Work gets underway on Dundrum’s urban farm

WORK is underway on a major refurbishment at Airfield urban farm and gardens in Dundrum, which will involve the construction of a new farm, horticulture centres and café.

The work is being undertaken by Glenbeigh Construction, which has already begun building a new educational and visitor centre that will celebrate food, farming and the natural world.

The Airfield Trust is investing approximately e10 million in upgrading and enhancing the estate, which will include a new farm centre, a three-acre horticultural experience with display gardens, and vegetable and kitchen gardens. The works will also involve an upgrade and conservation of Airfield House.

Airfield’s director, Kathy Purcell, said the farm, which she maintains will be one of the foremost visitor destinations in the country when works are completed, will reopen to the public next year.

She said the revamped facilities will include a new café, retail space and extensive parking arrangements. She also pointed out that a substantial amount of the Overend archive, which includes documents and photographs of significant local and national historical interest, will go on display for the first time.

“We are upgrading the whole facility here,

? she said.

“The farm centre is going to be the centre of activity for all the farm work at Airfield.

“We will have a new milking parlour, so we will be able to demonstrate milking every day and how to make butter and ice cream. We will be showcasing Airfield as a working farm to really celebrate food and farming in the natural world.

“The new contemporary garden will be used as a productive garden but we will be running a design competition for that, and details will be released in a couple of weeks,

? she added.

“We will also be trying to have as much produce from the farm going straight into the café.

?

Ms Purcell was also pleased to mention that Airfield has recently bought back the 3.5 acre Dudley’s Field that runs along the Wyckham Way bypass, which was formerly part of the estate.

The field had been sold in 2005 to raise the necessary funds to make Airfield self-sustaining and self-financing.

Ms Purcell added:

“Getting Dudley’s Field back is further great news. We’ll integrate it back into the estate and use it to enhance the visitor experience even more when Airfield reopens.

?

Regular updates on progress on the upgrade work at the urban farm are available on www.airfield.ie