Community-owned Shropshire farm’s river-friendly project approved for crowdfunding
Fordhall Organic Farm near Market Drayton, England’s first community-owned farm, has had its ‘River-Friendly Farming’ project approved to be a part of Spacehive/Crowdfund Shropshire.
Should the project receive enough backers, it will have access to the match-funding pot, enabling it to create and construct a bespoke bird hide beside an onsite wildlife pond.
Fordhall’s newest campaign aims to improve the health of its onsite water-courses – slowing the flow, creating cow bathing pools, encouraging biodiversity and improving water quality. The initial response to the appeal has received a wonderful response from their community – fully reaching the initial donation target of £15,000.
With this in mind, the team have decided to take this project even further – developing and expanding the planned work around the ponds for improved public access. The team aim to create a bird hide by one of their wildlife ponds, with Youth Project (an onsite project helping young people struggling in mainstream education) attendees assisting with the development and construction, thereby building their skills, confidence and appreciation of nature.
As a not-for-profit organisation, this phase of the project has been offered the opportunity to raise funds through Spacehive, who will match-fund any donations if the backer threshold is reached.
Charlotte Hollins, Fordhall Community Land Initiative general manager, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has donated to our initial funding drive, to create a healthier and cleaner future, for the water-courses we have here at Fordhall. This project aims to benefit our livestock, biodiversity and community.
“We are really excited to have the opportunity to expand this project, with plans to involve the Youth Project and volunteers with the construction of a second bird hide onsite – the first resides in our woodland. It’s wonderful to have been considered for this additional funding pot funding pot and with how great the response has been so far, we are hopeful we will reach the requirement for match-funding!
“Of course, we know not everyone is able to provide monetary donations – we are so grateful to anyone who would like to donate their time as a volunteer, or help us spread the word by sharing our project!”
To find out more, or to support the project, please visit spacehive.com/fordhallriverfriendly.
