Sat 8 Sept 2018
Written by Fran Caballero Luque & Amber Lawrence
The day began with an energiser after which the group chose between visits to The Green Backyard or Cuckoo Farm.
During the visit to Cuckoo Farm, we met the owners Pat, Henry and Roland Taylor. In the past year Roland has moved from London to work on the farm owned by his parents Pat and Henry. He has taken a course in butchery and created an on-site butchers allowing Cuckoo Farm to breed, butcher and sell meat on one site. We spoke to Roland about his venture into farming and also his plans for the eco campsite which he hopes will draw in tourism. We recorded audio of him speaking about this, which we later edited into a video piece with photos taken from around the farm.
Following this we had a tour of the farm which hosts turkeys, chickens, pigs, sheep and deer. Pat told us about how Riverford Farm provide vegetable and fruit waste which is used to feed the livestock on the farm.
Finally we visited the on-site butchers where Roland showed us how the meat is stored and how it is cut ready for sale.
During the visit to The Green Backyard we found out many interesting things about the organisation. GBY was founded in 2009, almost 10 years ago. It’s located right in Peterborough City Centre and provides a green space for people living in an urban setting, allowing them to have a break from city life. The site has an indoor hub and an outdoor cooking space which are utilized through public workshops and classes. GBY work with students from Peterborough City College providing 6 week courses in growing and sustainability. The site has an open door policy meaning that anyone can visit during it’s opening hours.
As well as growing, GBY has a social aspect. Once a week the organisation work with Headway Charity, which focuses on working with people who have suffered head injuries. The green space creates a safe and friendly environment where the group can integrate with other people and build their confidence.