About 50 people offered their individual skills and enthusiastic support to help create and make Kirkstall Valley Farm a massive success ata community meeting last night, writes Ramona Green.
After an introduction by Roger Plumtree, Chair of Kirkstall Valley Farm, each of the sub-group co-ordinators gave a brief talk to explain what roles are involved.
There are five individual sub-groups, which are:
- Farm Task Group – dealing with ground preparation and growing activities.
- Structures Group – looking at what structures/buildings will be needed (storage, social/events space, polytunnels)
- Wildlife Group – getting the best and safest outcomes for local wildlife and developing spaces to encourage and protect wildlife whilst also educating the public.
- Social & Events Group – Engaging the public and organising social/farm events.
- Communications Group – promoting the Farm via their social media outlets, leaflets, posters etc…
Most people chose the farm task group, who will be growing demonstration vegrtable plots and preparing the land ready for cultivation.
Nearly 20 people were keen to enhance local wildlife. There will be quarterly social events being held on the farm and luckily, some of the people there offered to help organise those, alongside the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust.
Rosie Atkins, Kirkstall Valley Farms volunteer coordinator, was pleased with the turnout. She said:
“More than 100 people who had already signed upto volunteer but sadly couldn’t make it on the night will all be receiving an email very shortly.
“This will asking them to contact the co-ordinator of the particular subgroup they are interested in joining so that they won’t miss out on being a part of this fantastic project to grow vegetables, create fun social events for people in the valley and protect wildlife on and around the farmland.”
Volunteers at the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust have taken over the lease of 16 acres of land from Leeds City Council and aim to provide fresh vegetables, host events and act as a community hub for educational projects.
t’s hoped the farm, which is based off Kirkstall Road and used to be known as Burley Mills Farm, will be in operation later this year.