About Our Farm
A community venue for over 15 years
The Quarries Farm’s vision is to develop as a venue and community resource by bringing people together, to learn how to use nature as a way to promote their own wellbeing.
Quarries Farm Friends can experience the ‘grow your own’ lifestyle in a secluded woodland space that is both tranquil and very close to the town.
The principles of environmental and social sustainability are at the heart of our project. We believe that through this project we can make a very positive contribution to peoples’ lives and our local community.
The safety and comfort of everyone is our priority. We have heated resting areas, outdoor hand washing stations and compost toilets.
What Type of Farm are we
Here at our farm we have grass crops, woodland and wildlife conservation with viewing hides, allotments, community growing and activity space. The farm is approximately 100 acres in a low land area just outside of Bangor, Co.Down.
The majority of the land is used as grazing for dairy cows and growing grass crops. We have more than 10 acres of woodland both mature and new plantings, where we have woodland pathways, wildlife habitat and viewing hides. Four fields are planned out as allotments for growing vegetables and flowers, and keeping livestock such as hens, pigs and bees.
Farm History
Quarries Farm buildings date from the 18th and 19th century, with the current owners’ family connections dating back to 1890. During the family’s time at the farm, it was a mixed farm, which meant it had a diversity of produce such as grain, potatoes, beef and pork. Before it was a farm, the land was a quarry which produced the slate for roofs in the area. Last worked in 1840, the quarry has been left to nature and a mature woodland has self-seeded there with ponds.
Click here for a personal story about changes over the years.
Setting up a community farm
We invited local folks to set up the kind of farm they would like for their community.
In one week in October 2009, our new farm friends, put up a polytunnel, hen house and a compost toilet.
