Report and photos from Neil Hickson

Burscough Community Farm in Meadow Lane, Burscough held a ‘farm taster day’ on Sunday.

“We wanted to give visitors the experience of what it is like to work on the farm and the many tasks involved.

"They got their hands dirty and later ate some of the crops grown on the farm,” said Dr. Barnaby King, one of the farm's directors.

Following a talk and guided tour of the farm given by the farm's founder and co-ordinator, Neil HIckson, visitors got the chance to work at some of the volunteer jobs.

Friends of the farm, vegetarian and vegan caterers ‘Give Peas A Chance’ had been busy cooking up some of the farms produce into soup, salads and pakoras, and members of the farm had baked a vast array of cakes which also went down very well.

Another partner of the farm ‘The Tree Bee Society’ had a beehive on show; Abi Reade explained how our diets would be vastly reduced if honey bees were lost to the world through the overuse of ‘bee harming’ pesticides.

“It always seems to surprise people, the diverse range of activities and elements to the farm when they get a chance to walk around,” said Neil Hickson.

“Besides growing produce for our veg box, we are involved in teaching Organic Growing, Permaculture and sustainability.

"We have had a range of volunteers including asylum seekers and the long term unemployed. Soon local GP’s will be prescribing ‘green gym’ sessions here as part of the ‘Active West Lancs’ programme run by West Lancs Council for Voluntary Services," he added.

Burscough Community Farm suffered from a devastating flood on the 26th of December 2015 when local watercourse, the Ellerbrook broke its bank. It put the farm under 5 feet of water and wiped out most of the chicken flock - the determination and the support of the farms dedicated members has helped it bounce back and continue to flourish.

Burscough Community Farm is a community farm project based on Meadow Lane in Burscough and started in 2014 as Organic Veg Club. They have a two acre market garden on an 18 acre smallholding, and members are encouraged to take part in growing their own crops, with some just buying the seasonal veg grown on site.

The farm has a special interest in increasing biodiversity and providing habitat for wildlife.

"We want to put balance back into food growing, where nature and humankind get a fair share," said Neil Hickson, founder and co-ordinator.

"We have planted thousands of trees and set aside much of our land for wildlife."

Find out more about the farm at www.burscoughcommunityfarm.org.