Regenerative Skills Hub

First Cohort Application

The Regenerative Skills Hub is a new free training programme at Pitchcott Farm in Buckinghamshire, developed by Initiative Earth and Pitchcott Farm with support from the Rothschild Foundation.

Apply here

Modular Pathway

For Buckinghamshire residents facing barriers to land-based education. This first modular course offers hands-on learning in regenerative land management, food growing, and ecological restoration, combined with online sessions. It is open to new entrants and aspiring land stewards, including young people, career changers, and anyone taking their first steps into land-based work. 

Please check the dates below and submit your application if you're able to attend. The course includes both in-person and online sessions.

📍LOCATION: Pitchcott Farm, Aylesbury (Google Maps)

📅 COURSE DATES

In-person sessions (Saturdays & Sundays, ~6 hours each, during the day):

  • 12 & 13 September

  • 10 &11 October

  • 7 & 8 November

Online sessions (Wednesdays, 2 hours each, evenings):

  • 9 & 16 September

  • 7 & 14 October

  • 4 & 11 November

Ready? Apply now

What will I learn?

The programme moves through six areas: soils and composting, community design, bed creation, food growing, biodiversity, and propagation and sustainable livelihoods, building from foundational concepts online to hands-on, in-person practice at each session.

    • Soil types, the soil food web, roots and fungi

    • No-dig and organic regenerative principles

    • Soil testing and compost analysis

    • Compost creation and wormery setup

    • What is design, and an introduction to community design processes

    • Landscape survey techniques and client interviews

    • Survey analysis and early design tools

    • Principles of bed creation, no-dig management, sizes, shapes, and styles

    • Hands-on bed creation, pathway and bed measurements

    • Seed and bulb sowing, with a review of key principles

    • Sowing calendars, annuals vs. perennials, food groups, and nutrition

    • Herb groups and their uses

    • Sowing and planting techniques, crop planning using the beds, and herb growing

    • Pests, diseases, and building biodiversity

    • Ponds and supporting desired predators

    • Pond building, bug hotels, and biodiversity habitats

    • Hibernacula, moth traps, and plants that support biodiversity

    • Vegetative vs. seed propagation, natural rooting hormones and growth boosters

    • Seed propagation, division, root and stem cuttings

    • An introduction to sustainable livelihoods in land-based work