A joyful harvest: the young Welsh farmers growing food for Birmingham
In Powys, Wales, a group of young farmers has transformed an unused pasture into a thriving vegetable plot, delivering courgettes, tomatoes and salad leaves to Birmingham’s city council and local markets. The initiative, backed by Our Food Trust and Powys County Council, aims to boost domestic food…
In the gently rolling hills of Powys, a small patch of land that was once only pasture has become a vibrant source of fresh produce. Tilly Gomersall, a young farmer, is harvesting courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes and salad leaves on a 0.9‑hectare plot at Wern Farm, just 70 miles from Birmingham. The harvest is not only a triumph over a season of record heatwaves and drought, but also a testament to a new model of local food production that could reshape how cities access fresh food.
From Pasture to Polytunnels
Only 18 months ago, the site at Wern Farm was a stretch of uncultivated pasture. Gomersall says that turning the earth with her own power and a two‑wheel tractor was exhausting: “You have to heft that around with your body quite a lot.” Today, the farm—named Cân y Pridd, meaning “Song of the Soil”—is growing a variety of vegetables in polytunnels. Although the farm covers 4.9 hectares, Gomersall is currently cultivating just half a hectare, yet she is already producing “very big volumes for the scale.”
Wern Farm is part of a scheme designed to encourage young growers to supply fresh produce to nearby towns and cities. The 15‑hectare (36‑acre) site is split into three plots, each with a holiday chalet for the growers to live in. Shared facilities include a barn and a diesel generator that backs up the farm’s solar panels.
Supporting Young Growers
The project was launched by Our Food Trust, a charity that works to increase homegrown produce and tackle food insecurity. The UK imports about 40% of its food and has one of the lowest food self‑sufficiency ratios in Western Europe, making it vulnerable to supply shocks from climate change or geopolitical tensions. In Wales, only 0.2% of land is used for horticulture, leaving huge potential for expansion.
Our Food Trust has helped Gomersall and her neighbours—Lydia Dibben and Charlie James—turn a dream into reality. Dibben, 28, was “quite blown away by the opportunity” to receive a seven‑acre lease, a house with affordable rent and shared infrastructure. Their plot, named Tir a Nant (Land and Stream), is part of a 95‑year lease secured with Powys County Council, which also relaxed planning guidance to allow rural enterprise dwellings.
Delivering to Birmingham
In late July, the growers began supplying fresh produce to Birmingham City Council, which distributes it through holiday clubs for disadvantaged children. Over a few weeks, they have shipped “a couple of bathtubs” of salad leaves, 28 kg of spring onions and 18 kg of French beans. The produce is sent in a single van each week, a small‑scale operation that demonstrates the feasibility of a direct farm‑to‑city supply chain.
Birmingham’s food system team, led by Sarah Newton, sees this as a way to strengthen supply chains for its 1.2 million residents. “If we had a coordinated, national approach, you could line up supply and demand nationally and then you’d get a meaningful shift in economies of scale,” Newton says. The children who receive the vegetable boxes are often exposed to new foods for the first time; repeated exposure can help develop a liking for diverse produce.
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite the success, the growers face financial hurdles. The cost of living crisis limits the number of people who can afford the produce, and the farmers are currently growing more than they can sell locally. Dibben notes, “We’re growing a hell of a lot more than we can sell locally.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand their cultivated area as they further develop the site. Gomersall expresses joy at knowing that the vegetables will end up in children’s hands: “What’s so joyful about the Birmingham project is… we really enjoy harvesting knowing that kids are going to be eating it and enjoying the flavours of real food.”
The Wern Farm initiative is a microcosm of a broader movement to increase domestic food production, reduce reliance on imports, and build resilient local food systems. By removing barriers for young growers and creating direct links between farms and cities, the project offers a blueprint that could be replicated across the UK.
Why it matters
The project shows how small‑scale, community‑driven farming can supply fresh, nutritious food to urban populations and help reduce food insecurity, especially for disadvantaged children.
Key points
- Young Welsh farmers are turning pasture into a thriving vegetable plot
- The initiative is backed by Our Food Trust and Powys County Council
- Produce is supplied directly to Birmingham’s holiday clubs and local markets
- The project demonstrates the feasibility of a direct farm‑to‑city supply chain
- Financial challenges remain as demand outpaces local sales
- Expansion plans aim to increase cultivated area and impact
Frequently asked questions
How does the Wern Farm project support young farmers?
Our Food Trust provides land leases, shared infrastructure, and connections to buyers like Birmingham City Council, helping young growers start and grow their businesses.
What types of vegetables are being grown?
The farm produces courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, salad leaves, spring onions, French beans, and other seasonal produce.
How is the produce delivered to Birmingham?
A single van transports the produce each week from Wern Farm in Powys to Birmingham’s holiday clubs and food programmes.
What impact does this have on local food security?
It supplies fresh, locally grown produce to disadvantaged children and reduces reliance on imported foods, strengthening local food resilience.
