When we talk about parallel society, or parallel systems, what is it we actually mean.

What I have always proposed is that we build the society we want, if you can't change the system you're in, you can opt out and build something better.

I did this as an individual, and then helped others achieve the same. The next goal was to expand the idea into groups of people. A collective is ultimately stronger than the sum of its parts and I understand that "community" is a cornerstone of any society.

We also need to build alternative institutions. It was my hope that The Woodlander Initiative would become such an institution, I am pleased to say that is now becoming a certainty. An institution that offers a set of ideals, programmes and structures along with real world assets that can be passed on to future generations.

We are relatively young, but have achieved an incredible amount in such a few short years. There have been initial bumps in the road but these have been navigated successfully by the organisation and membership.

As we progress in the coming years I forsee many of our people coming to the realisation that politics may not be the way to implement change at the moment. Community, skills, land and business ownership and self sufficiency are going to be the way forward.