Northern Roots aims to create the UK's largest urban farm and eco-park in the heart of Oldham, transforming a 160 acres of neglected land for the benefit of people, communities and nature.
Northern Roots' plans for the site are ambitious. A significant nature restoration programme will increase biodiversity, enhance water quality and improve soil health, regenerating the degraded and contaminated land that was once home to textile mills, coal mines, and a landfill site.
The project will also harness the new and improved green spaces for economic and wellbeing benefits for local communities. A new visitor centre, café, urban farm, forestry skills centre and spaces for local small businesses will create a unique community hub and visitor destination.
Connection to Esmée's strategy
- Priorities
- Long-term outcomes
- Community-led approaches to the local economy positively contribute to nature and climate.
- More nature rich spaces for people to access and enjoy, particularly those facing barriers to doing so.
The first thing I talk about is the size of the project, how big it is, the plans and the vision. It’s absolutely amazing for an industrial town like Oldham to have a project like this right in the middle of it. So I tell people about how it’s world leading, the first of its kind in the UK.
Simon, Community Grower & Ranger
From Rosa Sulley, Funding Manager Lead, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation:
Northern Roots is an exciting vision and opportunity for Oldham. Not only will it re-open much needed green space which is currently inaccessible, but it has been developed to respond to the diverse needs of the local community and been shaped by the people of Oldham at every stage. The vision also complements local and regional strategic priorities for local communities, the economy and environment, including Oldham Council and the Local Motion Oldham network which is funded by Esmée. Northern Roots demonstrates how putting local communities at the heart of regeneration in a place can deliver positive outcomes for people and planet.
From Anna da Silva, Chief Executive, Northern Roots:
Without Esmée’s support, and faith in our vision, Northern Roots would not exist today. They took a chance on us and provided critical core funding at an early stage in the project’s development. They have allowed us to develop and prove our model, and leverage in significant other funding. They have also challenged us to be bolder in our approach to community power and co-production, which has yielded transformational results. Through our involvement with LocalMotion they have also enabled us to connect and learn with other partners and places.
