.

Here's what's happening on the day.

Programme

10.30am - Arrivals and refreshments

Come in, grab a drink and settle in. There'll be time to meet other attendees before we get started.

11am - Welcome and strategy launch

Join Andy Goldring, CEO, and Alyshia Seebue, Membership Coordinator, as we introduce the Association's new five-year strategy and look ahead to what comes next. We'll explore what it means for our work and wider network.

12pm - Networking and sharing ideas

Discover who's in the room, hear what others are working on and share your own experiences. Whether you're developing a project, part of a local group or exploring permaculture for the first time, this is a chance to make connections.

1pm - Lunch

Enjoy a hot bowl of soup and a roll on us, with time to relax and continue the conversations.

2pm - Workshop session one

Choose the workshop that interests you on the day.

Engaging the Next Generation
Dr Amber Roberts, Permaculture Association Education Lead

Young people face big questions about their futures, from AI and jobs to climate change and nature loss. How can permaculture help them respond? Explore how members are engaging young people and share ideas to help bring a new generation into permaculture.

or

Designing an Integrated Home and Garden
Andrew de la Haye

Explore how a home and garden can work together as a connected system, and how thoughtful design can help make the most of space, resources and the relationships between different elements.

3pm - Tea and coffee break

Take a breather, refresh yourself and catch up with other attendees before the second workshop session.

3.30pm - Workshop session two

Choose from two further workshops exploring permaculture in practice.

Community Food Systems in Action
Chris Walsh, The Kindling Trust

Explore the Kindling Trust's work connecting food growing with the needs of local people, and the role community-led approaches can play in building more resilient food systems.

or

Permaculture Spaces and Community Action
Gaskell Garden Project

Discover how community spaces can bring people together, inspire local action and create opportunities to learn and put ideas into practice.

4.45pm - Closing plenary

Come back together with Andy Goldring, our CEO, to reflect on the day, share ideas and look ahead to what we can make happen together.

5.30pm - Event closes

If you'd like to continue the conversation, you're welcome to join us at a nearby pub for an optional, informal get-together afterwards.

Workshop choices will be made on the day. We'll explain how to choose at the event.

Who is the gathering for?

Everyone interested in permaculture is welcome. You don't need to be a member or have previous experience.

Come along if you'd like to:

• Meet other people putting permaculture into practice.
• Find inspiration and learn from real projects and experiences.
• Connect with people working on similar challenges.
• Share your own work, ideas or questions.
• Contribute to conversations about the future of the Permaculture Association and the wider network.

There's no expectation to arrive with anything prepared, but you're welcome to bring information about your own group, project, design or other work to share.

Food and refreshments

A hot lunch of soup and a roll is included in your ticket. Please let us know about your dietary requirements when booking.

Tea, coffee, herbal drinks and cakes will also be available throughout the day on a pay-as-you-feel/donation basis.

Tickets and bursaries

We want the gathering to be accessible to people across our network.

Non-member tickets

• Concession: £35
• Standard: £55
• Pay it Forward: £75

Member tickets

• Concession: £30
• Standard: £45
• Pay it Forward: £60

Pay it Forward tickets help make the event more accessible to others in our community. Bursaries are also available for people from marginalised backgrounds. If cost is a barrier to attending, please contact us to discuss what's possible.

About Bridge 5 Mill

We've chosen to return to Bridge 5 Mill because it fits so well with our own values and practices.

Bridge 5 Mill is Manchester's sustainable centre for social change, providing affordable workspaces and facilitating community events for a network of changemakers. Alongside sister organisations Kindling Trust and Veg Box People, it supports practical responses to environmental and social challenges.

Getting there and staying over

Bridge 5 Mill

22A Beswick Street
Manchester
M4 7HR

Bridge 5 Mill is Manchester's sustainable centre for social change, providing affordable workspaces and hosting community events for a network of changemakers. Alongside organisations including the Kindling Trust and Veg Box People, it supports practical responses to environmental and social challenges.

We aren't able to provide accommodation, but Manchester has a range of options if you're travelling from further afield.

Getting to Bridge 5 Mill by tram: Take the Metrolink blue line towards Ashton-Under-Lyne and stop at Holt Town (2 stops away from Piccadilly Train Station) then it's a 3 minutes walk up Beswick Street.

Walking from Piccadilly Station (approx 20 mins): From the upper station exit, turn left onto London Road then left on Store Street underneath the station. Continue across onto Old Mill Street then turn right on Beswick Street.

We'd love you to join us for a day of learning, sharing and connection.

Book your place and come be part of it.