Ground-breaking Manchester project led by Craghoppers brand ambassador researches sustainable crop production systems in an urban environment
Leading outdoor brand Craghoppers is pleased to announce that one of its UK-based sponsored projects, the Salford Biospheric Project, has been named as one of only five ‘Green Champions’ at this year’s Green Apple Built Environment Awards, beating off competition from nearly 100 other leading environmental projects.
The Biospheric Project is Salford’s ground breaking urban farm and sustainable food research centre and is led by Craghoppers brand ambassador and project founder Vincent Walsh.
As a global brand Craghoppers is involved in supporting causes of an international appeal, such as it’s current ‘Hope’ campaign, which provides support for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International charity in Rwanda. However, the brand also recognises the huge importance of supporting and raising awareness of causes closer to home and actively supports local initiatives such as the Biospheric Project, providing invaluable help.
The Biospheric Project creates and experiments with sustainable crop production systems in and around a derelict mill on the banks of the River Irwell and aims to develop new sources of food and growing techniques which can thrive in urban environments including unused land, buildings and roof spaces.
As part of the sponsorship, Craghoppers have donated kit to the team working on the Biospheric Project. Members of the team spend the majority of their time outdoors or in the warehouse, Craghoppers kits helps them to carry out their work in comfort and protected from the elements.
Vincent said of the award: “To be one of only a handful of projects awarded Green Champion status at the Green Apple awards is a fantastic achievement and it’s great that our work to try and create fully self-sufficient food production systems within an urban setting has been judged one of the most innovative green initiatives in the UK.
“However we’ve only just scratched the surface with regards to what can achieved through urban farming and although this award is great for profile we really hope it will help leverage the additional research funding we need to fulfil the project’s full potential.”
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