Shropshire farm reaches £50,000 bunkhouse appeal target
The perfect community Christmas gift has been secured by a Shropshire farm owned by the public.
Fordhall Organic Community Farm, on the outskirts of Market Drayton, has successfully secured its £50,000 target towards a new bunkhouse made from straw bales.
The building, which is set to be the biggest straw bale building constructed with volunteers in England, will be provide extra space for volunteers to work in, as well as provide new opportunities for adult visitors with learning disabilities attending the farm.
Youth projects and school visits that take place throughout the year will also benefit.
As well as securing grants to help raise the overall cost of £550,000, the farm has been selling shares for £1 to raise the £50,000 target.
The £50,000 has now been matched by the Jean Jackson Charitable Trust, with a further £400,000 funding secured from the Power to Change and Our Bright Future grants.
The balance of the £550,000 will come from existing secured grants and a crowdfunding appeal.
With work having started in spring this year and expected to finish around spring time in 2019, the new bunkhouse will replace the current outdated and draughty portable cabins currently on the site.
Grateful
Charlotte Hollins, manager of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative, said: "We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported this campaign, both locally and further afield. We are excited to welcome all the new members who have recently purchased community shares in Fordhall Farm.
"We have managed to raise our £50,000 target towards the bunkhouse through both our crowdfunder campaign and donations and shares which have been purchased direct through the office.
"New members have now joined my other 8,000 bosses, who collectively own this beautiful farm in the Tern Valley.
"It is such a special Christmas gift to know that we now have the funds to complete this building.
"However, if anyone would still like to purchase community shares then please do take a look at our website or contact us in the office, all additional funds will support the fixtures and fittings that will be needed once it is complete such as beds, pots, pans, chairs and tables."
The building will be made from a timber frame, using car tyre foundations to support and lift the straw bale walls, and 20,000 cedar shingles to cover the roof.
The farm is still taking donations to help with the ongoing development of both the bunkhouse and the overall farm.
More details on donating, buying shares in the farm and the development of the bunkhouse can be found at fordhallfarm.com/bunkhouseappeal
