Oldham Council and local charity Northern Roots are celebrating a major milestone in the creation of Northern Roots – set to become the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park.
The council has officially taken handover of its new Welcome Building and Forestry Skills Centre from contractors Willmott Dixon, marking a significant step towards the opening of the pioneering attraction on Saturday 19 September.
Delivered through a partnership between the Northern Roots charity and Oldham Council, the project is transforming 160-acres of underused land next to Alexandra Park into a landmark destination for nature, health, learning, enterprise and community activity.
Five years in the making, Northern Roots is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the UK, using the power of nature to improve health and wellbeing, create jobs and training opportunities and bring communities together.
At the heart of the site is the new Welcome Centre, which features a café, shop and production kitchen, creating a vibrant hub for visitors. The building also includes two flexible spaces for school visits, community events, meetings, exhibitions and performances.
When the site opens, visitors will be able to enjoy an expanding network of accessible green spaces, orchards, community gardens, food-growing areas and nature-rich landscapes. A year-round programme of events, volunteering opportunities, educational activities and wellbeing initiatives will also help people connect with nature in new ways.
By 2030, Northern Roots aims to welcome up to 300,000 visitors each year, host 4,500 school visits annually and deliver more than 300 nature-based 'health prescriptions' every year. The project also plans to create 150 volunteering placements, alongside training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for local residents.
The development is expected to support up to 40 new businesses and help create between 60 and 80 jobs, while also delivering significant environmental benefits. These include a new woodland and wetland habitat, renewable energy generation and the storage of tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon.
Adding to the visitor experience, acclaimed Manchester chef, food writer and restaurateur Mary-Ellen McTague has joined Northern Roots as its new chef partner.
She will lead menu development for the new farm-to-fork food destination and support recruitment for key café roles, including head chef. Visitors will be able to see fruit, vegetables and herbs grown on the Urban Farm before being transformed into fresh meals just metres away.
Families will also be able to enjoy an outdoor play area designed to encourage children to explore, play and connect with nature.
Meanwhile, the new Forestry Skills Centre will provide specialist training in sustainable industries, including landscape management and crop growing. The facility will help local people gain qualifications, develop practical skills and access future employment opportunities, supporting the growth of a greener local economy.
Northern Roots will also provide new opportunities for local artists and creative organisations, while schools will benefit from learning programmes focused on local heritage, food production and the natural environment.
Visitors to the café and shop will be able to enjoy and buy fresh seasonal produce grown on site, helping strengthen connections between local communities, sustainable food production and healthy living.
The project is already delivering real benefits for local residents. Eight Oldham people are currently employed through the scheme, including five who were previously unemployed and have secured new jobs as a result of the development.
James Kington, Director of Growth at Oldham Council said: “This is an exciting milestone for both the project and for Oldham. These fantastic new facilities bring us one step closer to welcoming local residents and visitors from other communities across Oldham and further afield, to showcase everything the site has to offer.
“Whether you're visiting with family for a day out, enjoying the outdoor play area, learning new skills, attending an event, exploring nature or sampling fresh produce grown on site, Northern Roots will offer something for everyone.
“Together with Alexandra Park next door, it will create one of the borough's most exciting green destinations, attracting visitors, supporting jobs and helping more people connect with nature.”
Anna Da Silva, Chief Executive of Northpern Roots, said, "For decades we've tended to think about health, regeneration, nature recovery, skills and economic growth as separate challenges requiring separate solutions. Northern Roots demonstrates that they are deeply connected."
"This project has been built on the belief that nature can be a powerful force for positive change, particularly in urban communities that have historically had less access to green space and opportunity."
"What makes Northern Roots different is that we're not simply creating a visitor destination. We're creating a place that improves lives, supports businesses, restores habitats, develops skills, strengthens communities and delivers measurable social value."
"When we open our buildings in September, we hope people will see not only what Northern Roots can achieve for Oldham, but what it could teach us about the future of urban regeneration across the UK."
Ryan Ormonde, Senior Build Manager at Willmott Dixon, said: "As an Oldham-based business, today is a proud moment for our team as we celebrate the handover of Northern Roots to Oldham Council and the Northern Roots charity. We are excited to see the site open and for visitors to explore the fantastic new space.
"Oldham people have been at the heart of this project. Alongside our local supply chain partners, we have helped to develop sustainable employment opportunities by spending 340 hours supporting unemployed people into work. Our teams have invested 160 hours in local schools and colleges and delivered 103 weeks supporting apprentices and T-Level students to help inspire the next generation of industry workers."
To find out more about Northern Roots, visit www.northern-roots.uk.