Meads Dreams - fields for folk + food festivals

Aim

The town of Milford faces serious challenges, young people see no future. The acres of ex-landfill could fulfill many dreams, with our help.

A struggling town

Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire is struggles with deprivation alongside great wealth as the town supplies a quarter of UK gas through its port and refineries. Young adults and children are particularly hard hit. 

Land for our dreams but what are they?

Now the council has offered about 8 acres of ex landfill fields  for co-design with the community. This is the chance for young and old  to get together to meet their dreams. The ideas are pouring in with passion, hope and with some divisions.  We need a bit of money to rent space, provide taster activities and healthy food so residents can form groups with shared ideas, talk to those with different ideas, and work with designers and the council to create their dreams on the land. 

And the first dreams will be ...

How can the ideas fit together,  for children, nature, cyclists, food growing, performing, exercise, peace and healing, dogs, renewables, and still keep the feeling and freedom of open green space ? This is what the deliberative process  can discover. Once some things are agreed the money we raise will help these first ideas to happen, as decided by the community taking part.

The magic of people power, the wisdom of the hive

The only way to build a shared vision is through discussion between people from all backgrounds and needs, working with the council and listening with open minds and hearts to all points of view. Please will you help us achieve this? We will film the process so you can see what is happening, and invite you to visit the land as its sponsors.

Everything you donate will be trebled. (subject to terms)

The film and photos are of our first session on the land, to discuss its future and enjoy it!

How this started in the town

People, especially women in Milford have been seeking land for their own wellbeing for years. Others are desperate for land to grow their own veg. Milford is the most densely packed town in the county. Our organisation, Grwp Resilience was asked to help. Grwp got land for four other urban communities in the county in the last 2 years,  but it is very hard to find.  Our currency is determination and trust. We need a lot of both,  all the time.  We were trusted to help, and we are trusting this appeal will work! 

How the council decided to share decisions

The offer by the council to co-design the land's uses with the community came from meetings between them and West Wales Climate Coalition. Their sustainability and energy manager took the brave step to invite co-design with our help. All the urban sites we started are quickly taken on by their community of gardeners, independently. They start from different levels of skill and cooperation, but all are sailing into a brighter future, fossil fuel free and away from the suction of the Titanic.  We face a darkening future but getting back on the land provides roots and peace, and for those growing produce, a way to afford better food. Even more  supportive when its  with your friends and neighbours. 

This project successfully funded on 4th October 2023