From old railways to an oasis of art, food and nature: how an eco-park was born in Greater Manchester

Mary-Ellen McTague, a chef, food writer and restaurateur, has a leading role in shaping the food offer at Northern Roots. Photograph: Darren Robinson Photography View image in fullscreen Mary-Ellen McTague, a chef, food writer and restaurateur, has a leading role in shaping the food offer at Northern Roots. Photograph: Darren Robinson Photography From old railways to an oasis of art, food and nature: how an eco-park was born in Greater Manchester Northern Roots is launching Britain’s biggest urban farm and eco-park, in an effort to boost people’s health and wellbeing Standing in the open green space of Northern Roots, it is hard to imagine the landscape as it once was. Two cotton mills, two coalmines and an industrial railway once occupied this 65-hectare (160-acre) site in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Later, about 24 hectares became a tip, with much of the space left to nature. Over the past five years, Northern Roots, a charity, has been developing this once industrial land, running community programmes including a Natural Health Service. On 19 September a new facility will open to the public, featuring a cafe, shop, production kitchen, performance space, forestry skills centre, outdoor play areas and an urban farm. The charity’s ambition is to turn what was once a “burden” into the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park. View image in fullscreen Visitors to the cafe 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. Photograph: Darren Robinson PhotographyThe idea began with Oldham council, which wanted to explore green space as an asset. Today the council works in a unique partnership with Northern Roots. “We wanted to look at what this land could do for Oldham, rather than simply seeing it as land that needed maintaining,” said Anna da Silva, the founder and chief executive of Northern Roots. The charity’s seven activity programmes, which include farming and food, arts and culture, sports, business and learning, have been designed to appeal widely. “The hardest part is getting people … physically and psychologically out of their house, down to the site, meeting people where they are on that journey,” said da Silva. Once they are through the doors, the aim is to encourage continued engagement so they can unlock the environmental, economic and social benefits – a challenge that led to the creation of “participation pathways”.