Hay Regenerative Soils CIC is one of many organisations that has been supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to deliver vital work tackling climate change and has received National Lottery funding to deliver a new Learning Programme throughout 2026. Building on the momentum of the 2025 Soil School at Hay Castle, the programme will bring together practitioners from across the UK to share practical knowledge in soil science, permaculture, circular systems, and regenerative growing.

Sessions will be donation-based and designed for everyone from first-time gardeners to allotment holders, food growers, and farmers. Each session focuses on the microbial and fungal builders of healthy soil, showing practical ways to grow more affordably with better yields and fewer inputs, and how to amend common peat-free compost brands so they perform better.

Sophie Ferrier, Director of Hay Regenerative Soils said: “We really want the wonderful local community in Hay-on-Wye to understand the importance and benefits of community-scale circular systems, and soil restoration, not just for the environmental benefit, but also in building a stronger sense of community with nature and to support local well-being.

“Thanks to National Lottery, we look forward to learning together about how we can embrace community food systems and transform local waste management.”

A Hay-on-Wye resident spoke highly of the group. They said: “Hay Regenerative Soils CC is such an inspiring project, it is really hard to get a community initiative off the ground let alone sustain it in a small rural place like Hay where it is difficult to achieve economies of scale.

“The tenacity of the team is so good to witness and Hay is lucky to have Sophie and Daisy. I wish them every success for the vital work they are doing to help regenerate the soil that sustains us all”.

Friday 28 November, 10:00–15:00

Location: Hay Castle, Cobbled Street (outdoor, no booking required)

Meet the team, hear what is planned for 2026, and see how local food waste becomes our “Earth Repair Kit” — a living, biologically active compost. If you can, bring a small sealed container of clean food scraps to contribute. Suitable materials include fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and eggshells. Please avoid liquids, meat, fish, dairy, and compostable plastics. As a thank-you, everyone who brings food waste will receive a free bag of the team’s Earth Repair Kit in exchange, a small token of circular reciprocity and regeneration.