The annual ‘Edge of the Wild’ UK ecopsychology gathering and other UK events
This page introduces the background to the ‘Edge of the Wild’ annual ecopsychology gathering, as well as pointing you in the direction of other ecopsychology events across the UK. Unfortunately, due to covid-19, both the July 2020 and July 2021 in-person gatherings at the Green and Away tented conference centre in Worcestershire were cancelled.
The gathering recovered from the pandemic with meetings in 2002 and 2023.
The details of the 2024 event are here – Edge of Wild 2024.
Background to the ‘Edge of the Wild’ event
Through the 1990s ecopsychology had been emerging in the UK, with groups forming and some residential get-togethers at Laurieston Hall in Scotland (read more History). The first ‘gathering’ was subsequently conceived by Mary-Jayne Rust and Dave Key. They came up with the name Edge of the Wild and used the term ‘gathering’ to avoid it turning into a conventional conference. They shared the idea and invited collaborators from around the UK. Initial responders to the call for a gathering were Emma Palmer (then known as Kamalamani) and Nick Totton. So the first ‘Meeting at the Edge of the Wild’ residential ecopsychology gathering happened in 2012 and the organizing team were Mary-Jayne, Dave, Emma and Nick along with Judith Anderson, Caroline Frizell, Margaret Kerr, Suzanne Keys, and Chris Robertson. It was held at the Green & Away tented conference centre in Worcestershire, in the heart of England.
If you would like to read more about that first gathering, you can download the themed edition of ‘Transformations’ (journal of Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility), then edited by Kamalamani (who’s now known as Emma Palmer). And you can read Ned Henderson’s account of the 2017 ‘Fraktured Psyche’ themed event here and reflections from 2017’s artist in residence, Jess Tanner, here.
This event has been running ever since, bringing together social dreaming, invited speakers, a rich workshop programme, fire side ‘open mic’ with Robbie Breadon, dancing and music, river swimming and the chance for the community to come together each year.
Events on the Ecopsychology UK ning website
There’s a detailed and varied listing of events on the Ecopsychology UK ning website, sister website to this one. To view this page you’ll need to register/log in free of charge. We think it’s worth it, as there are numerous events listed: from one day workshops to whole trainings. You can also join in discussions and meet people in the UK and world wide – there are now a few groups meeting in person as a result of having connected via the Ning and at the ‘Edge of the Wild’ event. Please contribute to the ning as much as you can – it relies on the contributions of its members!
Other organisations
You might also want to browse the following pages of other UK-based organisations: