In this timeline we focus on significant milestones in the development of the Park Ecovillage Findhorn. As always our picture is incomplete – we welcome suggestions for improvement! (Please leave a comment below or Contact us.) Click here for the overall Community Timeline. For the Topics on the development of the Park Ecovillage please click on the following links:

1963
The beginnings of the Findhorn Garden

1965
First guest caravan purchased in December

1967
Community’s first Office is built
First cedar wood bungalows arrived

1968
The Main Sanctuary is built, complete by Easter
Beech hedge around central area is planted

1969
Community Centre is built

1970
Pineridge transformation – creating a home for the community beyond the original garden
Printing Office built (later General Office)

1972
Pauline Tawse purchases and donates the Park Building to the Community (Findhorn Foundation gets set up)
Craft Studios officially opened by Sir George Trevelyan at Pineridge, September
Community opens its own shop
Community Theatre opens in old grocery store (at what is now entrance to The Park)

1970s
The Community starts dreaming of owning the land

1976
Conference 2-9 Oct 1976 WORLD CRISIS AND THE WHOLENESS OF LIFE

1974
Work begins on design and construction of Universal Hall
New Printing Building is completed in front of Hall site
More landscaping on Pineridge, quiet Garden is created by Fred Barton

1975
Beginning of the planting of St Barbe’s Wood, Pineridge

1976
Inauguration and blessing of Universal Hall (then called University Hall)

1977
Children’s Playhouse opens in Pineridge

1980
University Of Light phrase is dropped; new Community description is Planetary Village

1982
Family House in Pineridge is completed
16-30 Oct 1982 ONEEARTH GATHERING – BUILDING A PLANETARY VILLAGE

1983
Universal Hall is completed in time for 8-15 Oct 1983 3rd WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS
Buying the Caravan Park
Land Ethic document

1984
1200 trees planted at the Park

1985
Moray Steiner School opens at Family House

1986
Nature Sanctuary is built by Ian Turnbull
Apothecary opens in old toilet block on Runway (now Visitors’ Centre)
11-18 Oct 1986 ONEARTH GATHERING : A CALL TO ACTION 

1987
First Barrel House (Roger Doudna’s) is completed in Pineridge

1989
Community’s first wind-power generator, Moya, is erected
Two-storey 12-sided “round” extension of the Community Centre is completed
Trees For Life begins work regenerating the Caledonian forest

1990
Ecovillage Project begins with building of 1st eco-houses in Bag End, Pineridge
Eileen Caddy’s house Cornerstone becomes Community’s first completed eco-house

1992
Youth Project building is completed
Guest Lodge is completed

1993
Simply Build Green: A Technical Guide to the Ecological Houses at the Findhorn Foundation, by John Talbott, published by Findhorn Press

1994
Community agriculture scheme, Earthshare, is set up

1995
Purchase of the Field Of Dreams, south of Pineridge, from local farmers the Bichans
Living Machine sewage treatment plant is built
7-13 Oct 1995 ECO-VILLAGES AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

1997
Purchase of Wilkie Estate, north of the Park, by Duneland Ltd – a shareholding company (shareholders are mainly Community members)

1999
First house is built on the Field of Dreams

2001
Phoenix Community Stores goes independent
Ekopia is created
New entrance to the Park is constructed

2002
Introduction of Community currency: The Eko by Ekopia

2004
Two eco-chalets erected by the Findhorn Bay Caravan Park

2005
January storms blow down hundreds of trees in the Park, St Barbe’s Wood and Wilkie’s Woods

2007
Opening of Moray Art Centre on Field Of Dreams
Santiago House constructed on Pineridge

2008
Westwood eco-chalet built to accommodate FF programme guests

2009
Park Ecovillage Trust (PET) established

2010
A 250kW Biomass Heating System is installed next to the Park Building
A sustainability education package for schools is launched by PET

2011
Two eco-mobile homes are built in Pineridge for FF staff
Building of the Soillse cluster of houses begins

2012
Duneland Ltd starts building houses on East Whins

2013
Four Community-owned affordable homes in East Whins (taken on by PET)

2014
Construction of the Soillse project completed

2015
The COP21 Paris Pledge is signed
Office in West Whins owned by Ekopia, rented by Trees for Life, is completed
First Community carbon footprint assessment is made

2016
All-electric caravans are purchased for holiday park

2017
Findhorn College undertakes a substantial role in the ORIGIN project which aimed at optimising use of renewable energy in residences and exploring options to extend the district heating systems with locally generated renewable energy
A Carbon Offsetting Service is created
In West Whins six affordable flats for rent are built by Green Leaf Design and Build and owned by PET

2020
Work on North Whins begins

2021
Silvertrees, 8 affordable homes owned by New Findhorn Directions (NFD) are completed
Three eco-pods are purchased for the caravan park

2022
The Community CarbonNeutral2030 feasibility study is undertaken
Park Ecovillage Trust open eight new affordable housing units at Woodside, North Whins, constructed by Green Leaf Design and Build

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More dates will be added as we continue the research for the Ecovillage Topics.