Animals return as the Ouseburn Farm is reopened to the public, 25th September 2009.
Reported in The Journal by Tony Henderson.
Charlie Hardwick said: “My niece spent much of her childhood at the old Byker Farm, and the new farm is a magnificent achievement.” Byker Bridge Housing Association, based at the nearby St Silas church building, meets £150,000 of the farm’s £200,000 annual running costs, with the city council finding the remainder. Byker Bridge chief executive Maurice Condie has been involved with the Lower Ouseburn Valley for more than 20 years since playing in the rock band 7 to Midnight at the local Cumberland Arms pub. Residents from Byker Bridge’s nearby hostel for the homeless are given training and therapeutic work at the farm, which will now supply the hostel with fresh eggs. “The old Byker Farm was a major draw which brought people into the valley and the return of the animals to the new farm is a day for which we have been waiting for a long time,” said Mr Condie. |
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“We are here to serve the community and this is giving something back to the community. “
The barn and animals were blessed by St Silas minister, the Rev Sue Faulkener, who said: “This is a precious farm in the city and it helps children to understand how we depend on animals and those who farm, and that food does not just come in square packaged blocks.”
The site also houses an environmental and heritage centre and education outreach officer Alison Stancliffe said: “The history of the area means we can use the Ouseburn Valley as an outdoor classroom and over 1,000 children have used its facilities since January this year.”
Having the farm in the heart of the city gives children the chance to befriend animals.