Oldham Council and the Northern Roots charity have reached a major milestone in the creation of what will become the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park, with the official handover of the site’s new Welcome Building and Forestry Skills Centre from contractors Willmott Dixon. The handover marks a significant step towards the public opening of the attraction on Saturday 19 September, and keys to the building have now been passed to the council, signalling a landmark moment for the project.

Northern Roots is transforming 160 acres of underused land adjacent to Alexandra Park into a pioneering destination for nature, health, learning, enterprise and community activity. Five years in the making, it is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the country, harnessing the power of nature to improve wellbeing, create jobs and training, and bring communities together across Oldham and beyond.

At the heart of the site, the Welcome Centre will serve as a vibrant hub for visitors, featuring a café, shop and production kitchen. The building also includes two flexible spaces designed for school visits, community events, meetings, exhibitions and performances. Families can look forward to an outdoor play area aimed at encouraging children to explore, play and connect with the natural environment.

The new Forestry Skills Centre will offer specialist training in sustainable industries, including landscape management and crop growing. This facility is expected to help local people gain qualifications, develop practical skills and access future employment opportunities, supporting the growth of a greener local economy in Oldham.

Adding to the visitor experience, acclaimed Manchester chef, food writer and restaurateur Mary‑Ellen McTague has joined Northern Roots as its new chef partner. She will lead the development of menus for the new farm‑to‑fork food destination, where visitors will be able to see fruit, vegetables and herbs grown on the urban farm before they are transformed into fresh meals just metres away. The team will also be recruiting for key café roles, including head chef.

The project is already delivering tangible benefits for local residents. Eight Oldham people are currently employed through the scheme, five of whom were previously unemployed and have secured new jobs as a result of the development. By 2030, Northern Roots aims to welcome up to 300,000 visitors each year, host 4,500 school visits annually and deliver more than 300 nature‑based ‘health prescriptions’ every year. The project also plans to create 150 volunteering placements, alongside training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for local residents.

The development is expected to support up to 40 new businesses and help create between 60 and 80 jobs, while delivering significant environmental benefits. These include a new woodland and wetland habitat, renewable energy generation and the storage of tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon.

Visitors to the café and shop will be able to enjoy and buy fresh seasonal produce grown on site, strengthening the links between local communities, sustainable food production and healthy living. A year‑round programme of events, volunteering opportunities, educational activities and wellbeing initiatives will also help people connect with nature in new ways.

Northern Roots will provide new opportunities for local artists and creative organisations, while schools will benefit from learning programmes focused on local heritage, food production and the natural environment. The site’s expanding network of accessible green spaces, orchards, community gardens, food‑growing areas and nature‑rich landscapes will be open for all to enjoy.

James Kington, Director of Growth at Oldham Council, said: “This is an exciting milestone for both the project and for Oldham. These fantastic new facilities bring us one step closer to welcoming local residents and visitors from other communities across Oldham and further afield, to showcase everything this pioneering attraction has to offer.”

With handover now complete, the countdown to the 19 September opening has begun. Northern Roots promises to become a landmark destination that puts nature, community and sustainability at the heart of Oldham, offering something for everyone to enjoy and be part of.