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HRH visits Ouseburn Farm on START tour

7th September 2010

The Prince of Wales was presented with a jar of honey and some homemade chutney on a visit to an inner city farm today.

The Prince, who was in Newcastle as part of an eco-tour of Britain to look at sustainable initiatives, said he would save the gifts to have as a treat following his Christmas dinner.

He met volunteers at Ouseburn Farm in the city centre, where he opened a new beehive as part of a city wide initiative to boost bees.

The Prince was shown around the farm where local schoolchildren have helped to plant vegetables and build a greenhouse made from recycled plastic bottles.

Ouseburn Farm, formerly known as Byker Farm, was forced to close in 2002 when its land was found to be contaminated by the old Victorian lead works it is built on.

Powdered white lead used in the manufacture of paint had leeched into the ground and poisoned the soil.

The buildings were demolished and the animals had to be re-homed.

Having resolved the problem, today the farm boasts an environment and heritage centre which teaches children about animal welfare, horticulture and the history of the east end of Newcastle community, plus four full-time and four part-time members of staff.

Rare breed sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits and goats pack the farm enclosures, a stone's throw from some of the city's most fashionable pubs.

Volunteer Pat Dick, 65, of Cramlington, Northumberland, handed His Royal Highness the chutney as he sipped a cup of tea in the farm kitchen following the tour.

She said: "He asked what the secret ingredient was and said he'd keep it for Christmas, to have with cheese.

"It's a real honour to have him here and to get a little recognition for all the hard work that has gone into getting this place up and running again.

"He's passionate about the same things we are and is so knowledgeable it was a real pleasure to have him here."

Amateur beekeeper Ian Wallace, of Heaton, Newcastle, said The Prince complimented him on his honey.

He helped The Prince free honeybees to officially open a hive at the farm.

He said: "City bees are so important as without the bees there is no pollination and without that no seeds and then no plants.

"What people don't realise is there is often a greater variety of plant species in a city than in the countryside, so we hope these bees will thrive.

"I'm honoured he has taken time out to recognise the work we have done here."

The Prince also chatted to pupils from Byker Primary school, and Hotspur Primary, in Heaton.

Year 6 pupils Paul Batey, Harry Smith, and Jeremias Mfinda, all aged 10, from Byker Primary showed The Prince their vegetable garden.

"He asked if we had grown any pumpkins, for Halloween, but we forgot so instead we showed him the radishes and the tomatoes," Mr Batey said.

"We've been learning about growing our own food and I think it's a really good idea. Once everything is ready we are going to eat it all."

Hotspur Year 5 pupils Toni Zibens and Emily Keeton, both aged nine, showed The Prince how to make flour for bread.

"He was very polite and listened to what we had to say," Toni said.

Unveiling a plaque to commemorate the opening, The Prince said: "For me, the great joy is to see something so community oriented and community based and to see how much good it does in that community.

"One of the things I was trying to do with this tour was to try and herald all the wonderful community activities that are going on.

"This has been drawn along by wonderful people who have the inspiration and the drive."

The tour will see The Prince joined for some of the way by The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Prince will also visit much smaller scale projects, including allotments.

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