where did it all start ?

(read on for general background & Cotesbach 2007 Group constitution)

Four hundred years ago, in the tiny village of Cotesbach in the heart of rural England , five thousand people from three counties gathered in what was probably the largest non-violent protest about the environment there had ever been; their grievance was against the land being enclosed for sheep grazing which so disastrously affected their lives and livelihoods. They are known to have arrived with whatever tools they could lay their hands on, and to have risked their heads by attempting to tear down the divisions which had been made between the fields, and it is also on record that the Cotesbach inhabitants fed and watered the rioters from their 'carts laden with victual'.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO US TODAY?

It is an opportunity to commemorate the lives of the Cotesbach villagers who spoke out for what they believed in.

It is an opportunity for us to follow their example by speaking out about environmental matters both local and global which affect our lives today and to help us re-connect with our rural heritage

It is an opportunity for us in Cotesbach to show we can still provide great local food and hospitality.

WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO TO CELEBRATE?

To Organise a Festival of Food, Music and Entertainment based around Cotesbach Estate and within the village.

To Commemorate the 400 year Anniversary with the biggest event in Cotesbach for 400 years.

To Involve everyone in Cotesbach who wants to be involved, to create an opportunity for villagers to meet and socialise and to make it a day to remember for the whole village.

WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?

The event is planned for the 7 th July 2007 (07.07.07) from 10am-6pm .

WHO IS ORGANISING THE EVENT?

The Cotesbach 2007 Group, a team made up of Cotesbach villagers and others closely involved with Cotesbach Estate.

OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENT

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To commemorate the 400 year anniversary of the Cotesbach Enclosures Riot with a festival of food, music and entertainment based in the village and involving as many local volunteers as possible.

2. To re-connect with our rural heritage through Living History displays and activities and to remember those who spoke out against the Enclosures, which rendered their lives unsustainable. By juxtaposing past and present, to draw attention to our global environmental predicament and to encourage people to actively seek to rediscover ways of living sustainably in the future.

3. To promote the concept of sustainability by inviting participation from growers, suppliers and producers of high quality local foods and speakers from the environmental movement.

GOVERNING BODY

Membership of the group organising the event is open to all Villagers. All house occupants in the village will be informed of relevant meetings and their active participation requested.

The Governing Body /Cotesbach 2007 Group will be formed from those attending the meetings and will include a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary by election.

FUNDRAISING

Prior to the event, funds will be raised towards the costs of putting on the event. It is hoped that the event itself can be a vehicle for fundraising for related projects, one local and one global:

Local Project : 50% - to support the restoration and development of the Old Cotesbach Schoolhouse to become a community and educational resource and study centre for environment, local heritage and art in an overall framework of sustainable principles. The Cotesbach Educational Trust is currently preparing its application for charitable status. Click here for more details.

Global Project : 50% - to a project promoting rural sustainability in the developing world through Harvest Help (www.harvesthelp.org) which arranged the village sponsorship of a well in Northern Malawi in 2001.

ONGOING

Whilst the 400 year anniversary will not occur again, it is hoped to hold an annual festival reflecting the aims and objectives outlined in the Governing Document. To help facilitate this festival a balance not exceeding £300 will be retained as a ‘Start up Fund’ to support the next event. Any assets over and above £300 at the end of the 2007 festival will be distributed equally between the above mentioned projects.

In the event that the ‘Start up Fund’ remains unused it will be also distributed to the above projects in the same proportions.

15/09/2006