Arboreal Futures

The project is recorded in detail on a partnership web sitehttps://exploringarbours.wordpress.comThe partners, were based in Kohoutov, Hradec Králové Region, Czech Rep., OSKA z.s. a voluntary organisation developing multiples aspects of the local community.https://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/kohoutov/Spilinga, Calabria, Italy, ICRE: is a cultural no profit organisation fostering and encouraging the social and cultural revival of the people.https://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/spilinga/Kaunas County, Lithuania, Iasi, NE Romania Kaunas County Public Library (KCPL) is the the largest Lithuanian public library which is open for both Lithuanian and foreign citizens. It is the centre of methodology, librarians training, bibliography and information of the 13 public municipal librarieshttps://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/kaunas/Sarn, Mid Wales,UKPathways is a Community Interest Company composed of a network of supporters and experts who draw together to develop innovative, creative experiential learning opportunities. https://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/uk/Iasi, NE Romania:The Technological High-School for Mechatronics and Automation Iasi (LTMA) is the first and the largest technological high-school in the county, offering technical education for jobs such as: technician in mechatronics and technician in automation.https://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/iasi/They are all from peripheral areas. There are degrees of disadvantage within the partnership but every partner exhibits some aspect of ‘marginality’ within their own national context.The project developed & enhanced the informal skills of the teams and those who participated.Each partner had a rural element to their project work & engaged with people in isolated communities whose opportunities for development of all types, was very limited. The project encouragesd those so excluded to engage in creative & entrepreneurial work.objectives The project action involved a sharing a process that linked local communities together & raised, through creative encouragement an increased sense of social cohesion. The informal approach proved successful with all partners who, by sharing their own ideas within and outside the partnership stimulated ideas and action amongst their community members. The objectives were achieved. These included- Improving & extending learning opportunities - developing educator competences & increasing community capacity ore: local needs. - increased connectivity in communities, regions & across EuropeWith partners:- Creating publicly available ‘arboreal spaces’ - Researching, collecting, collate & publish collections of local & regional stories & pictures re: trees & forgotten fruits.- Providing informal educational opportunities for relevant skills development …were achieved. With the ’tangible results’:1. Creation of publicly accessible ‘arboreal spaces’ 2. Collections of local & regional stories & pictures re: trees 3. New skills developed re: tree management & conservation 4. Celebratory events for communities associated with the arborThroughout the project the informal method provided access to a wide range of individuals.The intangible results include an- increase in a wide range of ‘soft skills’- Increased competences & capacity for all participants including learning processes & entrepreneurial attitudes.The numbers directly involved in the project were:Directly including partner members & recruited assistants for various activities: 80 - 90Assisting and occasional through institutional involvement: 200Others (supporting, informed, core groups at celebratory events): 500The outreach from these core activities included large percentages of local communities (institutional and geographic)The impact had individuals & groups increasing awareness & competences (sometimes through meeting attitudinal differences from partners) & able, toEngage interest from a wide range of other groups, institutions and authorities; assist local individual & social action with & for others both individuals & community groups. The work createed connections regionally, internationally & through a variety of links made during the project, engage with others within the European communityThe longer term benefits include a desire by partners to remain in contact and if possible working together on new projects. There is a real reduction in the sense of isolation and evidence of increased social cohesion & opportunities for further practical and community work both at local and international level.The partners intend to further develop the project - both by sharing with other communities & by a more formalised programme of further action-research, development & publishing of the whole process internationally.The partnership web site is https://exploringarbours.wordpress.comWith an ‘outcomes’ page:https://exploringarbours.wordpress.com/home-2/outcomes/