The Loudwater Farm Initiative

    


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loudwater Farm Subud Centre - Development Proposal

Loudwater Farm is a pivotal Subud centre used by members from across Britain and around the world.

For thirty five years Loudwater Farm has provided Subud members with a place to meet and rest in the beautiful English countryside. In the last decade the property has offered its space for the local community and businesses.

We now have the opportunity to purchase Loudwater Farm. We plan to develop the existing facilities to create a perfect venue for Subud events. Expansion of the site will increase its rental income based business and its potential for social projects.

The Loudwater lot sits on 2¾ acres of land in a green belt conservation area bordered by the River Chess. Loudwater Farm is a thriving community space in an idyllic setting. Currently, the farm has two main halls, two meeting rooms, bed and breakfast rooms for up to 8 people, a large open barn and a four bedroom caretakers cottage.

In three phases over ten years we plan to develop the site into a modern, functional and self sustaining Subud centre. In this way the halls will be expanded and accommodation increased to meet the needs of Subud, the business and the local community.

It is our aim to purchase Loudwater through donations for Subud Britain.

The overall site plan - as existing, and as it may develop in stages:

 

History

Loudwater Farm was discovered in 1971 by a small, visionary group of Subud members who renovated the derelict old farmhouse into the beautiful Subud centre it is today. For over thirty years Subud Britain has leased the property from the Royal Masonic Trust.

Generations of Subud members have enjoyed the serenity of the place and many members remember fondly the camaraderie of working on a Subud project, others their childhood memories of camping in the grounds and playing in the river.

At the core of all activity at Loudwater Farm is the local Subud group. The farm has served as a venue for group latihans and medium sized Subud meetings for many years. Equally Loudwater has naturally served the international Subud community acting as a place of rest for those on their travels around the world due to its convenient location. It is one of the most well known and well loved Subud houses in the world and it continues to cater for the needs of the group, as well as frequent regional, national and international meetings.

Over ten years ago the group began establishing relations with local residents groups and businesses, generating an income for the group and creating a valuable asset for the local community.

Today a group of dedicated Subud members are building on the hard work of previous generations to secure a future for Subud at Loudwater.

 

Our Vision

We intend to purchase Loudwater Farm to develop its capacity to serve Subud, the local community and businesses. In this way Loudwater Farm will truly become a multipurpose Subud centre.

The Three Aims:

1. To improve the facilities for medium sized Subud events, gatherings and the local group

2. To fully develop its capacity as a training and educational centre

3. To support the local community and social projects

 

Location

Loudwater Farm is located in a beautiful setting in the English countryside within the greater London area.

The farm is very accessible, sited:

• less than one mile from Junction 18 of the M25, north west of London
• only 45 minutes from Central London by public transport
• 1 mile away from Rickmansworth tube station
• less than 5 miles away from Watford Junction Railway station: providing national rail links to the north, south and Gatwick airport.
• near to International airports: Heathrow, Luton, Stansted and Gatwick.

 

Current Uses

The principle usage of Loudwater Farm falls into 3 categories, which interchange and overlap:

 

Subud Use

Loudwater Farm Local group:

• Members come four times weekly for latihan
• Regular social and fundraising events
Thames Valley Regional Centre:
• Monthly gatherings for latihan and lunch
National Meeting Space:
• National Helper weekends
• National Council weekends
• Susila Dharma monthly Trustee meetings. A Subud international
charity, affiliated to UNESCO and the United Nations, support projects
with underprivileged peoples worldwide, financing schools, training
and healthcare centres. Specialises in setting up sustainable self
financing projects led by the local communities.
• Subud Youth Association and families – a place for youth to gather, camp, sleep in halls, eat and play in the grounds and river.
International Centre:
Many International visitors stay at Loudwater Farm, with its world-wide
reputation as a calm and restful place to stay. The farm has also been a venue for meetings for:
• World Subud Association
• International Susila Dharma
• International Helpers

 

Future Development:

The farm is already well used by the Subud community, although there is room for improvement:

• By increasing the number of bedrooms the farm could easily support larger meetings with accommodation and meetings spaces.
• An area for the sole use of Subud members, always available for latihan and testing.
• Enterprise Nursery; a space that both encourages and supports Subud and non-Subud members wishing to start social projects and enterprises.

 

Local Community

• The grade II listed barn is very important to the Local Residents Association. They hire the Barn for a nominal fee for monthly and seasonal celebratory functions, meetings and clubs.
• Local children’s birthday parties
• Weddings
• Birthday parties for 18-80 year olds
• The local council uses the Farm for consultation meetings.
• NYSA, a community artist’s partnership, base their studio work here. They work with children locally and in mental health. They are currently developing an anti-obesity production together with a national government body to encourage children to eat healthily, using puppets and songs. They also put on art workshops for children locally using recycled materials.

 

Future Development:

• A sensory garden will be built in collaboration with local community groups and charities. It will be a space for children, the elderly and special needs groups to work with the sensory world of plants.

Volunteer groups will build and maintain the gardens and a regular series of dynamic workshops will be run from the centre. Produce grown at Loudwater Farm will be used in the kitchens and sold to make the project self sustaining financially. By using nature as the focus for our social projects, we are utilising Loudwater Farms best features, as a place of natural beauty. Situated in an unspoilt river valley, with gardens bordered by a stream, Loudwater Farm has great potential as an ecological education resource centre.

• We aim to offer Loudwater Farm to Community groups and charities in the wider area, as a residential retreat centre. At present we offer reduced rates to charities for their away days and functions.

Loudwater Farm Vision Document - Aug 2008