Northern Roots is looking for an experienced grower to help develop its urban farm.

A new opportunity to work at Oldham’s new eco-park and urban farm has come up – with the application deadline fast approaching.

The 10 month fixed term job, with potential for extension subject to funding, will attract a full-time equivalent salary of £23,500 to £25,000 pro rata at Northern Root’s Oldham site.

Northern Roots, the project creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco park adjacent to Alexandra Park, is establishing the first phase of the Northern Roots Farm this year, with two 18-metre polytunnels and no-dig beds located on its Apiary Meadow.

Plans to expand the farm a further four acres this summer, and a further six years in the following years, have already been drawn up.

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Initially a horticultural farm, the farm will then expand to agroforestry alley cropping, where short-term, faster, agriculture such as food is grown alongside long-term growing rows of trees.

Mixed farming will then be explored, with livestock introduced on to less productive areas in the farm.

Successful applicants to the job will initially focus on developing the Apiary Meadow site, which already has a cabin with electricity, water, WiFi, heating, tool containers, bee hives, a composting toilet, polytunnels, and outdoor growing beds.

An outdoor workshop, drainage and irrigation systems, community seating, and an orchard are all planned for the area.

The grower will be tasked with implementing the cropping plan, carrying out tasks such as sowing and transplanting crops, irrigation and soil fertility improvement, pest and disease management, and harvesting and packing.

The application deadline for the role is 5pm on Wednesday, February 15, with in-person interviews on Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23.

The successful applicant will start in mid-March and will work five days per week in the summer and three days per week in the inter.

More information about the role can be found on the Northern Roots website.