Karuna ‘Insight design’ was specifically developed (2006) to demonstrate sustainable land management and low Impact living as a way to heal ourselves, others and the planet!

The project is located in Shropshire, within an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) on the upper fringes of the ‘Long Mynd’. It faces out towards stupendous far reaching, open views of the Stretton Hills,Wenlock Edge and surrounding countryside

Karuna is a Sanskrit word meaning Compassion .

In “Island", Aldous Huxley 's last novel, Mynah birds were trained to repeat the word 'Karuna'.



The island was a place where people were kind and happy, they had equality without mediocrity, compassion as well as intellect and science side by side with art.



Islands happen to be our favourite places… so we created one!





Karuna is an 18 acre site designed through ‘Insight’ and serves as a Permaculture and Forest garden demonstration site, where visitors, students and volunteers can directly explore and experience some of the possibilities that exist to help revitalise the British countryside (creation of a nature reserve) and to help the nation accommodate, feed and power itself in the most positive, organic way. The project has become a highly valued, unique, working educational resource.







Through applying ‘Insight Design’ we transformed what had previously been bare fields used purely for grazing, into a diverse,well-managed, multi-purpose demonstration project.

It is comprised of mixed woodlands and meadows and the largest Forest garden in the country.



As a small family of four we planted an extremely diverse mix of over 10,000 trees; including traditional fruit trees, nitrogen fixing trees, and many plants and herbs, thus laying the foundations for the 'living practice' of Forest Gardening using permaculture techniques/principles for the production of materials, fruits, nuts, vegetables and medicinal plants. All based on interaction between people and different life forms, in order to stimulate and support one another (symbiosis).





Let the land be healed! We have chosen to share our love of the natural world, with the wildlife, our children and community.

Traditionally small wooded areas were often managed on the outer edge of English villages, not simply for their raw materials and medicines. Trees also offer us the opportunity to recognise inner peace and understanding when we place ourselves quietly among them. Developing and raising awareness of community, true sustainability, natural building, organic food growing, Low Impact living, climate change, wildlife conservation, holistic healing and art are the project's deepest concerns.

We offer a place for people to develop through direct experience!

We believe that we must restore our heritage - our birthright - our deep connection to the land.



Karuna aims to fulfil the opportunity for people to lovingly care for the earth which brings us into life, nourishes and sustains us (and ultimately takes us back again).

Agriculture is the very basis of our existence and if we are likely to survive at all, is likely to go on being so.



We feel privileged to share simple yet ingenious, effective solutions with the widest possible audience, inspiring them to join in our work right across the country and beyond.





We welcome people who share a similar compassionate approach towards nature, and have the ability to practice and stay committed to developing a truly sustainable future.