We are delighted to be taking part in Agroforestry Open Weekend 2026!

Our farm

Kindling Farm is a Community Benefit Society owned by our 800 members with the aim of creating a fairer and more sustainable food and farming system for all.

In April 2023, we purchased a 78 acre farm between Manchester & Liverpool where we are now establishing a pioneering, agroforestry farm for the Northwest. Here we will research, explore, practise and demonstrate the best ways to farm for wildlife, climate change, soil and communities.

Our farm is a traditional Victorian farm layout with beautiful redbrick buildings set around a cobbled courtyard. We have exciting plans and ideas to transform our neglected buildings into a thriving hub of activity. Over the past year, we’ve been working with communities to co-design our buildings and facilities which will be realised by Passivhaus Architects, Progress in Practice.

Our agroforestry

As part of a project funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund and run by our sister organisation the Kindling Trust, over 9,000 fruit trees were grafted in 2021 – 2,000 of these are destined for Kindling Farm’s agroforestry system and orchard – including 40 heritage UK varieties.

Over the past few years we have been working with an amazing team of volunteers to plant these trees onsite. Until recently our agroforestry system largely comprised of apple trees but new this year, we have planted pears, plums and quince.

Approximately 80% of the farm will (eventually) be dedicated to field-scale production of vegetables, fruits, cereals and pulses utilising agroforestry methods. This will include approximately 2,000 top fruit, nut and bio-fuel trees, as a permanent feature within a 6 year crop rotation. Approximately 2 hectares of land will be dedicated to soft fruit production and to protected cropping of higher value crops.

While the farm team has overall responsibility for the trees, we hold a number of tree focused volunteer days throughout the year from Spring maintenance, to weeding in the first few years of growth and eventual harvesting of the fruit.

Alongside our volunteer days, we deliver a community engagement programme (currently supported by the The National Heritage Lottery Fund) which includes holding workshops to teach people about the different heritage varieties and gain new skills such as fruit tree pruning and apple tree grafting (in which you can take your own fruit tree home with you!)

Here are some photos of what we do:

how to find us

You will find us at Kindling Farm, Netherley Road, Tarbock Green, L35 1QG.

The best way to find us is to search for Kindling Farm on google maps as the postcode takes you to ½ mile west of the farm.

You can also find us using What3Words with the following 3 words: ///admiral.stands.tiles

There are two entrances; we ask that you try to use the larger entrance which brings you into the caravan storage area – thank you!

agroforestry open weekend 2026

As part of this year’s national Agroforestry Open Weekend, we invite you to join us on a walking tour of the Northwest’s very own 78-acre organic agroforestry farm!

Led by Kindling Director, Stuart Jones, you’ll learn about the heritage varieties we have onsite and the prominent role they play in our farming system and the wider food supply chain.

Our walking tour will take place on Saturday 16th May 2026 from 11am and last approximately 2 hours.

Please note that booking is essential! We kindly ask that you don’t just turn up as parking onsite is very limited. To register your place, please click here. The event fee is £2 per person.

This activity is open to everyone with an interest in food and farming. All ages are very welcome to join us! However, please be mindful that our farm is not accessible for prams or pushchairs and the tour will involve 2 hours of walking.

In line with our policies, we ask that you don’t bring your dogs with you.

We do not have a cafe on site but refreshments will be available.

Over the next few years, the farm will undergo refurbishment. Unfortunately it is not wheelchair accessible at the moment and we have limited facilities with one indoor toilet which is up a set of stairs.

Please be aware that this activity includes quite a lot of walking; while there is no walking uphill, the ground is uneven which can be difficult for anyone with limited mobility. We suggest wearing flat, sturdy footwear which is waterproof.

If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact farm@kindling.org.uk or call 07926 975 391.

Website: https://kindling.org.uk/

Instagram: @kindlingfarm

Facebook: @kindlingfarm