In the evaluation section of this design, I will look back at the design using the SWOC tool. SWOC is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Challenges. Here this is used as a tool to focus on the key areas of the design.

Strengths

By laying out this design using the FORAGE framework I was able to pick up on a few areas that I felt I needed to improve my knowledge base. Bats were a topic I knew little about, so I spent the winter of 2023/2024 researching and learning about bats. This research turned out to be of value when the developer submitted his updated plans which included the ecology report stating there was no bat activity on the field. Through educating myself I was able to submit a letter to the planning officer requesting a bat survey to be carried out and I presented evidence over several mornings of bat activity over the field. A professional bat survey was never carried out but at least I was able to prove if only to myself that in fact, bats relied on the field as a foraging site.

A huge strength of this design was having a lifelong passion for nature along with a good local knowledge of the flora and fauna that can be found in and around the town. Having a relationship with the local landscape throughout my time born in Richmond and living here for the past fifty years provided me with a grounded approach when it came for me to examine the ecology report.

The ecology report was using data that was not even close to being anything near accurate. At first, it was a daunting task due to the size of the report but once I got stuck into it, I was able to question what the ecologist presented in the report. This was mainly due to the ecologist using data that was not accurate for Richmond. They had not taken the time to do any onsite research other than I quick walk around the field.

Weaknesses

The major weakness was not having been involved with any planning proposals before.

My first objection letter was submitted before getting involved with the resident's group and before wrapping a permaculture design framework around the planning proposal.

The amount of information the developer needs to provide when submitting a planning proposal makes reading through all the material confusing, to say the least. I would one moment be reading about plot elevations, then read a heritage report saying the site will add value to the town then I would be reading about drainage. It was all very overwhelming when I thought I needed to understand everything.

Opportunities

Getting involved with the resident's group helped me to understand the larger picture. Here I got to experience the many different skill sets people already had. I was under the impression I had very little to offer but soon found myself the go-to person for the ecology side of the planning proposal. This was mostly due to my initial objection letter where I talked about the wildlife side of the field.

One of the many things permaculture focuses on is bringing communities together to work with each other for a common aim. The preservation of a wildflower meadow was our aim, and a core group of residents guided the larger group to work together and save this meadow.

My passion for observing nature is an ideal obsession for an introvert like me, so to find myself attending meetings and even having to speak at a town council meeting due to most people being away at the time provided me with opportunities to get involved with other people in ways that took me way out of my comfort zone.

I do not need much encouragement to read books or listen to audiobooks, but once again in the Research section of the design, the opportunity arose to consume another 12 books.

Challenges

The biggest challenge we all found working on a project like this was the length of time the process takes. The first proposal was submitted in August 2023, with a resubmission in February 2024. The date of the North Yorkshire Council Planning Meeting when the decision would be made was April 10th, 2025. Throughout this period, I was checking the planning portal daily for updates. When any new material was submitted, we needed to understand what had been said and respond if needed.

To make matters more confusing in 2024 Labour came into government and brought in new planning policies that we now had to recognise and use accordingly.

Given the option of watching badgers forage over the wildflower meadow or reading and having to understand the implications of new planning policies I know which I would rather do.

In conclusion

Stepping back from the worry about a wildflower meadow in a conservation area being turned into just another housing estate and laying some thoughts down on paper, by using the FORAGE framework as a guide to pick out ways to understand what I need to do, helped me to appreciate what I could do to help save something so valuable to wildlife, the town and peoples wellbeing.