IT may be January, but life on a Huddersfield community farm is as busy as ever.

Members of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust-run farm off Ashes Lane in Newsome have been working hard.

Charlotte Holgate, local food & conservation trainee at the farm, told It’s Our World: “Just before Christmas we brought the cows into the newly renovated cattle barn to shelter in over winter.

“This has meant that we have had to make sure they have plenty of food as they are not out in the fields grazing – they actually require more food in the winter as it helps to keep them warm.

“We’ve also been providing the cows with plenty of clean straw to bed down on.”

It’s not yet sowing or harvesting time but the team have also been working on the farm’s vegetable patches.

Charlotte said: “We have been busy planning what we’ll be growing and where, from salads to root vegetables.

“The veg beds were so successful last year, with many volunteers coming to get involved with their maintenance that we have also decided to dig another four beds to cope with the demand.

“So staff and volunteers have been busy with spades and shovels this month.”

The 250-acre urban farm below Castle Hill is also establishing an orchard and have ordered fruit trees which they will soon begin planting.

The Woodland Trust has also given the farm a pack containing 420 trees – with species such as blackthorn, hazel, crab apple, elder and dog rose.

The Stirley Community Farm appeal to raise £30,000 has so far reached £22,000 thanks to enthusiastic local people.

Damian Haigh, Andrew Whitwam and Robert Gothard have donned their swimming trunks for a sponsored swim to raise cash.

A fundraising ceilidh is also being organised.

All money raised will go towards work on the farm, including the restoration of an old stone barn into an education centre.

December 2010 saw the beginning of the Stirley Community Farm Project. Back then it was a derelict farm with big plans. Now people can see the transformation for themselves as there are public footpaths leading up the farm.

There are also a range of community and learning events at the farm.

If you haven’t donated yet and would like to, visit www.justgiving.com/YWT-Stirley.

For more information about Stirley Community Farm events visit www.ywt.org.uk or call 01904 659570.