‘Love Local’ workshops at Bradkeel Social Farm this weekend
The owners of Bradkeel Social Farm in the heart of the Sperrins are throwing open their gates to visitors this weekend as part of their contribution to the growth of the rural tourism market in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
The Campbell family are offering a unique opportunity for visitors who want to immerse themselves in local culture and landscape to experience and taste life on their sheep farm at Glenelly Road, Plumbridge on Saturday and Sunday, February 25th and 26th.
The event will take the form of two half-day workshops from 10am until 1pm funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Year of Food Industry Support Programme to celebrate ‘Love Local’ month.
The hands-on workshops are an ideal way to experience life on a working Irish farm in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, hear about farming traditions, meet the sheep, pigs and hens and bake your own bread in the farmhouse kitchen.
Mabel and John Campbell run Bradkeel Social Farm, which has been in the family for several generations near the village of Plumbridge, with their son Aaron (23). As well as supporting participants on regular placements as part of its community outreach programme, Bradkeel has also been moving into the growing local tourism market.
Bradkeel Social Farm is one of the local rural tourism providers in the Cycle Sperrins consortium with Far and Wild outdoor adventure company which won ‘Best NI Tours and Trails’ at the recent NI Year of Food and Drink Awards. It is also involved with The Slow Adventure in the Northern Territories (SAINT), a three year Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme being run by Derry City and Strabane District Council which supports rural tourism businesses to develop Slow Adventure experiences in the region, connecting people to landscape, people and local food.
Looking forward to welcoming visitors to the ‘Love Local’ workshops on February 25th and 26th, Mabel Campbell explained: “This event will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience life on a rural Irish farm through two half day programmes of activities including, learning how to make traditional Irish scones, and participating in our farmyard trail, engaging with the farmer, meeting the animals and learning what foods we grow and other produce available on the farm.
“It is our aim to educate and tell the story of our local food history, farming traditions and heritage creating a unique visitor experience. We aim to be a self-sufficient and sustainable farm; we grow our own potatoes and vegetables and have organic eggs from our hens. Being innovative and utilising our resources – our land, our animals and the environment – shows that we love the place where we live and are passing on knowledge gained from generation to generation reliving our vibrant history.”
Visitors will not leave empty-handed as they will receive a small basket of seasonal organic local provenance, recipes and other information which it is hoped will inspire them to share their experience of the unique tourism offer in the Sperrins.
Mabel added: “Bradkeel Social Farm has a passion for meeting the needs of tourists who want to explore more authentic experiences through connecting to nature, local food, engaging with local people and local knowledge. This project aims to raise the profile of small rural farming and its practices in the Sperrins, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which can also be used as an inspiration for other farms in Ireland.”
Jennifer O’Donnell, Rural Tourism Project Officer with Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the free workshops were a great opportunity for visitors to experience life on a local working farm and encouraged those interested in attending this weekend to book as soon as possible as places are limited – and make sure to wrap up warm and bring the waterproofs!
To book a free place on one of the workshops taking place on February 25th and 26th, contact Bradkeel Social Farm, 58 Glenelly Road, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, BT79 8BN, Tel: 028 8164 8610 or Email: bradkeelsocialfarm@gmail.com
For more information on Derry City and Strabane District Council’s food tourism projects, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food
