.. Greenmeadow Community Farm ..

Question: Why a Community Farm ?

                  Answer: To provide the local and wider community with a `green space` where they can learn about agriculture and the countryside in a friendly and safe environment.

The Community farm played host to Torfaen County Borough Council launching of their very first `Torfaen Sustainability Week` 10th-16th October 2009; the motto of the initiative is `Changing by Degrees`, the message being `by making minor adjustments to the way people live, everyone can help reduce consumption of the earth's resources and atmospheric emissions`. During the week `themed days` provided knowledge of climate change, encouraging better health and well being, green travel, biodiversity, waste and recycling.

 The message is clear- we must all help tackle the unsustainable manner in which some people live their lives, for the good of everyone on the planet.

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 Monday 24th of March 2008, Greenmeadow Community Farm celebrated 25 years of existence by holding an `Open Day` and welcomed several hundred folk from Cwmbran and further afield, who came along come along to celebrate the event, acknowledge all the hard work carried out over the preceding years, and to participate in the success that the Community Farm now enjoys.

Animals galore, which included, Llamas, Donkeys, Sheep, Long horned Cattle, Chickens, Pigs, Cows, Ferrets, Ostriches, Hamsters, Ducks, Guinea pigs and Rabbits, (sorry if I've left anyone out) were `on their best behaviour` and many  were smoothed, petted, stroked, fed, `ooohed and aarrrhhed` by children and adults alike, who were also entertained throughout the day  by `Tommy the Tiger` and Gerry his `right hand man` so to speak ......  and if that was not enough, children and adults were treated to a traditional Punch and Judy show. Excellent food was on offer all day in the cafeteria and a bar-b-que in the courtyard (only after one had washed one`s hands  .. of course).

Torfaen County Borough Councillor, Bob Wellington gave an informative speech and slideshow outlining the story of the Farm from it`s probable demise as a `run down` farm in the late 1980`s to the success as a Community Farm that it now enjoys. 

Councillor Wellington, gave praise and acknowledgement to many of his friends and colleagues who strived diligently and painstakingly, along with himself, to overcome several financial and bureaucratic hurdles along the way. He finished the presentation by saying the Farm's Management committee were enthusiastically putting together several exciting projects for the future, which would enhance the Community Farm and bring an enviable asset to the `forefront` of  `Places to Visit` in Cwmbran.

 

 

            

... Hover your cursor over each image above for info and click to enlarge ..

A few interesting facts about the farm:

• The farm is shown on an 1873 plan of Freehold & Leasehold property owned by the Patent Nut and Bolt Company Limited.

• It is a traditional white washed farm with sheep, chicken, ducks, geese, dairy and beef cattle along with grazing for horses.

• Previous tenants Mr. & Mrs. Clarke.

• Greenmeadow Farm was opened to the Public by Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy MP (now Secretary of State for Wales) in April 1991.

• The Farm and surrounding land covers 85 Hectares.

• The Farm has over 300 animals and birds, a Shop, Cafeteria, Land Train, Adventure Play Area.

• The Farm has an `Adopt an Animal Scheme`.

• Rex is the name of the Water Dragon ... sorry kids he's not in the adoption scheme.

Click here to visit the Greenmeadow Community Farm Website