£100,000 awarded to Tumbledown community farm!

Tumbledown, Weymouth Town Council’s picturesque community asset is celebrating after receiving two grants worth £100,000. 

The money will be used for a building housing a classroom, accessible toilets, and a teaching kitchen. Once built, these new facilities will directly benefit people from accessing opportunities at the former derelict farm in Radipole.  

A grant of £85,000 was secured from Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) who provide funding for certain community projects, along with a second grant of £15,000 from Dorset Council’s Capital Leverage Fund which supports improving facilities for local communities and residents.  

Cllr Ryan Hope, Chair of Environment and Services Committee, said: “I’m thrilled for everyone who is part of Tumbledown and for those who will directly benefit from accessing opportunities at the former farm. The funding will allow Weymouth Town Council to offer a wider range of activities and learning experiences and provide a more comfortable environment for people who come along to this inspiring and nurturing place. 

“As well as benefitting people, it will benefit the planet as the building will include solar panels, rainwater capture and high levels of insulation to make it as sustainable as possible.” 

Paul Brennan, Site Director at the NRS site at Winfrith, said: “We are really pleased to be able to partner with others to create this new modern, weatherproof facility that will help Tumbledown increase and improve its offer. This project will create a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone who works there, visit, come to learn, or volunteer; there will be much more to offer and enjoy. NRS is looking forward to the work being completed next year and seeing the benefits it will bring, to the community we are involved with. This project fits well with our criteria and our commitment to sustainability.” 

Weymouth Town Council will complete a detailed design of the groundworks and the building with partners over the winter, with the aim of starting work on constructing the building in the spring and summer of next year before welcoming people through the doors for the first time.  

Tumbledown is an inclusive greenspace where people come together to connect with nature and benefit from community-led growing, learning and well-being opportunities. It is already well used by partner organisations including the Lantern Trust and the Bus Shelter project, Dorset Mind, Dorset Care, Darwin Care and Muntsys, local churches and Transition Town Weymouth, Weymouth College, and Westfield School. 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors 

Tumbledown is a beautiful 27-acre former farm owned by Weymouth Town Council which is being developed into a community asset that produces and sells local fruit and veg and supports people with volunteering and learning opportunities. For more information, visit the website.  

Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) is the new brand of Magnox Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). NRS is responsible for safely decommissioning ten first-generation nuclear sites at Berkeley, Bradwell, Chapelcross, Dungeness A, Hinkley Point A, Hunterston A, Oldbury, Sizewell A, Trawsfynydd and Wylfa, and two research sites at Harwell and Winfrith, while operating one hydro-electric power station at Maentwrog. Email magnox.communications@magnoxsites.com for more information.

Pictured is Volunteers and service users at Tumbledown celebrating the grant award.

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