Anna Clayton shares what to expect from North Lancashire’s FoodFutures network in 2025.
The darker and colder months of the year are a great time to slow down, reflect on how things are going, and set fresh intentions for the year ahead.
As we look forward to 2025, FoodFutures working groups are starting to prepare and develop plans for growing our sustainable food futures here in North Lancashire and a Spring Into Action week of activities (26 April until 2 May). A wider calendar of events and activities is also starting to emerge, with the aim of supporting more connections and skill shares across Lancaster District and our local food system. This column shares just a few upcoming opportunities.
The last Saturday of January (25th) will see the return of Lancaster’s Potato Day, an annual seed swap, an array of community food stalls, and a workshop for allotment plot holders on crop planning and growing all season round.
2025 will see the return of the Growing Food and Community training programme and another cohort of FarmStarters will be welcomed onto the Plot’s organic growers training scheme (apply by 21 January). The Where The Wildings Are! project will also be welcoming new schools to join its network of educational establishments that are creating and implementing Permaculture Designs for their grounds, whilst embedding food skills and outdoor education into their curriculums (contact schools@lessuk.org if interested).
Throughout the year, the Food Champions network will host regular induction sessions that introduce FoodFutures’ work and aims, whilst supporting attendees in finding their place and role within this network. For some, this may involve joining the FoodFriends small society lottery, the Plot’s seasonal crop share scheme, joining a strategic working group, or helping out at an event or practical work day. For others it may involve writing articles for THRIVE Magazine, distributing leaflets or regularly volunteering with a local community food project. Suggestions and ideas for how to get more involved with local sustainable food work can also be explored on the Get Involved Page of the FoodFutures website: foodfutures.org.uk/get-involved/
Monthly citizen journalism skill share sessions will continue to up-skill writers to support THRIVE Magazine, and the Closing Loops team will continue developing loopy projects, including another round of Pots of Possibility funding, composting workshops, gleaning trips, seasonal markets and cooking workshops.
Then, there’s the setting up of a new community farm near Lancaster, launching a Gold Sustainable Food Places campaign and diversifying Gather’s range of local produce and distribution networks. We can’t wait for it all and hope you will join in!
You can find more FoodFutures activities on the events calendar.
Did you know that you can add your own food-related events to it, too? If it’s local and to do with food, we’d love to help get the word out about it. Just email marketing@lessuk.org
