ABSTRACT
Over a decade ago, a residential course at a farm in the depths of the Kent coun-
tryside in Southern England was the setting for a meeting that would result in a
remarkable collaboration that has lasted right up to the present day. A dozen or
so people had gathered to learn about The Natural Step (TNS). At that time, in
1997, TNS was still a relatively new idea that had hitherto been practiced mainly
in Sweden. At that time no one really knew what type of organisation or person
would be best to spread a Swedish approach in Britain and so the small gathering
was a mixed bag to say the least. They varied from people interested in sustain-
ability and wanting to change careers, right through to sustainable development
practitioners looking for the latest technique.
