Four Acre Farm in Ringwood given nearly £8,000 from Hampshire County Council's connect4communities programme

AN eco farm in Ringwood which grows food for the local community has been awarded funding of nearly £8,000.

Four Acre Farm in Crow is run by life-long friends Kate Forrester and Mollie Taylor, who invite locals along to get involved in the growing and harvesting process.

The produce then goes to local food banks.

The pair received a £7,750 grant from Hampshire County Council’s connect4communities programme, funded by the government’s Household Support Fund.

Cllr Edward Heron, HCC cabinet member for children’s services, said it was “heartening” to see groups helping local people through the cost of living crisis.

“We would like to thank all the groups who applied for funding and are pleased to be able to support those whose projects will have the most impact in their local neighbourhoods,” he said.

“In total, we have approved grants of more than £750,000 in the last six months to local groups, schools and community pantries, which are able to reach those most in need and make a positive difference.”

Four Acre Farm grows produce without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides.

Kate is a former private chef who spent two years working with horticulturalist and author Charles Dowding, and Mollie has a BSc in biodiversity conservation and an MSc in animal behaviour.

They us a “no dig”method as they say traditional ploughing “disturb the fungal network and damages the ecology of the earth”.

HCC also awarded £90,000 to the county’s Citizen’s Advice charity to provide direct assistance with fuel costs.

Other successful applicants range from established charities to newly formed community groups.

For more information about Four Acre Farm, go to www.four-acre.farm or follow on Facebook and Instagram.