Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Inner city decline and dereliction in the 1970’s prompted groups of people nationally to improve and manage under-used derelict land for the benefit of the local community. This led to the development of the City Farm movement.

The Meanwood Valley was an attractive site for imaginative development due to its unique character as a green corridor linking countryside to the inner city. With the support of Leeds City Council who owned the land and enthusiastic volunteers, some of who were recruited via Leeds Civic Trust, Meanwood Valley Urban Farm was officially opened in 1980. From humble beginnings, operating from two old caravans with bed frames providing fencing, Meanwood Valley Urban Farm has steadily grown to become a major centre for community and environmental work.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, a registered charity, spans a 16.5 acre site and is open to visitors every day – Café closed Mondays. The services delivered to the community include:

Environmental education services to schools – projects include minibeast hunts, incubation and mud workshop
Holiday Playschemes
Alternative Programme – ReConnect – delivered to high school pupils aged 13-16 years who are experiencing problems in main stream education
Entry to Employment (e2e) delivered to unemployed 16-18 year age range
Development programme to adults with learning disabilities
Training – NOCN Progression Awards
Allotments to local people
Leisure Resource that is open to visitors every day – Café closed Mondays

History

The first and most conspicuous fact about the history of the Farm site is that the land it stands on has always been free of development. As long ago as 1240 there is evidence that some of the land was being cultivated when granted to the monks of Kirkstall Abby. Contrary to expectations the Farm has never been in Meanwood although the valley has assumed the name for over a hundred years. It has been in the township of Potternewton. The earliest map of the area, a detailed estate map of 1762 (on display in the EpiCenter), shows Sugarwell Hill covered by Scot Wood and the Farm site located on land called ‘Farr Wood Close’. The land appears to be in transition from woodland to arable and pasture.

As early as 1560 there is evidence of mill development with Scott Mill erected on Meanwood Beck. The value of the beck to power mills was reflected in the construction of more corn mills in the early 17th century along the banks. The goit, a man made mill steam, whose route has now become the public footpath was mentioned in a deed of 1631. In 1825 the turnpike road to Meanwood opened up the valley and very slowly more development took place along the beck with the opening of tanneries and botanical and manufacturing chemical works. John Clapham, a botanical chemist, built the present Farm office and café in the 1870’s. The building contained his laboratory and herbal distillery. He built the adjoining Oakdale House for his growing family in 1885. More housing developments took place in the second half of the century along Meanwood road. The Farmland was used as a market garden to feed the growing urban population. in the 1870’s some of the land was used for the deposit of ‘night soil’ form the many thousands of back to back houses. This encouraged the tenants of the land to specialise in growing rhubarb, a crop grown even now on the Farm. One of the other results was the emergence during building works on the Farm of Victorian bottles, clay pipes and pottery, some of which are now on display in the EpiCenter.

Partnership and Training

The Farm works in partnership with Leeds City Council in providing a community care scheme where adults with learning disabilities receive training in gardening, literacy and numeracy. For these individuals being based in an integrated environment has positive benefits.

Farm Map

Key to Plan

1. EpiCentre
2. Nature Area
3. Livestock Stabling
4. Community Plots
5. Rabbit Run
6. Gardens
7. Organic Market Garden
8. Greenhouse
9. Hen House
10. Reed Bed
11. Meanwood Beck
12. Courtyard Centre – Comprising Shop, Café, Offices,
Livestock, Washroom Facilities/disabled toilets