Minister visits award winning farm
A top Government minister has been given a special tour
of a city farm in the North East region, after it secured a prestigious national
award.
Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, was shown around Bill Quay Community Farm, which this month won a Green Flag Award to confirm its status as a high quality public green space.
The farm, based on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead, includes rare breeds of livestock, a youth centre, a café complete with its own wind turbine, a wildlife garden and a food growing initiative.
Bill Quay is the latest member of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) to receive a Green Flag Award. FCFCG is a national organisation devoted to supporting, encouraging and promoting community-run farming and gardening projects across the UK.
FCFCG Director Jeremy Iles said the visit to Bill Quay Community Farm was an excellent way for the Minister to see a thriving city farm in action and learn more about the key role it plays in the local community:
“Our members play a crucial role in creating vibrant local communities and making opportunities for local people. Bill Quay is a great example of this and fully deserves the award".
Bill Quay Community Farm was established in 1986 as part of a scheme to promote urban renewal. A unique partnership between Gateshead Council and local volunteers has transformed the 40-acre site from derelict industrial wasteland to a thriving community project. Woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and hedgerows have been re-established and as the site matures, the focus has been on the use of sustainable and traditional skills to manage the land.
The farm, which is based on a hillside with grand views over the Tyne Valley, has a variety of functions as a leisure facility for local people, an education resource for school groups, a model for best practice in conservation, an events venue and a provider of training opportunities.
