Fleskwater

The Friends Of Fleskwater (FOF) project was set-up in April 2009 to re-establish collective, sustainable land management at Fleskwater Farm, situated 12 miles from Ballycastle, North Antrim. In the early 80s, Fleskwater was established as a working Organic Farm Collective, and over the succeeding 20 years, resident workers and a consistent stream of visitors (from across Ireland and beyond), endeavoured to maintain this ethos - planting organic crops, experimenting and utilising various forms of renewable energy production, planting trees and preserving the natural habitat of the site.
A steady decline in the numbers of both residents and visitors resulted in the instigation of the FOF initiative last spring. With the simultaneous resurgence of the Warzone/Belfast Youth & Community Group it was realised that the two groups could operate jointly,- FOF being a rural "sister" project running in conjunction with the Belfast collective. A small steering group (consisting of people who had long-standing association with the farm) was set up, and over the past year it has co-ordinated a fundraising programme and begun work projects on site. The main focus at the moment is to establish visitors accommodation at the farm, and work has begun to renovate an existing building. The group has also begun work on an orchard area, and planted native trees. At present a development plan is being put together,which will result in Fleskwater Farm being able to offer people the opportunity to come and work on the land and learn more about sustainable living and conservation.