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Oldham's Industrial Past Transforms into UK's Largest Urban Farm
18 Sep
Summary
- Northern Roots charity unveils UK's largest urban farm and eco-park.
- Project aims to boost community health and wellbeing through nature.
- Former industrial site now offers diverse programs and natural connection.
Northern Roots has transformed a 65-hectare former industrial site in Oldham, Greater Manchester, into the UK's largest urban farm and eco-park. This ambitious project, developed over five years by a charity in partnership with Oldham council, officially opened a new facility on September 19, 2026.
The new hub features a cafe, shop, production kitchen, performance space, forestry skills centre, and outdoor play areas. Its core mission is to enhance people's health and wellbeing through intentional connection with nature, offering diverse activity programmes.
A key initiative is the Natural Health Service, commissioned by NHS England and launched as a pilot in 2023. This program supports individuals with mental health challenges by facilitating activities like foraging and mindful nature observation.
Independent NHS research published in 2025 indicated that participants in the Natural Health Service improved their wellbeing scores by an average of 8.15 points, generating an estimated £4,940 in social value per person.
Northern Roots aims to attract 300,000 visitors annually by 2030, dispense numerous Natural Health Service prescriptions, and create employment and training opportunities, positioning urban green space as critical infrastructure.
