Patrick Whitefield

Patrick is the main tutor on all the courses. He was brought up on a smallholding in Somerset and qualified in agriculture at Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire. After several years working in agriculture in the Middle East and Africa, he settled in central Somerset where he still lives. He has a field, which he keeps mainly as a nature reserve, where he has also planted native woodland and an orchard. He’s always been a vegetable gardener, and has developed a passion for perennial vegetables and is forever trying out new kinds in his garden. In the past he’s made his living by a variety of country crafts, and for a while he was a prominent member of the Green Party. Since 1990 he’s devoted himself to permaculture, especially to teaching it, and has appeared on the BBC2 television programme, It's not Easy Being Green.

“I find permaculture makes use of the varied skills I’ve acquired during my life,” he says. “and puts them into a cohesive whole.”

Patrick is now one of the leading permaculture teachers in Britain, indeed in Europe. He combines a deep knowledge of the subject with an inspiring and professional teaching style. He’s written three books on permaculture: Permaculture in a Nutshell, How to Make a Forest Garden and The Earth Care Manual. He’s currently working on another book, The Living Landscape, how to read it and understand it, a subject especially close to his heart. He also practices as a design consultant.

Cathy Whitefield

Cathy is the group facilitator and teaches the people-centred and community aspects of the Design Courses. She has a background in complementary medicine and is qualified in counselling and group leadership. She feels it’s vitally important to integrate spiritual and emotional work with sustainability, and that either is incomplete without the other. Many course participants have commented on how important her work is to the overall quality of the courses, and how her input and Patrick’s complement each other. Cathy also leads self development courses in southern Spain.

Jo Newton

Jo is co-teacher on the first half of the Sustainable Land Use Course, and the leading teacher on the Organic Horticulture Module. She has a Diploma in Organic Agriculture from Carmarthen College, and since 1994 has been developing her own 6 acre smallholding in Co Clare, Ireland. On land which was dismissed as hopelessly infertile, and in a challenging climate, she’s developed a productive holding which feeds the family and can produce a surplus for sale. She’s also seedbank co-ordinator at Irish Seed Savers, who do invaluable work saving old varieties of vegetables and fruits and making them available to the gardeners of today and tomorrow.

Sarah Pugh

Sarah is assistant teacher on the permaculture modules of the Sustainable Land Use Course. She’s an urban permaculturist and a leading member of Bristol Permaculture Group. She’s very active in her local area and for several years was co-ordinator of Easton Community Allotments, an inner-city permaculture project.

Mike Gardner

Mike teaches the Forestry module on the Sustainable Land Use course. Since graduating from Edinburgh University in Ecological Sciences with Forestry Honours he's worked in various parts of Britain, as a woodsman, as a craftsman adding value to woodland produce and as a teacher passing on these skills. He and his partner live on their 10 acre holding in Devon where they have their wood yard, horses, chickens, fruit trees and a productive vegetable garden.

'Josh' Joshua, practical permaculturist.
Matt Dunwell – permaculture farmer.
Jonathan Hines – ecological architect.
Steve Pickup – willow expert.
Mark Moodie – biological water treatment specialist.
Jimmie Hepburn – aquaculturist.
Paul Benham – organic market gardener and educationalist.
Ella & Andy Portman – permaculture smallholders.
Phillipa Rampton – permaculture farmer.
Caroline Barry – smallholder.