Northern Roots

31/10/2025

‘’I hope my residency encourages people to connect to the environment, feel at ease in nature and notice things they might have not have noticed before.’’ Abbie Fowler, ceramic artist

Meet Abbie Fowler, a local artist exploring the relationship between art and living ecologically🌱

Abbie has completed a week residency at Northern Roots, exploring our 160-acre site and experimenting making sculptures using natural clay and pigments found on site.

The residency culminated in an outdoor clay workshop that encouraged open discussions about our relationships with underused land. Participants created clay art pieces inspired by the landscape, which were left in situ to naturally return to the land ♻️

Check out Abbie’s art on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/abbiefowler/

The Northern Roots Artist Takeover programme provided local creatives with the funding, space and support to deliver unique arts and culture offerings. This features as part of our commitment to providing a collaborative cultural offer that is rooted in Oldham’s unique heritage, diverse communities and creative sector.

Learn more about arts and culture at Northern Roots - https://northern-roots.uk/opportunities/arts-culture/

30/10/2025

We're open! Come on down to the Urban Farm today between 12:30 - 2:30 for...

🍎Free apple pressing with apples from site

🎃Free autumnal soup - or "pumpkin guts!"

🍯Northern Roots honey by

🍅Freshly harvested veg such as squash, leeks, beetroot and garlic, plus much more!

🍪Delicious sweet treats from

🧄5 varieties of garlic for planting, plus growing tips from our experts

👨🏻‍🌾Explore our Urban Farm, meet the team and learn more about Northern Roots!

Everyone welcome, we hope to see you there!

Visit our website for full details, link in bio.

Northern Roots, Kings Road, , OL8 2BJ. Cash or card accepted. Soup is first come first served.

29/10/2025

Come along to the Northern Roots Urban Farm for our October Produce Sale on Thursday 30th October, 12:30pm – 2:30pm. We'll have...

🍎Apple pressing
🍲Free autumnal soup
🍯Northern Roots honey by Hive5 Manchester
🥬Freshly harvested veg such as squash, leeks, beetroot and garlic, plus much more!
🧄5 varieties of garlic for planting, plus growing tips from our experts
👩‍🌾Explore our Urban Farm, meet the team and learn more about Northern Roots!

Everyone welcome, we hope to see you there!

Visit our website for full details – https://northern-roots.uk/october-produce-sale/

Northern Roots, Kings Road, , OL8 2BJ. Cash or card accepted. Soup is first come first served.

24/10/2025

An inspiring day welcoming Timberplay Ltd to Northern Roots to explore possibilities for play across our 160-acre site.

We shared ideas on how to create interactive spaces and experiences that encourage people of all ages to connect with nature, learn, and explore and experiment through play💡

Thank you Timberplay Ltd for leading a FUN, playful session, and to the Northern Roots team and local Citizen Rangers, Citizen Researchers and Heritage Champions for getting stuck in sharing ideas.

24/10/2025

In partnership with I love Oldham, our brand new Visitor Centre is emerging, and we are counting down to opening in summer 2026.

Looking out over four acres of newly created Urban Farm and the foothills of the Peak District, the Visitor Centre will include cafe, shop, prayer room, multi-functional spaces and production kitchen. A small natural amphitheatre will sit to one side of the building along with imaginative play facilities.

Northern Roots is using regenerative land management techniques to transform 160-acres of urban greenspace into a destination that is 'of' the local community but for everyone.

We are creating inspirational spaces, moments and opportunities for people to connect around food, growing, nature, learning, creativity, sport, work and play.

We look forward to welcoming you.

23/10/2025

Our brand-new Visitor Centre and Forestry Skills Centre are taking shape, and we are counting down to opening in summer 2026!

Construction of the new Forestry Skills Centre at Northern Roots has reached an exciting landmark 🏗️

The Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, joined dignitaries, the Northern Roots charity, and partners to sign a key structural steel beam on the new build 🖊️

The steel signing ceremony marked a huge step forward in building the Forestry Skills Centre, which is being built alongside a new Visitor Centre.

The Forestry Skills Centre will provide technical and land-based training, helping residents gain valuable qualifications in sustainable industries, including landscape management and crop growing.

The nearby Visitor Centre, which is also under construction with the timber frame completed, will include a café, shop, production kitchen, and two multi-functional spaces for school visits, meetings, performances and exhibitions.

These new facilities will provide lots of opportunities for local residents, from showcasing the work of local artists, to hosting celebrations and supporting schools with learning programmes around local heritage, food and nature 🙌

Read the full story on our news page https://bit.ly/3Ln7nBQ

21/10/2025

Autumn has produced an abundance of veg, and we’d love to share it you at our October Produce sale!

Come on down to the Northern Roots Urban Farm on Thursday 30th October 12:30pm – 2:30pm for...
🍎Apple pressing
🍲Free autumnal soup
🍯Northern Roots honey by Hive5 Manchester
🥬Freshly harvested veg such as squash, leeks, beetroot and garlic, plus much more!
🧄5 varieties of garlic for planting, plus growing tips from our experts

Everyone welcome, we hope to see you there!

