News archive
Here, you’ll find all our historic news and blogs. For the freshest content, make sure you check out our latest news page.
Schumacher College launches major essay competition for 30th anniversary
We’re excited to announce today the launch of our 30th anniversary Essay Competition, “Education as if People and Planet Matter”, in collaboration with Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine.
Forest Gardens at Schumacher College
Our Horticultural Intern Emilia shares her thoughts on the two forest gardens at Schumacher College on the Dartington estate.
Your questions answered: MA Arts and Place
We’ve compiled a neat set of questions and answers to give prospective students a sense of what to expect from this radical new course when it starts in April.
Practising place-fullness with Dr Sarah Elisa Kelly
In this immersive reflection, Dr Sarah Elisa Kelly explores our understanding and experience of place and offers a simple exercise to help you feel more “place-full”.
Meet Dr Jo Joelson, Programme Lead for MA Arts and Place
We’re very pleased to introduce Dr Jo Joelson, the Programme Lead for our radical new MA Arts and Place. Jo is a practicing artist curator and writer, with a particular focus in working with light, and she brings with her a background in academic research and collaborative working. We asked Jo a few questions to find out a bit more about her and her thinking as she prepares to start the first residency-based teaching here at Dartington in April.
Interview with Dr Tine Bech, MA Arts and Place Senior Lecturer
We catch up with Dr Tine Bech, internationally recognised artist and new Senior Lecturer on the MA Arts and Place programme at Dartington Arts School.
Total extinction: what money cannot buy?
Dartington’s bookbinding tutor, Mary Bartlett, writes on the deepening climate crisis in the context of the covid pandemic and Dartington Hall’s own ecological history.
In praise of soils: World Soil Day
Happy World Soil Day! Our Conservation and Land Manager writes on the importance of soil, plus watch a special video message from the Head Gardener at Schumacher College.
Food in Community report massive surge in demand
A group based on the Dartington estate has provided the equivalent of around 125,000 meals for people on low incomes since lockdown began in March.
A walk amongst ghosts of the self
Dr Bram Arnold, Associate Lecturer at Dartington Arts School, blogs after his recent experience teaching on the new Poetics of Imagination MA course.
Ecology of Movement: An interview with endurance athlete Lizzy Hawker
We catch up with ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker to discuss her background and interests, her thoughts on running and the environment, and what people can expect from her forthcoming online course at Schumacher College.
New wine programme announced
A new programme of courses in wine and wine-making are to be launched by the Dartington Trust, with the help of leading wine expert Justin Howard-Sneyd.
An update on Learning at Dartington
At the start of this new academic year, Dartington Trust welcomed 75 master’s students to three of its postgraduate programmes – and welcomed a number of new faces to the faculty team.
From Mexico City to Dartington: Meeting Rafael Pompa
Since taking up the role of Gardens, Conservation and Land Manager at Dartington Trust ealier this year, ‘Raf’ has been facing up to the challenges of managing a 1,200-acre estate in a time of Covid-19. We went to see how he’s getting on…
Totnes Bookshop is changing
We would like to thank the team at the Totnes Bookshop for all their dedicated work and care for customers. The shop is now closed for refurbishment until next year.
Dartington estate revealed as home for 19 ‘at risk’ fungi
The recent UK Fungus Day prompted our Gardens, Conservation and Land Manager, Rafa, to embark on a quest to find the striking and not-so-common Earthstars (Geastrum fornicatum). Here’s how he got on…
Could our new undergraduate degree help shape farming’s future?
Our Schumacher College has launched Britain’s first degree in Sustainable Food and Farming – with the aim of enabling people who want to make a lasting difference to agriculture, from the grassroots up.
Climate Marathon joined by leading ambassadors from around the world
The Dartington Trust has partnered with leading athletes from around the world for Climate Marathon, the 26 mile per week challenge this October.
Special schools move into Dartington’s Hex and Gym building
The Dartington Trust has stepped in to support a federation of special schools to provide a group of young students with a temporary school for the next year.
Diary: Notes from the Walled Kitchen Garden
Regular, rolling updates from the brilliant volunteer team at our beautiful Kitchen Garden! Follow the progress of this beautiful organic garden as zero-food miles produce is grown for our café, The Green Table and our restaurant, The White Hart.
Could you take over our kitchen for a night?
We’re launching Kitchen Takeovers – a series of mid-week, rotating pop-ups where we’ll offer up our kitchen and restaurant for local chefs to exercise their talent – and we need you!
Help save a mighty mini-beast from extinction
Budding bug-hunters around Dartington and Totnes are needed to help track one of the rarest ants in England by taking part in the Nest Quest Survey.
Interview with Barn the Spoon
Barn the Spoon “London’s most famous and charismatic spoon whittler” will be coming down to teach a short course in spoon carving this September, and Dartington Trust’s Will Kemp caught up with him to find out more about the man behind the legend.
Pioneering choreographer Adam Benjamin comes to Dartington
The multi award-winning dancer and choreographer is to lead a new four-day course at Dartington – with a focus on how we physically relate to others in our daily lives.
The Borders We Travel
Pavel Cenkl, Director of Learning at Dartington Trust and Head of Schumacher College, writes on recent global events from his perspective as an avid-long distance runner.
Major milestone reached as Dartington achieves Office For Students approval
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve meet the Office For Students requirements for course quality, academic standards, student support, student protection and more.
Mary Fulkerson at Dartington
Everyone at Dartington has been saddened at the news of the death of dancer, teacher and choreographer, Mary Fulkerson, a major influence in the development of New Dance, and leading figure in dance at Dartington College of Arts from 1973 to 1985.
Barn Cinema receives emergency funding through BFI Audience Network
We are delighted to report that our Barn Cinema is receiving emergency funding to help us survive the ongoing venue shutdown due to COVID-19, thanks to National Lottery funding through the BFI Audience Network.
Research in Practice: Our year in review
Research in Practice is part of our social justice arm, and is dedicated to supporting evidence-informed practice with children and families, young people and adults. Find out more about their work in this visual presentation of their recent activity. (Links to researchinpractice.org.uk)
Why boosting biodiversity is key in an era of change
5 June is World Environment Day, and this year’s theme is ‘biodiversity’. Land manager Rafael Pompa explains why biodiversity is so important – and what we’re doing to support it on the estate.