The Northern Roots project is creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park on 160 acres of urban greenspace in the heart of Oldham. A unique community hub and visitor destination.
It builds on existing community growing and food projects like our Growing Hubs, the Green Dividend and Get Oldham Growing.
The site is adjacent to Oldham’s flagship Alexandra Park and extends down to Bankfield Clough, where it looks out onto the foothills of the Peak District.
Working with the Northern Roots Charity, a range of facilities and activities are being developed on the site, including:
- Creation of a Visitor Centre, café, and shop
- Creation of an Urban Farm growing crops at scale
- Animal husbandry and bee-keeping
- Improved facilities for sports including football and hockey
- Recreational activities such as mountain biking, adventure play and graded walking routes
- A venue for events including outdoor performances, weddings, festivals and workshops
- Courses, outdoor classrooms, forest school, and workspaces
It will put Oldham on the national and even global map, as a pioneer of a new social, environmental, and economic compact, at a time when the planet has never needed one more.