Woodland Pathway

 

Learning from the past and learning for the future. The Natural Step framework is a systems based approach to developing pathways to a truly sustainable future. At SustainEd, we use their approach in designing change programmes for organisations, in the knowledge that such programmes will build towards the future whilst respecting the past and current situations.

 

 

This picture is of a twenty acre woodland in Graig-na-Managh, Co Kilkenny. It is a lovely, unusual mix of birch and holly, teeming with diversity and where ancient pathways lead to the small waterfall in the middle. The aim is to leave the place in better condition for future generations.

To this end, the woodland is now under a native woodland management plan that involved the removal of non-native and invasive species and also the planting of three thousand native trees, mainly oak and cherry, to ensure its future.

None of us involved will ever see these trees grow to maturity but it is an act of trust and hope, a gift to an unlived future. Planning for such a long-term future helps to develop a sense of the transitory nature of ownership, to focus instead on the guardianship aspect, thus changing the relationship with the land.

Walking along these pathways one can’t help but wonder at the amount of hard physical work that went into building these walls and lanes. When built, this was necessary work to clear and gain access, not to look pretty or be recreational. The walls used local available resources and applied deep field-specific knowledge, gained from generations of immersion and keen observation. The works required constant maintenance and adapting to the changing conditions as they arose. In contrast today we can use large machines to dominate and over-power the local conditions. This is far less physically arduous than before but we risk losing something in the process.

It is important to be mindful and respectful of the past work done; to acknowledge the understanding and persistence required; to be humbled by their work to leave the land in better condition to an unlived future; and to be cautious of the power we have to ride roughshod over other generations’ work. Sustainability is future focussed, it is about developing new and exciting opportunities. However, it needs to do this within an understanding of the principles and idiosyncrasies of the environment we inhabit. Being sensitive to our heritage and respecting the labour of past generations can help us learn how to live with and within our environment. Proceed with caution.

Laneway, pathway, old way, new way.

Pathway weaving, wending, winding

Ancient access to sacred hillside waters

The stone, once firmly placed, now tumbles

Nature re-asserting itself, entropy at work

Past lives, strong hands, hard work

Stone craft, hand craft, craft work

New needs, new deeds, a new age, new ways

Pause, regard, reflect, respect

Careful now, listen, the past is teaching us,

Quietly


 

What this means for organisations moving towards sustainability.

Sustainability is about creating a better future for all and involves letting go of many unsustainable practices we currently employ. Too often change management involves introducing new practices without any recognition of the current situation or the past work done, the focus is purely on the brave new future. This is not to say that the past is to be preserved at all costs, there are many practices that are very embedded in how we think and are preventing us from moving forward. We do need to recognise and respect that enculturation that has taken place and to figure out how to escape those mental and social constructs that hold us back.

The internal settings that we each have in our minds, the default settings based on experience, training and our culture can work towards or against a better future. Programmes focusing on radical change need to address these voices that may hinder us from considering new possibilities. The voice of judgement, the voice of fear and the voice of cynicism can individually or together create powerful barriers to change.

Creating the environment where these voices are not the dominant one in the room can open up many possibilities. It is not about denying the past, ignoring the work done already but understanding where we are coming from in order to go to new places. The old joke about asking the farmer for directions only to be told ‘I wouldn’t start from here’ comes to mind. But we are here and we need to recognise this if we are to take steps towards sustainability.

We can be brave, imaginative and utopian about future possibilities but to be effective we need to work to a framework that recognises where we are coming from. The Natural Step framework is a systems based approach to developing pathways to a truly sustainable future. It offers proven science based principles within which to construct a future and then a framework for taking steps towards that. SustainEd is an approved trainer of The Natural Step, we use their approach in designing change programmes for organisations, in the knowledge that such programmes will build towards the future whilst respecting the past and current situations.

 


 

 

Category: Uncategorized · Tags:

Leave A Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.


Contact Us

Registered Office: Ballyogan, Graig-na-Managh, Co. Kilkenny. Ireland Tel: +353 (0)87 4187 082 Email: victor@sustained.ie

Join the Conversation

SustainED principal has started a Facebook page called The Sustainable Self which you might find interesting, please click on the link below. Victor’s Linked In page can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn