Many seeds plant a forest
Our vision for a Rural School of Arts and a People’s Forest
Dear friends,
In summer 2025, in a verdant valley in central Portugal, we came across 24 hectares of wild land on the precipice of change. This thriving ecosystem is home to a range of old, native trees, a river, ruins and an abundance of natural life – but the threat of deforestation and industrial farming in this region looms large.
We have been called to turn this land into a People’s Forest, and to build a Rural School of Arts on its soil. But we need your help. This is an invitation to be a seed or a dreamer and join us on this journey to make this dream a reality.
To learn more visit ilhaandus.com, or reach out to us directly
THANK YOU
For every seed you buy, every donation you make, every time you share our page—thank you.
One seed is a donation of £200. Buy a seed, or offer dreams towards a seed or more.The time is now.
This region in Portugal currently has a unique pastoral landscape and stands at a threshold of change. The land prices in this part of Portugal have hugely increased in the last 3 years, because of its fertile soils, micro climate and access to water. As a result the price of land is now favouring industrial farming investors. Or large scale solar projects led by oil companies.
In the region developers are valuing land at 35 Thousand Euros per hectare. We were able to negotiate a lower price of 25 Thousand per hectare. The land measures 24 hectares, including, two ruins with licences, water wells a river and a range of habitats, from rocky outcrops, native forest, of cork oak, oak and ash to flat pasture land.
How the £500,000 funding will be used
600,000 Euros will be used to buy the land ( we already have raised 90,000). This is the amount that we need urgently by Spring 2026
The remaining amount will be used to begin renovations on the ruin that will become the learning house of the School.
context
All donations will be received by ILha ltd 16577859, a non-for-profit company registered in England and Wales established in service to the vision of the Rural School of Arts & The People’s Forest. All amounts received are in service of the vision. We are currently in the process of setting up a Portuguese Association to parter with the UK company.
If we are not able to make the total number of donations required to buy the land by spring 2026. All donors will have the choice to either have their money returned or to use the funds to create another version of the Rural School of Arts
donations
Use the donate form or the bank details below
MAKE A DONATION
Donate directly and avoid fees
DONATIONS in pounds
Business account: Ilha Ltd
Sort code 23-08-01
Account number 99558781
IBAN GB46 TRWI 2308 0199558781
Bank name Wise Payments Limited
1st Floor Worship Square
65 Clifton Street
London
EC2A 4JE
DONATIONS in Euros
Business account : Ilha Ltd
IBAN BE10 9055 26360504
Swift/BIC TRWIBEB1XXX
Bank name Wise
Rue du Trône 100, 3rd floor
Brussels
1050
Belgium
“Planting small seeds of beauty is a powerful force”
Contact : ilhaandus@protonmail.com
FUNDRAISING PHASES
Phase 1 : Where we are now! Will support us to collectively buy the land and begin to work with local communities to grow the vision.
