About Pandy Farm
Pandy Farm is a working farm and social enterprise built on 25 acres of land that’s been in the current family ownership since 1988. The farm includes horticultural gardens within a circular enclosure, workable pasture and environmentally rich woodlands and wetlands with permanent running water. It is situated some 5 miles from the university city of Bangor and the beautiful Menai Straits. It is on the edge of Snowdonia National Park which can be accessed on foot directly from the farm.
Our Vision: Growing Food
Growing food is the core vision of our farm and we have the luxury of deep healthy soils, running waters and rich biodiversity. Our farm produces enough onions and potatoes to provide for our community all year ‘round, as well as an incredible abundance of other foods throughout the year. Food security is the core mission, and with 94% of the UK’s food being in the hands of just nine huge corporations, taking responsibility for our own nourishment is a radical act. Lucky for us it’s something that we also love to do! The Welsh Government has recognised the urgency of restructuring our food networks and growing food in Wales. We are part of a local and national movement to ensure that healthy, naturally-grown food is available to everyone.
Our Mission: Sustainability
Our core mission is to achieve financial and ecological sustainability at the farm. Growing food on a small holding is labour intensive, and we rely on our amazing volunteers to be able to sustain production. The massive subsidies that agro-farming receive mean that the real value of food is not understood by the consumer, and we believe that a rethink of our food strategy on a national scale is necessary.
In terms of ecological sustainability we have woodlands, wetlands, running water and deep soils at Pandy Farm, with an amazing diversity of wildlife. All our farming practices support the life that surrounds us.
Our History
The land contains archaeological sites dating back 3000 years. Nearby there are a number of Celtic roundhouse settlements, as well as an iron age hillfort structure. The name Pandy refers to a fulling mill on the site, perhaps originally a corn-mill dating back to mediaeval times.
In the late eighteenth century the land came into the ownership of the Pennant Family, enriched by the profits of slavery and sugar trading. The wealth and power of their Penrhyn Estate became notorious through the Bethesda quarrymen's strike between 1900 and 1903.
Timber Yard Fire 2022
On Sunday, January 23, 2022 a devastating fire destroyed our timber yard. Four fire engines battled the blaze for eight hours to contain the fire and to prevent it from spreading to the adjacent woodland and a nearby garage.
The fire was a massive blow to Pandy Farm both financially and logistically. It was also a significant loss to our thriving community of woodworkers. Precious and irreplaceable equipment was turned overnight into melted heaps of metal.
The team at Pandy are slowly working to rebuild the timber mill.