THE Isle of Man’s first ever community farm will soon be working with people on an individual and group basis and is on schedule to be opened to the public next year.
The Children’s Centre is behind the project which is designed to create an environment in which children and young people from across the Island can learn about caring for animals and how to grow crops.
Based at Wallberry Farm - which is on the Carnane Estate just off the Old Castletown Road in Douglas - the Community Farm will be open to everyone in the Island and will also become an educational resource.
As well as taking part in agricultural and horticultural activities, children who visit the farm will take part in workshops and discover how farm machinery is maintained and gain skills in areas such as woodturning and metal work.
The Community Farm will be run by Chrissy Cannell and Nigel Revill. Nigel has been part of the Children’s Centre’s Mobex team for the last six years working with children and young people outdoors.
He gained a National Diploma in Agricultural Subjects at Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture before returning to the Isle of Man and working for 10 years at Barony Estates, latterly as estate manager.
Chrissy has worked at The Children’s Centre for the past year and in her new role she will promote the farm and its benefits throughout the local community and work with the charity’s fundraising team to secure funding to enable development of the project.
The Community Farm is currently in project stage. The farm house, outbuildings and land which have been leased are in very good order but there are changes that need to be made. Initial funding has been obtained from the Rank Foundation, the Manx Lottery Trust and the Ann Harrison Charitable Trust, which enabled the project to get off the ground.
However, the project will require on-going fund raising alongside a charge of subsidised fees to sustain the initiative. Many local companies have shown interest in helping us develop the Community Farm by providing funding for equipment and by releasing staff to help with manual work. It is also hoped that volunteers will help develop further projects at the farm.
The farm recently welcomed its first delivery of livestock - three pigs which have been kindly donated by Penny Bridge Stables in Kirk Michael. More animals will be arriving over the coming months as the project grows and develops.
“The Community Farm represents a really exciting step forward for The Children’s Centre and our charitable services,” said John Knight, Chief Executive of The Children’s Centre. “Our initial plans are to establish farming projects to further our work with children, young people and families across our organisation.
“Within the first year we will be open to other community groups and in time to the wider public. Our Community Farm initiative is part of a European wide movement and it is fitting that the Island can now be represented in this forward thinking group.”
Rebecca McSevney, The Children’s Centre Development Manager, added, “We hope to start from May 2011, and plan to open to the public by Spring 2012. Our Farm will be in operation every day of the year, as there will always be a need to care for the animals.
“Therefore, activities with groups and individuals - working alongside our staff team - will take part every day in some form or another. In the longer term we hope to open specifically to the public on weekends and during the school holidays too.”
