Brimstage farm wins rural funding

8th March 2010

Brimstage farm wins rural funding to create‘interactive learning centre’

Wirral Council is encouraging more of its rural businesses to apply to the Mersey Rural Leader programme (MRL) after Gregory’s Farm was given the go ahead to create an interactive learning centre at Brimstage.

The farm which is famous for its ‘maize maze’ applied to the MRL for funding for its diversification project which will see the development of an:

·  Indoor play/activity barn with café

·  Indoor interactive learning barn and classroom relating to farming, food and countryside education

·  Indoor animal barn with variety of farm and petting animals

·  Outdoor play area including a giant sand pit, adventure play area, gem mine and outdoor games.

·  Outdoor animal paddock with variety of farm animals

·  3km nature trail.

In addition, the maize maze will be operational in the summer months as usual.

Clare Gregory from Gregory’s farm said: “This is brilliant news for the farm. We hope to develop the existing maize maze site, together with other agricultural buildings and farmland that are currently unused, into a farm and education centre that is open to the public as well as being ideal for school and group visits all year round. 

“Planning permission for the development has already been obtained from Wirral Council. Our overriding business objective is to develop a facility that is both profitable and sustainable, whilst providing a safe, enjoyable attraction for the family market within a 90 minute drive time of Wirral.”

Cllr Bob Moon, Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Leisure for Wirral Council said: “The rural economy is particularly important to Wirral as it employs over 21% of Merseyside’s workforce, and contributes £4.6 billion to the area’s economy. We are working with a number of our rural tourism businesses to help them access Mersey Rural Leader programme funds and would actively encourage further Wirral applications.”

For an application and guidance please contact Paula Malley, at the Mersey Rural Leader Office, on 0151 443 2297 or click www.merseyruralleader.org.uk.