Visit our website for full details – https://northern-roots.uk/october-produce-sale/

Northern Roots, Kings Road, , OL8 2BJ. Cash or card accepted. Soup is first come first served.

I love Oldham Oldham Markets Oldham Business Network Oldham Athletic Mahdlo Youth Zone Positive Steps Summit Up Climbing Centre Oldham Foodbank Hack Oldham Oasis Hub Oldham Oldham Community Radio 99.7fm/DAB/Device/Online Spark Oldham Reporter The Oldham Times Greater Manchester Combined Authority Recycle for Greater Manchester About Manchester My Oldham - Manchester Evening News Manchester Evening News Incredible Edible Saddleworth Incredible Edible Mossley KUPOD SADDLEWORTH COMMUNITY inSaddleworth Saddleworth Life Visit Oldham Visit Manchester Oldham Tourism Love Oldham South Love East Oldham Royton Retail Love Shaw and Crompton Oldham Pakistani Community Centre BAME Connect Fatima Women’s Association Women's CHAI Project - Care, Help & Inspire Support & Action for Womens' Network - SAWN Gallery Oldham Oldham Libraries

20/10/2025

“I recently secured a full-time conservation role, which represents the first step in my environment sector career. My Citizen Ranger role with Northern Roots was absolutely fundamental in making me stand out and secure that role.” Tom, Citizen Ranger

Northern Roots has helped Tom develop the hands-on skills needed to kickstart his career in environmental conservation.

As Tom embarks on a new adventure, we thank him for his valuable contribution and wish him all the best!

Read Tom’s story here - https://northern-roots.uk/our-nr/stories/tom-pollitt-citizen-ranger/

If you’d like to get involved at Northern Roots, sign up to our newsletter to hear of volunteering, jobs, family-friendly events and much more as we develop – http://eepurl.com/iUqIx2

Our paid, part-time Citizen Ranger, Citizen Researcher and Heritage Champion roles are made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, as part of our impactful heritage project.

I love Oldham Gallery Oldham Oldham Libraries Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Environment Trust Lancashire Wildlife Trust Get Oldham Working Groundwork Greater Manchester Oldham Reporter Oldham Coliseum Theatre Incredible Edible Mossley Billingtons Oldham The Oldham Times Oldham College Oldham Sixth Form College Hack Oldham May Wild Studio

17/10/2025

“Working at Northern Roots has allowed me to develop my skills in species surveying, to understand how theory operates in practice. It’s great to know that the data we collect is having a really practical and significant impact on how we then manage the site, and it will do for many years to come. It makes me feel a lot of pride.” Tom, Citizen Ranger

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Northern Roots has been able to provide paid training and roles for a small team of local Citizen Rangers.

Tom and his colleagues have been trained to carry out ecological surveys on wildlife and plants across the 160-acre Northern Roots site, and to design and deliver public engagement activities that connects visitors more deeply to nature and the site.

Read Tom’s story here - https://northern-roots.uk/our-nr/stories/tom-pollitt-citizen-ranger/

I love Oldham Gallery Oldham Oldham Libraries Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Environment Trust Lancashire Wildlife Trust Get Oldham Working Groundwork Greater Manchester Oldham Reporter Oldham Coliseum Theatre Incredible Edible Mossley Billingtons Oldham The Oldham Times Oldham College Oldham Sixth Form College Hack Oldham May Wild Studio

17/10/2025

We have 4 spaces left on our Creepy Crafts Family Thursday session on Thursday 30th October 10:30am – 12:30pm🍂

Enjoy a spooky walk and forage in our woodland and make your very own witches’ broom, spiders web, floating candlestick, and ghoulish ghost using conkers👻

Connect with nature, get creative, share your very best spooky stories! Costumes are very welcome, and broomstick parking is free🧙🏻‍🧹

Tickets £5 per child, accompanying adults are free. Ages 5+. Book now👉 https://creepy-crafts-nr.eventbrite.co.uk

Northern Roots, Kings Road, , OL8 2BJ.

15/10/2025

Apple crumble on the Urban Farm!

The apple trees at Northern Roots have been super productive this year, so staff and volunteers spent a morning harvesting apples and bringing them back to the Urban Farm🍎

Tom, our resident foodie and one of our Growers, made a beautiful apple crumble in our hand-built clay pizza oven (yes - it worked!) and crumble was enjoyed by everyone in the peaceful setting of the Urban Farm.

14/10/2025

Autumn harvests are still going strong at the Phase 1 Urban Farm in 👩‍🌾

This week's £10 veg box includes squash, leeks, beetroot, runner beans, Borlotti beans, celery, Cavolo Nero and garlic. All grown right here at Northern Roots, and picked to order so as fresh as can be!

To secure a , please leave a comment below and we’ll reply to confirm👇

If we sell out we’ll update this post. Please pick up your fresh veg box from the Urban Farm between 12 midday – 3:30pm on Thursday 16th October.

A member of the team will be close by to meet you. Cash or card accepted on pick up, please bring your own bag.

Northern Roots, Kings Road, OL8 2BJ. Visit the 'Find Us' page on our website for more information - https://northern-roots.uk/visit-us/find-us/