In a world grappling with climate change and food insecurity, the Kindling Trust is pioneering a radical new approach to farming for the future.
For the past 17 years, the social change organisation has been working with communities across Greater Manchester to grow their own food and develop sustainable food systems.
By blending ecological principles with community engagement – including farming projects, a community food hub and a veg box project - Kindling is not just growing food, it's cultivating a growing movement.
In 2016 the Kindling Trust helped establish Kindling Farm (a Community Benefit Society) to show that it is possible to grow food at a farm scale in a truly sustainable way. And in 2023 with the support of more than 800 members, they took on their most ambitious challenge to date as they collectively bought their own 77-acre traditional family farm. Set in the peri-urban countryside of Knowsley, between Manchester and Liverpool, members are now working together to transform previously conventionally farmed land into a pioneering Agroforestry system for the Northwest.
Volunteers at Kindling Farm harvesting rainbow chard.
Kindling aim to engage a wide range of people - farmers, communities, activists, and policymakers – to build a shared understanding of the underlying problems with the mainstream food system. These include the environmental impact of industrialised farming, food insecurity, public health issues, and the economic insecurity faced by small-scale farmers.
Kindling wants to work collectively to address these issues at the root cause, moving away from a destructive mainstream food system, to one that is sustainable, fair and inclusive.
Helen Woodcock, co-founder and coordinator at Kindling Trust and Kindling Farm said: “The interest we have had - whether it's from farmers down the road or groups in a completely different area ringing up to ask if they can visit - is really hopeful and exciting.
“We want to be a space for people to come together and explore ways of building a food system that is focused on people, food security and equality, ecological sustainability, and fairness.
“The issues that motivate us and that we work to engage our communities with are huge and can feel both overwhelming and impossible to change on your own. Climate change, biodiversity crisis, food insecurity, and social inequalities are issues faced by both farmers and communities. But by coming together to figure out the practical steps we can take, you can make an impact and collectively we can create the change we so desperately need.”
A volunteer at Kindling Farm harvesting lettuces growing under garden hoops.
The relationship Kindling Farm’s members have with the farm can vary greatly. Most members are based in the Greater Manchester area, but more people are getting involved locally from Knowsley and Liverpool – as well as other members who are based right across the country and who get involved through meetings online. While some members primarily want to invest their money to support positive change, others get actively involved in volunteering and bring varying forms of expertise, for example in finance or ecology.
Kindling involves members in planning and decision-making processes and is about to start running workshops to actively involve groups living in the area, especially those who don’t always get to access or feel welcomed by this sort of project.
Their efforts are gradually transforming the farm. Already the farm’s rejuvenation has seen grey partridges, a bird at risk of extinction, come to live and thrive on the site.
Members helped to plant almost 900 fruit trees in the winter of 2023/24, with plans to add another 400 this winter. These fruit trees are part of their agroforestry system, which enhances yields, enriches soil health, and boosts biodiversity. They’ve also put down green manure, which will revitalise the soil, increasing its organic matter.
Kindling Farm members planting a hedge together.
Kindling’s approach emphasises inclusivity and avoids judgment, stressing the importance of working together to achieve change. Whether you're a farmer or a resident of a local community, it’s about recognising shared challenges and discovering practical solutions that everyone can access, without placing the burden of change solely on individuals.
Kindling Farm isn’t in competition with the local farmers, because they're doing something completely different, and they have received a very warm welcome from their neighbouring farmers. Instead, they hope to take on the risk of trying new things, so that others can learn from what works – or doesn’t.
Helen said: "We feel that with the community-owned and supported model that we've got, we can take these risks and look for a way of farming that works in terms of nature and climate. Hopefully, people can window shop, and take the bits that will work for them without having to take huge often scary economic risks of trying out farming in a different way."
Kindling Farm members gathered for their annual general meeting.
Those who support The Kindling Trust and Kindling Farm say their involvement gives them hope for a better, fairer, and more sustainable future.
Member involvement is proving to be mutually beneficial, as those who have engaged with Kindling report learning new skills and gaining a sense of community, which fuels their desire to continue taking action.
Helen said: “We're not going to revolutionise the food system on our own. But there's lots of people wanting to do it. Being involved with the farm gives people hope that change can happen in time, and it’s easier (and much more enjoyable!) together.”
- If you would like to find out more about what's open to get involved with, you can email farm@kindling.org.uk or you can follow the farm on social media.
In the lead-up to the new year, Kindling Farm will be running a crowdfunding campaign to continue raising funds to develop the farm. Options will range from adopting an apple tree to chipping in for a new tractor and can be purchased as a festive gift. And if you would like to join 800 others as a member of Kindling Farm, they will be relaunching their community share campaign in spring 2025 and would love more people to get involved.
- Kindling Trust received a 36-month core funding grant of £165,000 from JRCT’s Sustainable Future programme.