The Disappearing Spirit of Dartington: Time to Follow the Money
Let’s be honest—these decisions don’t feel accidental. They appear part of a wider pattern that seems designed to erode Dartington’s unique, revolutionary character.
Totnes and Dartington have long stood as powerful symbols of freedom, creativity, and true community in the UK. Known globally for pioneering progressive education, environmental innovation, and a thriving culture of artistic and spiritual exploration, Dartington Estate is more than just land—it's a living embodiment of ideals desperately needed in these challenging times.
Yet, troubling developments suggest a calculated dismantling of Dartington’s very heart. In 2023, Robert Fedder was appointed CEO, reportedly with sweeping authority to restructure and remove longstanding elements of the estate as he saw fit. Alongside the controversial appointment of Lord David Triesman as Chair, the Dartington Hall Trust has initiated profound changes that appear to undermine the estate’s founding values—all under the pretense of financial pragmatism.
First, we lost the Dartington Arts School—an incubator for radical creativity and experimentation. Then came Schumacher College, a world-renowned center for ecological learning and holistic education. Its closure wasn't merely a financial decision—it was symbolic. Schumacher represented a direct challenge to mainstream conformity, inspiring thousands around the world to rethink how we live and interact with our planet. Its loss was not incidental; it was ideological.
Now, the Trust is evicting the Agroforestry Research Trust’s Forest Garden—a global beacon of sustainable agriculture with over 30 years of pioneering research into permaculture and agroecology. Tens of thousands have voiced outrage, but the Trust remains unmoved, hinting at deeper intentions.
Let’s be honest—these decisions don’t feel accidental. They appear part of a wider pattern that seems designed to erode Dartington’s unique, revolutionary character. A place once known for radical ideas, ecological leadership, and artistic freedom is being reshaped into something far more conventional—and far less alive.
What’s happening at Dartington mirrors a larger national trend: shrinking personal freedoms, increasing state oversight, and the quiet rewriting of spaces once dedicated to thought, innovation, and openness. The Trust’s recent direction feels less like natural evolution and more like realignment with a system that values control over creativity.
Lord Triesman, with his extensive ties to establishment institutions, embodies a different kind of leadership—one that many in this community feel is out of step with Dartington’s founding spirit. This isn’t simply about financial strategy; it’s about preserving the deeper values that Dartington was built to champion.
Taking Action: A Community Response
There comes a time when silence is no longer an option. That time is now.
As a community, we have both the right and the means to take meaningful action. Our response is rooted in transparency, accountability, and a shared commitment to protecting Dartington’s legacy. Together, we are initiating an independent, professional investigation into the Trust’s financial activities over the past decade.
Through our own early research and analysis, we are now as close to certain as possible that serious breaches of financial integrity have occurred. This warrants not only deeper scrutiny—but immediate, coordinated action.
Here’s how we move forward:
1. Access the Records: We begin with the publicly available financial statements filed with the Charity Commission—records that every registered charity is required to publish.
2. Secure Strategic Funding: Rather than relying solely on local fundraising, we are leveraging our experience and deep connections within the blockchain space—where aligned individuals and decentralized communities understand that what’s happening at Dartington is part of a much wider problem unfolding across the UK. We are actively engaging with networks that are prepared to support this cause—not just financially, but ideologically—because this fight is about more than one estate. It’s about resisting the silent dismantling of values that matter to us all: transparency, freedom, and integrity.
3. Multiply Our Resources Strategically: Hiring a forensic accountantcy firm is only the beginning. Uncovering the rot is one thing—removing it is another. That next stage will require serious financial firepower, and we’re prepared for it. Through our connections in the blockchain space, we have access to significant funding networks aligned with the principles of decentralisation, truth, and public accountability. These are not speculative promises—they are real, mobilised resources ready to step in when the time comes. We are not simply raising funds—we are building momentum. Because once the truth is exposed, we will have everything we need to act on it.
4. Commission the Investigation: This is not a surface-level audit—it’s a forensic investigation with depth, reach, and precision. A full financial review will be conducted, examining not only the Trust’s internal transactions, asset management practices, consultant fees, and trustee relationships, but also the external companies and contractors it has engaged. Because in our experience, accountability doesn't stop at the Trust itself—it extends to the network of entities surrounding it. We understand how these systems work. We know how money can be moved, hidden, or reframed to avoid scrutiny. And we are employing professionals who know exactly where to look, how to follow the trails, and how to bring clarity to even the most carefully obscured arrangements. This investigation will leave no stone unturned.
5. Report and Respond: Should any misconduct, mismanagement, or breaches of duty be confirmed, we will report them to the Charity Commission and seek legal counsel as needed.
What’s happening now goes far beyond local concern. The community has awakened—and it’s no longer alone. Among us are individuals with deep experience, strategic clarity, and access to networks that understand the broader picture. These aren’t just voices of dissent; they are voices of experience—people who have seen this pattern before, and who recognise it when it starts to repeat.
While the public may only just be noticing, others have been watching closely for some time. And now that the pieces are coming together, so too is the response. Quietly. Confidently. A few steps ahead.
We are not looking to create division. We are here to protect something meaningful. And we will do so with intelligence, precision, and unshakable intent.
Because Dartington deserves nothing less.
As Dorothy Elmhirst once wrote...
“This is not the place to build an empire—it is the place to build a community.”
Let us return to that truth, together.
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