On 18th July 2009, Rochdale Rotary Club and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Environmental Management signed a pledge between Rochdale Rotary and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, witnessed by the Mayor of Rochdale Cllr Keith Swift and District Governor Elizabeth Tatman.

Signing the Pledge
The pledge states:


“On behalf of the Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and the Rotary Club of Rochdale we make claim to be the first in the United Kingdom to trial Vertical Urban Farming using a unique grow bag system and we challenge any individual, group, village, Town or City to demonstrate a system that they consider superior.

This document underlines our desire to focus community interest on urban farming at local, national and international levels whilst enjoying like minded fellowship and the satisfaction of contributing towards green issues."