Does traditional farming on the fringes of cities count as urban agriculture ?
Yes, Urban Agriculture is diverse in its forms. It also includes farms located around the fringes of cities which supply food and other services to the urban population. Because of the relatively short supply chains involved, these farms have an advantage over businesses located further away when it comes to providing niche products to urban residents.
Many farms on the urban fringe also sell direct to their customers through farmers markets or through running their own farm shop – sometimes this can be combined with other spin off facilities such as a café or children’s adventure play park.
Significantly, urban fringe farms can also deliver a broad range of ecosystem services. Urban fringe farms often combine agricultural land with a mosaic of other diverse habitats such as woodlands, meadows and wetlands. These can provide significant benefits for biodiversity and also for the retention of landscapes, which might be values or of local cultural significance.
Urban fringe farms also feature prominently within local path networks which provide recreational opportunities, wellbeing through contact with nature and green travel opportunities.