New future planned for Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre

The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre (SHDC) Advisory Board has agreed in principle to hold discussions with South Shropshire Housing Association (SSHA) and their partner Grow Cook (L)Earn on the possible transfer of the Discovery Centre and neighbouring Onny Meadows to SSHA, subject to further detailed proposals being drawn up, and subject to the approval of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet.

The agreement was reached at the Board’s meeting on Thursday 5 September 2013.

Grow Cook (L)Earn is the successor to Grow Cook Share, a local food project working in the Ludlow and Craven Arms areas to support people to grow and cook their own food and to share their skills, knowledge and excess produce within the local community.

Grow Cook (L)Earn’s vision for the Discovery Centre is to: ‘create a training centre for food-related employment, a leisure resource for local people and a vibrant visitor attraction demonstrating the link between food production and the landscape of the Shropshire Hills’.

They plan to run the Centre as a ‘hub’ enhancing visitors’ experience of the local area, providing training in the food-related industries, creating and supporting local jobs, supporting local businesses, and supporting spend in the local area.

The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, which was substantially funded by the Millennium Commission, was opened in 2001 as a major visitor centre for the Shropshire Hills.

The Centre now includes a library, education room, craft room, art gallery, exhibition space, Shropshire Council customer service point, a café, a shop and more.

Lee Chapman, Chairman of the SHDC Advisory Board, and a Shropshire Councillor for Church Stretton and Craven Arms, said:

“This approach would enable Grow Cook (L)Earn to establish the Centre and Onny Meadows as a vibrant visitor destination that promotes all that Craven Arms and the surrounding area have to offer.

“All parties consider that this innovative project has the potential to provide a good opportunity for securing the future of the SHDC and the important social and economic opportunities that it would provide.”

Tim Ralphs, Chair of South Shropshire Housing Association, said:

“The Discovery Centre will provide both a focal point for the area’s natural history and food that will be produced in the locality by local people.  This is a resource that will be both informative and practical for both the community and visitors alike.  This is an exciting opportunity and we look forward to working with local people and partners to develop this project further.”

Kate Norman, Chair of the Grow Cook Share steering group, said:

“In the final year of the Grow Cook Share project we are committed to establishing a social enterprise to carry on the work and to focus on training and job creation in the local food-related industries – hence Grow Cook (L)Earn.  The Discovery Centre and Onny Meadows provide an ideal location for the enterprise and will enable us to link the visitor experience of local food to the superb landscape which food production creates – enabling people to ‘eat the view’.  We look forward to sharing and to developing our proposals further with local people.”

Valerie Meehan, Co-ordinator of Grow Cook Share, said:

“Grow Cook (L)Earn’s plans were developed from ideas gathered at a series of Grow Cook Share participant focus groups – so it was members of the local community who sowed the seeds for this new venture and we are committed to involving them in its development.”

David Evans, a Shropshire Councillor for Church Stretton and Craven Arms, said:

“I think this is a good opportunity to secure a deal that will bring new ideas and innovations to promote the long-term future for the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and protect the Onny Meadows.”

The proposals have emerged from a series of community and business workshops held by the SHDC advisory board in November 2012 and attended by over 40 people.

Grow Cook (L)Earn is in the process of establishing itself as a Company Limited by Guarantee and then subsequently as a charity.