Welcome to the bioregion of South Devon.
From prehistoric times onwards this place has been on a leading edge of innovation and change. Today we are a seedbed of innovation in soil restoration, organic farming, community-supported fishing, rewilding, the circular economy, social enterprise, re-localising procurement, community action and leveraging systems change with small-scale interventions. We are, together, growing a learning region for a climate resilient future.
Our latest project:
Exploring saltmarshes along the Dart Estuary, sharing river knowledge,
finding paths to understanding and action for communities of interest.
How can we help to protect this vital ecosystem and carbon store?
“The film is an interpretation of the Dart Estuary’s saltmarshes. It focuses on textures, qualities… the macro and the micro… in order to emphasize the richness and diversity of the largely unnoticed saltmarsh we have here. Making the film was a collaborative process, incorporating the work of artists and photographers for whom these special places have importance. The musical soundtrack was created by combining recordings both above and below water in and around the saltmarshes.” – Emilio Mula
What we do
Building collaborations to shift South Devon towards long-term climate resilience. We work in and at the intersection of economy, ecology, learning, arts and culture and the gaps in between. We are a learning centre and action learning lab located on the River Dart.
What we do falls into 3 strands of work.
Exploring the food shed; Guy Watson sharing his experience on a BLC Learning Journey.
Why we are different
We work through designing, convening, facilitating, informing, linking and generating collective will so that individuals, communities, businesses and whole sectors can co-design the road maps and tools for making change happen themselves. BLC was founded in early 2017 in South Devon by three experts in design for regeneration, communications and ecology. What we do today as a team is only possible because of the web of connections we have built in this place and the practical experience we have gained living here–in education, start-up culture, local collaborative governance, participatory environmental planning and community-based climate adaptation.
Foregrounding civil society
We give a central role to civil society in driving the kind of shifts needed to confront climate change and biodiversity loss, alongside government and the public and private sectors–breaking down silos, putting economies and ecologies in dialogue with each other, hearing and valuing all the voices in an equitable way. To achieve systemic responses at appropriate scale, in which everyone can find a place, we employ learning, design and creativity in an ‘all-together’ process, equally valuing local know-how and expert knowledge.
Bringing the River Dart into the room for the South Devon Catchments Partnership.
Another current project
The Devon Doughnut Collective is a growing group of over 170 changemakers putting the ideas of Doughnut Economics into practice in Devon in the UK. Check out our co-created interactive Devon Doughnut. Now the 44 pathway projects are ready to be worked on and the Doughnut evolved to make it relevant across Devon.
Sessions
Months
Doughnut Makers
Hours contributed
Meet the team
The Bioregional Learning Centre is the brain-child of Isabel Carlisle and, since it’s formation in 2017, the team has been growing into a multi-skilled and passionate group of people who are all deeply committed to protect and improve the South Devon Bioregion and others all around the world…
Paul Pivcevic
Jane Brady
Isabel Carlisle
Nick Paling
Elena Plugaru
Supporters
Collaborators and networks
We would love to hear from you
Say hello!
We work in and at the intersection of economy, ecology, learning, arts and culture and the gaps in between.