New centre at Lower Bush Farm near Ludlow officially opened

A new rural skills centre at Lower Bush Farm near Ludlow was officially opened last week (Friday 15 June 2012), made possible by £18,914 of funding under Shropshire Council’s Rural Challenge Fund which was awarded earlier this year. 

The center is an organic 40-acre farm nestled on the side of the Brown Clee Hill, where helpers can experience the whole range of farm life including ponds, forest, animals, orchards, the vegetable garden and farm kitchen.  They can also learn about building enclosures, animal husbandry and feeding, picking fruit and making jams, constructing forest trails, building shelters, learning fine motor skills and arts such as photography and painting. 

The funding helped support the development of a new ‘centre’ building and toilet block, providing work rooms and rest rooms for those working at the farm. 

Philip Dunne MP, Member of Parliament for Ludlow and a great supporter of rural skills centers, opened it at around 12pm on Friday 15 June 2012. 

John Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member, said:

“I am delighted that this funding was awarded to the farm.  It shows our commitment to investing in the county’s more rural areas.” 

Under the Rural Challenge Fund, part of the Market Towns Revitalisation Project, £500,000 was made available to support Shropshire’s rural communities.  This funding has all now been allocated.