A project which gives young people with social needs a level one qualification in practical horticulture is building a ‘micro-farm’ to expand its capacity.
It is being built by the 20 students currently on the course, as part of their training in landscaping and horticulture. The farm, in Tyldesley, Wigan, will contribute to an initiative run by Tyldesley Allotment Society – Grow for Giving – which provides a fresh food bank to local people who are in need.
The farm, run by course organisers Groundwork Trust, will have a 60ft commercial polytunnel on site and about 70 square metres of growing spacing over a quarter of a hectare. It will be as carbon neutral as possible and organisers are considering solar panels and an economic water storage system.
Big Lottery Awards for All has given the project £9,900 and local contractors Harry Fairclough have donated £2,000 of materials.
Groundwork Trust development officer Liam Roche said he expects the farm to be up and running in about six months. “In the long term we are looking at even more expansion, and we are looking for partners and government funding to help us do this. We would like to roll it out further into the Borough and Greater Manchester.”
Roche said the Grow for Giving scheme came about after the observation that there was not enough fresh food available for families in need. He said: “It aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle for those who are most in need of it.”
Educational charity Rathbone sponsors the teaching of a City and Guilds level one qualification in practical horticulture run by Groundwork Trust.
The 14-week practical course aims to get young people with issues back into the workplace. Roche said: “The young people coming to us have often had contact with the police or drug-related issues. A lot of our learners have come out of school with nothing so it’s about getting them back into the workplace and contributing to society.”
Past students on the scheme have gone on to horticulture apprenticeships or continued their education at college.
He added: “We are looking at running a level two horticulture course in the future, which would include more management skills.”
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