Great news – we are finally coming together again in person! And we’re lucky enough to have somewhere very special to do it: The National Forest headquarters, near Burton-on-Trent.
The National Forest is a remarkable landscape of woods, villages, and farming communities that has become one of the great stories of community-led environmental renewal in the UK. It is the perfect setting for what we have planned.
ASP has spent much of 2026 reimagining itself – the Three Horizons process has been a huge part of that journey, and more recently our involvement in The River Summit has opened up rich conversations about rivers, forests and the people who care for them.
We’re asking ourselves: what does it truly mean to be a community that sustains the living world?
In November, we explore it where it belongs – in the landscape, and in each other’s company.
It gives us great pleasure to be holding this event in a place that so admirably embodies what working in community can create.
Join us to explore remarkable stories of community-led renewal and to explore together what community looks like in practice, how it forms and sustains, and what ASP’s own community is called to become.
What to expect from the day:
- Optional gathering on Friday evening at local pub, the Tollgate Brewery
- An optional morning walk in The National Forest; a perfect way to arrive! (Otherwise proceedings will start at 10am)
- Keynotes from ASP’s Gwyn Jones and from Stuart Dainton of The National Forest
- An Action Research session with Helena Kettleborough — exploring the “I,” the “We,” and the wider ASP community
- A Community Panel on how communities form, function, and flourish
- A practical session around the 3H process which is shaping ASP’s future and what it truly means to be in community
- An enquiry with Gwyn Jones to wrap up – mapping what we’re taking home, and what comes next
Details:
Saturday 14th November 2026
Location & Directions: Conkers, Waterside Centre in The National Forest, near Burton-on-Trent.
See directions here: Conkers Waterside Centre, Bath Yard, Swadlincote, DE12 6BA
Conkers is an accessible venue with plenty of on-site parking. CONKERS Waterside Centre
Full details on the agenda will be coming very soon.
If you’d like to make a weekend of it, we’ve also shared accommodation options for those joining us on the Friday evening. Please see your Gagglemail communications from us, or get in touch with Gwyn, T., or Julia to ask for the list.
Registration Here!
This event is entirely free for ASP members!
Non-member guests are also very welcome: you can book a place for £35, which can be converted into a year’s ASP membership if you decide to you want to join our community.
ASP is a not-for-profit organisation.
When you are reserving your place, just think – what would the world be like if ASP didn’t exist?
All our events are free but that doesn’t mean we don’t need some cash to make them happen. So you can make a difference…
You can support us and help to ensure we continue our work, by adding a few ££’s donation to your ticket.
SCROLL DOWN in the “TICKETS” zone to add your DONATION
Much appreciated.
