That’s because this little piece of North West agriculture is an integral part of one of Europe’s largest open prisons – HMP Kirkham.
Managed by the prison’s Land Based Activities Manager, Laurie Gornall, and cared for by a team of 106 prisoners, the farm acts as a purposeful activity for inmates, instilling a work ethic into some of the men who get allocated jobs when they arrive at the gates to serve out their sentences.
Contrary to popular perception about prison overcrowding, this prison is far from crowded. In fact the prison role is low. HMP Kirkham currently holds 600 prisoners but has capacity for 630.
The farm is one of the main employers of prisoners at Kirkham. Other paid activities include working in the kitchens (currently employing 50 inmates), packing deliveries for logistics giant DHL (currently employing between 35 and 50 inmates), a food packaging company or working for recycling companies who sort out old furniture or IT equipment.
A prisoner’s typical day at the farm begins at 8.30am and they work until 11.40am. They then have lunch before returning to work for 1pm. They then work again until 4.40pm before returning to their billets (cells).
“The majority of the prison land is grazed and used for silage,” explained Mr Gornall who before entering a career in the prison service, worked on poultry, beef and sheep farms.
“A lot of the lads we get here don’t have a clue where their food comes from so the farm is enlightening for them. Once the prisoners are trained in growing activities or livestock management we can leave them unsupervised for half an hour.”
HMP Kirkham works closely with the land based college Myerscough which occasionally sends experts into the prison to enhance guards’ skills and administer land based/agricultural qualifications.
Quality is exceptionally high for all parts of the prison farm. The Kirkham herd of English Longhorn cattle is registered with the Longhorn Society and commands great respect nationally. Originally, six Longhorns went to HMP Kirkham in 2006 when the prison farms at Lancaster were sold. With them were stockmen Keith Burrell and Peter Barton whose experience with cattle extends back 40 years. Keith and Peter start calving in January and end in May. Eight month old calves usually sell for £1,000 and heifers between £1,500 and £2,000. Some of the cattle have sold for prices in the region of £5,000. The herd is currently in the market for a new bull.
Up to 15 prisoners are employed in the livestock activity, most have chosen to do this but others have been introduced to it as a completely new experience. The sale of beef (and pork) through the prison farm shop, which is situated at the entrance, gains an income of over £40,000 per year. This together with produce from the market gardens makes the shop a busy place and is managed by a prison employee and two inmates. Customers are attracted from far afield and the repeated custom is testament to the quality of meats on sale. Other livestock at the prison include a few British Saddleback pigs and 50 Rhode Island hens.
In the glasshouses, fruit and vegetables are grown in large quantities. Last year 60 tonnes of tomatoes and 20 tonnes of peppers were produced alongside carrots, spuds and innumerable amounts of other produce destined for the prison kitchens, shop and beyond. HMP Kirkham exhibits its growing talents outside of the prison wall and regularly enters Southport Flower Show where its displays always do very well - this year’s theme is China and includes a pagoda.
Laurie added: “I see HMP Kirkham and the farmed land here as a bridge to change. I want all those who come here to realise something good when they get out.”
About Kirkham Prison
Kirkham is a category D training prison occupying the site of a former RAF technical training centre. Basically, for white collar crime offenders and those nearing the end of their sentences. The facility was taken over by the Home Office in the early 1960s and has been in use as a prison since 1962. With few exceptions the infrastructure and services, together with the buildings, are of World War II vintage, though prisoner accommodation is relatively new.
Accommodation
There are 24 dormitories of varying size. Each dormitory is equipped with single rooms, prisoner telephone, in room TV, kitchenette and shower facility.