Ashley Farm
Can you help us develop the new site at Ashley Farm?
‘We are seeking support from interested parties, sponsors, funders, trades and businesses to bring the vision to reality. If you think you can help in any way, no matter how big or small, we’d love to hear from you.’ – John and Julie, Founding Directors, Hereford Community Farm
Ashely Farm Site, Grafton, Herefordshire
To build capacity and develop the breadth of the Green Care model, HCF is leading a proposal to restore and repurpose Ashley Farm as a Community Asset Transfer. Ashely Farm is a traditional Herefordshire farmstead of redundant agricultural buildings and 19 acres of land. It is situated in Grafton, 2 miles south of Hereford and perfectly placed to bring urban and rural communities together.
With a sustainably led architect and professional Advisory Team, HCF prepared a comprehensive planning application and programme for restorative land management with biodiversity net gain. This was approved on 9th October 2023.
Tom Mason, Circle Architecture
www.circlearchitecture.co.uk
We are delighted to be working with local architect Tom Mason of Circle Architecture on the Ashley Farm renovation project. Circle Architecture is a small ecologically driven architect’s practice based in Herefordshire. Tom has extensive experience in bringing sustainable, healthy, Passivhaus and super low energy buildings to new build or retrofit projects. From the very beginning, Tom shared Hereford Community Farm’s vision for the new site and his passion continues to help drive the plans forward.
‘I have a great interest and passion for low energy architecture, made from natural materials and which create healthy and beautiful environments. It’s not only about the physical aspects of spaces that interest me however, but also endeavouring to create community and engagement wherever possible.’ – Tom Mason, Circle Architecture
Heritage and Environmental and Biodiversity Reports
The value of having professionally completed Heritage and Environmental and Biodiversity reports is that we can really utilise the site in a way that reflects its previous use and takes it forward into future. It’s important that future visitors to the farm come along and can see its heritage and that we’ve retained that. The Heritage Statement charts the history of Grafton and the farmstead from 1577.
There are plans to reinstate the traditional orchard comprising of hertitage varieties of truit trees. By using zero chemicals, this will allow the invertebrate population to thrive. Two ponds that are shown on historic maps will also be reintstated to support freshwater habitat. By acting on these plans and adopting additional recommendations in the Ecological Assessment, the site will promote biodiversity, address the climate emergency and reintroduce some species of wildlife.
‘Overall, this development has the foundations to be exemplar in terms of brownfield use, landscape led, energy production, sustainable, with beneficial community outcomes.’
Ashley Farm Site Address
Ashley Farm Buildings, Grafton Lane, Hereford, HR2 8BL