What is Wild Peak?
Wild Peak is a fully mutual housing co-operative, a limited company run by its members according to co-operative principles. Every member holds a £1 share in the company, which is the limit of their liability, and gives all the members equal power and responsibility. By coming together and acting co-operatively in this way, the members gain access to quality rented accommodation they control, without the need for private landlords.
All tenants and prospective tenants are members of the co-op, and only co-op members can be tenants. As the housing co-op owns the property and is governed by its members, the tenants are effectively their own landlords. This direct management allows the co-op to be run in accordance with the members’ principles. At the core of the Wild Peak project is a commitment to a high level of environmental and ethical responsibility, and we have rules to ensure this.
All housing co-ops are registered as Friendly Societies and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Wild Peak is also a member of Radical Routes, a “co-op of co-ops” supporting housing and workers co-ops committed to positive social change and furthering co-operation and mutualism.
Wild Peak at Lawn Cottage
In 2012, Wild Peak purchased Lawn Cottage near Belper, Derbyshire. The property consists of Lawn Cottage itself, a series of out buildings and 69 acres of land. Having renovated the house and some of the outbuildings, we are currently extending one wing of the main house for members housing. Eventually there will be housing for 10 adults and a small number of children. The buildings provide for a mix of communal living and co-housing, including two family sized spaces. The land has plenty of space for a vegetable garden, lawn and wildlife areas, a workshop and volunteer accommodation.
The land consists of pasture, water meadow and several acres of ponds and wetlands, plus a mile and a half of the river Derwent. 39 acres is leased to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust as a non-public access Local Nature Reserve. The co-op manages 30 acres as conservation grassland, with grazing for rescued animals and coppice planting to work towards fuel wood sustainability. We have a private water supply and drainage.
Although we are in a secluded rural location we have easy access to both road and rail public transport in Belper to help us be involved in the wider world, and for the wider world to come and visit us.
What are we doing?
At present we are heavily involved in renovating the buildings to accommodate our members. This work includes a lot of insulating to lower our energy use as well as plenty of basic building work. Over the last 3 years we have completed works in the main house and outbuildings, fitted a highly efficient biomass central heating system and are planning to install passive solar water heating to supplement this system.
Members of Wild Peak have a high level of engagement with their local ecology, and wider environmental issues, using a proportion of their time to play a practical part in developing a healthier environment and way of life.
We believe that using co-operation, mutual aid, and sharing knowledge and skills within our communities and wider society is one of the best ways to achieve this. We have regular building and conservation work weekends at Wild Peak and once we are better established we also plan to host small gatherings and meetings.
We provide a base for Wild Things ecological education collective, a workers co-op established in 1997. Wild Things provides Forest School, Earth Education, team building and co-operative activities. They specialise in working with children and young people who require additional support and have limited access to the natural environment.
Wild Peak is a fully mutual housing co-operative, a limited company run by its members according to co-operative principles. Every member holds a £1 share in the company, which is the limit of their liability, and gives all the members equal power and responsibility. By coming together and acting co-operatively in this way, the members gain access to quality rented accommodation they control, without the need for private landlords.
All tenants and prospective tenants are members of the co-op, and only co-op members can be tenants. As the housing co-op owns the property and is governed by its members, the tenants are effectively their own landlords. This direct management allows the co-op to be run in accordance with the members’ principles. At the core of the Wild Peak project is a commitment to a high level of environmental and ethical responsibility, and we have rules to ensure this.
All housing co-ops are registered as Friendly Societies and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Wild Peak is also a member of Radical Routes, a “co-op of co-ops” supporting housing and workers co-ops committed to positive social change and furthering co-operation and mutualism.
Wild Peak at Lawn Cottage
In 2012, Wild Peak purchased Lawn Cottage near Belper, Derbyshire. The property consists of Lawn Cottage itself, a series of out buildings and 69 acres of land. Having renovated the house and some of the outbuildings, we are currently extending one wing of the main house for members housing. Eventually there will be housing for 10 adults and a small number of children. The buildings provide for a mix of communal living and co-housing, including two family sized spaces. The land has plenty of space for a vegetable garden, lawn and wildlife areas, a workshop and volunteer accommodation.
The land consists of pasture, water meadow and several acres of ponds and wetlands, plus a mile and a half of the river Derwent. 39 acres is leased to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust as a non-public access Local Nature Reserve. The co-op manages 30 acres as conservation grassland, with grazing for rescued animals and coppice planting to work towards fuel wood sustainability. We have a private water supply and drainage.
Although we are in a secluded rural location we have easy access to both road and rail public transport in Belper to help us be involved in the wider world, and for the wider world to come and visit us.
What are we doing?
At present we are heavily involved in renovating the buildings to accommodate our members. This work includes a lot of insulating to lower our energy use as well as plenty of basic building work. Over the last 3 years we have completed works in the main house and outbuildings, fitted a highly efficient biomass central heating system and are planning to install passive solar water heating to supplement this system.
Members of Wild Peak have a high level of engagement with their local ecology, and wider environmental issues, using a proportion of their time to play a practical part in developing a healthier environment and way of life.
We believe that using co-operation, mutual aid, and sharing knowledge and skills within our communities and wider society is one of the best ways to achieve this. We have regular building and conservation work weekends at Wild Peak and once we are better established we also plan to host small gatherings and meetings.
We provide a base for Wild Things ecological education collective, a workers co-op established in 1997. Wild Things provides Forest School, Earth Education, team building and co-operative activities. They specialise in working with children and young people who require additional support and have limited access to the natural environment.