Braziers Park is home to one of the oldest secular intentional communities in Europe. We are around 30 people living and working in this beautiful Grade II* listed Strawberry Hill Gothic mansion house and estate on the edge of Ipsden – a small village near Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England.
We are close to the Ridgeway, the Chilterns and the Thames, and the estate houses both a secular intentional community and the School of Integrative Social Research. The community is engaged in integrative social research, group process, organic farming and working towards sustainability.
This unique community runs the venue as an education and events centre and offers its own courses and events, providing catered accommodation and camping for group retreats, festivals, professional conferences and symposia, as well as a unique setting for weddings. Braziers Park is also used as a film location for large- and small-budget films.
Braziers Park is a Community Benefit Society with charitable status. We are a not-for-profit organisation run by members, residents and volunteers with limited hierarchy. You may like to find out about becoming an associate or volunteer under the Engage page.
Braziers Park comprises 57 acres of land, including the main house and several outbuildings. The history of these buildings spans over 300 years, and a stone in the cellar carries the date 1688. The main building, originally a farmhouse, was remodelled in Strawberry Hill Gothic style in the late 18th and early 19th century, and has been a Grade II* listed building since 1985.
Our land remains farmland, mainly used as pasture with enclosing woodland, in sharp contrast to the large areas of open arable land around it. The underlying geology is chalk, with superficial deposits of clay-with-flints in places. The Braziers Park estate is now being managed so the wide diversity of habitats can be preserved and enhanced. These include meadows containing some rare grassland species. Braziers Park has its own organic kitchen garden, orchard, water garden, amenity gardens, and a woodland walk, which offers visitors an opportunity to experience some of the natural beauty and wildlife of the estate.
In 2001, Braziers Park successfully applied to join the Government’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which provides funding for managing land for conservation purposes. The scheme completed ten years and covered hedge planting and maintenance, tree planting, both for landscape enhancement and to provide woodland for coppicing, and meadow management. Much of the work involved has been undertaken by volunteers.
We try to maintain the buildings and land as ecologically as possible and to reduce our carbon footprint wherever we can. Electricity is supplied by Octopus, and heating and hot water come from a highly efficient woodchip boiler system. In the coming years, we have plans for greater water harvesting and renovation of our ancient barn, dairy and granary. We are always grateful for volunteers and expertise to help us with these projects.
We are close to the Ridgeway, the Chilterns and the Thames, and the estate houses both a secular intentional community and the School of Integrative Social Research. The community is engaged in integrative social research, group process, organic farming and working towards sustainability.
This unique community runs the venue as an education and events centre and offers its own courses and events, providing catered accommodation and camping for group retreats, festivals, professional conferences and symposia, as well as a unique setting for weddings. Braziers Park is also used as a film location for large- and small-budget films.
Braziers Park is a Community Benefit Society with charitable status. We are a not-for-profit organisation run by members, residents and volunteers with limited hierarchy. You may like to find out about becoming an associate or volunteer under the Engage page.
Braziers Park comprises 57 acres of land, including the main house and several outbuildings. The history of these buildings spans over 300 years, and a stone in the cellar carries the date 1688. The main building, originally a farmhouse, was remodelled in Strawberry Hill Gothic style in the late 18th and early 19th century, and has been a Grade II* listed building since 1985.
Our land remains farmland, mainly used as pasture with enclosing woodland, in sharp contrast to the large areas of open arable land around it. The underlying geology is chalk, with superficial deposits of clay-with-flints in places. The Braziers Park estate is now being managed so the wide diversity of habitats can be preserved and enhanced. These include meadows containing some rare grassland species. Braziers Park has its own organic kitchen garden, orchard, water garden, amenity gardens, and a woodland walk, which offers visitors an opportunity to experience some of the natural beauty and wildlife of the estate.
In 2001, Braziers Park successfully applied to join the Government’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which provides funding for managing land for conservation purposes. The scheme completed ten years and covered hedge planting and maintenance, tree planting, both for landscape enhancement and to provide woodland for coppicing, and meadow management. Much of the work involved has been undertaken by volunteers.
We try to maintain the buildings and land as ecologically as possible and to reduce our carbon footprint wherever we can. Electricity is supplied by Octopus, and heating and hot water come from a highly efficient woodchip boiler system. In the coming years, we have plans for greater water harvesting and renovation of our ancient barn, dairy and granary. We are always grateful for volunteers and expertise to help us with these projects.
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Braziers Park School of Integrative Social Research (BPSISR) was founded in 1950 and since 27th August 2020 is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pursuant to the Cooperative and Community Benefit Society Act 2014. Registration Number 8454. BPSISR is an exempt Charity.