The qualification options for equipping people for land-based careers in an agroecological context are limited. As we understand more about the challenges in the current globalised, industrialised food and farming systems, the need to train our young people for a different food producing future becomes critical.
At Haigh Hall, the plans are to do just that. Combining agroecology, heritage kitchen gardening and food system politics a new two-year, accredited level 2 apprenticeship in productive horticulture is under development. There are currently no horticultural apprenticeships in Wigan, so together with the local college (Wigan and Leigh) we have the opportunity to create something beneficial for the borough and the wider region.
The walled gardens are due for restoration and we have the opportunity to design and build a syllabus as well as a garden ideally suited for training a new generation of growers.
Follow the link below to join us and co-design a curriculum that will better fit the future, and provide feedback for the barriers for change with the existing qualifications frameworks:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/northernrealfarmingconference/1138499
10.30am – 4pm (lunch and refreshments provided)
Haigh Hall, WN2 1PE, near Wigan, Monday 11 March 2024.
Outline programme:
10.30 am Arrival/tea/coffee
10.45am Introductions and welcome
11.30am Context: the qualifications landscape and progress/challenges towards embedding agroecology in existing models
11.30pm Tour of Haigh Hall
1.00pm Lunch
1.45pm Co-designing a L2
3.15pm Collation of feedback on current system
3.30pm Wrap up and next steps/what more is needed in the North?
4pm Close