Pertwood Farm

 A rural experience for urban young people

We’ve held 40 camps and over 1000 young people, nearly all from inner city London, have visited Pertwood Organic Farm in Wiltshire.

In 2003 Global Generation’s founders ran our first camp for young people on Pertwood Organic Farm in Wiltshire. Little did we know that this would become the first of many subsequent camps and a pivotal experience for the birth of what was to become Global Generation.

Many of the children and young people had never left London before, never seen the canopy of stars at night or heard the squeal of badgers in the undergrowth of the forest. They found space all around them and inside themselves.

Their attitude shifted from I’m bored to interest and engagement, no longer was there a separation between young people and adults, girls and boys, good kids and bad kids.

There was an enlivened sense of unity, with each other and with the planet and an interest in playing a part in creating a new and sustainable future. It was this change in attitude that became the catalyst for setting up Global Generation.

Since that time we have run more than forty camps involving over 1000 children and young people. Time and again we have seen Pertwood work it’s magic ... young people and the adults along with them have a chance to be who they really are – no longer fearful and cynical but alive, interested and connected.

“To be in the nature like this is a big difference because, I have never been to a place as still as this, and even though it’s still, it’s still full of life, because you can hear all the birds and see all the different creatures. It is different environment, but a nice one, it feels more free and loose out here than in London, where everything feels uptight and noisy. For me to be a part of this world is about seeing differently. It feels like I have crossed a bridge and started all over again. I feel a lot more empty and free. It feels a lot better. “

Gabrielle 15 years