MEMBERS of a pioneering community farm initiative are holding a launch event in Stroud this week.

Oakbrook Community Farm, near Hawkwood College in Stroud, was bought through community shares in 2015.

Since then the 42 acre site has been transformed with a cluster of farming enterprises, which focus on producing good food for people in the area.

Oakbrook has also become a hub for agricultural and environmental training and research, with a starter farm to bring on new entrant growers, a bee-observatory, and ‘Zero-Dig’, a social enterprise aimed at bringing young people into agriculture by growing vegetables using the ‘no dig’ method.

Now the team plan to share news on how the farm is progressing, and to invite members of the public to get involved, at a launch event taking place in the Lansdown Hall in Stroud on Friday at 7.30pm.

Oakbrook farmers will discuss their experiences of agroforestry, natural beekeeping, pasture fed dairy, community supported agriculture and zero-dig carbon capture research.

They will also be explaining how agro-ecological farming helps soil to absorb and hold carbon.

Other topics include: protecting soils, enhancing animal welfare and regenerative farming.

There will be the opportunity to get involved in the project, both in a hands on way, and also through investing in a community shares offer, to help fund the development of the site’s infrastructure.

Martin Large, chair of Oakbrook Community Farm Co-op said: “This is a golden opportunity for Stroud to invest in itself.

"It’s an investment in a regenerative, carbon saving farm hub, a farm for the future offering a leg up for young farmers. And its only 10 minutes walk from Uplands to see cows being milked and experience the bees.”

Stroud-based Green Party MEP Molly Scott Cato said: “These young Oakbrook farmers grow good food, create jobs, nurture soil health and wildlife.

"They are pioneering the agro-ecological revolution needed to tackle the climate emergency.” 

Everyone is welcome at the launch event.