The UK-Japan Groundwork Exchange started in 1991 when
Lord Jenkin of Roding (the ex-Secretary of State for the
Environment) led a UK-Groundwork delegation to Japan. For a number
of years following this initial development phase we received about
200 Japanese visitors every year including politicians, academics,
central and local government officers, environmentalists and
professional consultants. The Japan Groundwork Association (JGA)
was established in 1995 with support from the Ministries of
Agriculture, the National Land Agency, the Environment Agency, the Ministry of Home
Affairs and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
In 1999 JGA started a pilot initiative by inviting applications to become the first Groundwork Trusts in Japan. As a result, four pilot areas were selected: Fukuoka Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Kora Town in Shiga Prefecture and Tokachi City in Hokkaido. There is also a strong Groundwork initiative in Mishima, near Tokyo. Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale and Groundwork Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taff have developed bi-lateral partnership links with Mishima and Fukuoka respectively. We are currently hoping to progress discussions with our Japanese partners through a practitioner exchange scheme.
Lockside
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