Reasons to be Letchworth: what can we learn from the garden city movement?
In this episode
This week we’re taking you back to the distant days of 1898 when social reformer and ‘practical idealist’ Ebenezer Howard set out his ideas about the Garden City, one of the most radical urban planning experiments in Britain’s history. Can we bring Howard’s utopian vision into the 21st century? We talk to Josh Tidy about the history of the Garden City Movement and how it's faring 125 years on. We find out from Nick Skinner whether Letchworth is actually full of sandal-wearing vegetarians (hey Geoff!) Finally, we chat to Katy Lock about how the garden city movement offers a practical path to a more hopeful future.
Plus: Geoff's got a new business idea...will it make him millions?
Guests
Josh Tidy, Heritage Manager, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and Curator, International Garden Cities Exhibition (@letchworthgardencity)
Nick Skinner, Manager, The Settlement, Letchworth (@letchworthsettlement)
Katy Lock, Director of Communities and FJ Osborn Fellow, The Town and Country Planning Association (@katy_lock / @theTCPA)
From top to bottom: Katy Lock, Josh Tidy, Nick Skinner
More info
Buy tickets for our one-off live show in Stratford-upon-Avon on 3rd June
A brief introduction to Garden Cities
Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation
The Settlement, Adult Education Centre, Letchworth
Learn about the TCPA's Tomorrow125 project
Contact Reasons to be Cheerful via our website, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Let us know your episode ideas, your comments and feedback!
