Celebrating local community and culture in regeneration - Horses and Holme Wood

How do you take an asset based community development (ABCD) led approach to urban design and neighbourhood renewal? 

Kris, our MD, has recently been exploring this question as part of the team developing an urban design framework for Holme Wood in Bradford. An urban design framework creates a plan for the spatial or physical elements of a neighbourhood and will cover issues from transport access to green spaces, from housing development to street lighting. But physical design is strongly influenced and connected to how a local community works from a social perspective.  

Our partner, Well North Enterprises, were commissioned with WSP and YemeTech to support Bradford City Council to develop their future Clean Growth Masterplan. Through this, we led a project which explored how you connect and underpin plans for physical regeneration to local identity and culture.  

Holme Wood is a fascinating place full of passionate people who care deeply for their community. It also has a very special relationship with horses. There is a significant settled Gypsy and Irish traveller community on the estate and with them come horses. As you walk around the estate you'll find horses tethered on the ample green spaces around the estate which feels very exciting as an outsider. We wanted to consider how this aspect of local culture could support regeneration plans for the local community. As part of this, we researched the role of horses in local culture and also as an opportunity for economic renewal which has been welcomed by the local community. You enter a completely different conversation with local people when they see their community and their strengths presented as an opportunity rather than a barrier to change. We'd like to share with you our findings on horses and their role in settled traveller communities and also some entrepreneurial opportunities for the future.  

Horses and Holme Wood 

Horses have long been associated with Holme Wood and are embedded as part of local culture. This is often attributed to the settled Irish Traveller community on the estate.​ These horses play both an economic and social role on the estate. Whilst some horses are kept for personal enjoyment and leisure, others are used for economic purposes such as the collection of scrap metal. During the last recession to 2011, horse numbers on the estate grew in response to increases in scrap metal prices, with more than 90 horses counted on the estate. As we approach mid-year in 2023, scrap metal values are again on the increase. ​ 

We spoke with some local residents regarding the presence of the horses and found that they attract mixed views from residents. Some see them as a beneficial part of local culture, others as a nuisance, restricting community access to and damaging shared public spaces.  

Animal welfare concerns have also been raised by local residents in relation to the condition of some animals and animal abandonment has also been an issue. In 2014, Bradford City Council introduced a horse passport scheme, supported by access to veterinary services and access to designated grazing land. Alongside this went a programme of enforcement, which included horse seizures and tenant enforcement measures which produced mixed results and a long-term solution to these challenges that the horses pose is yet to be found.   

Research into approaches to horse management elsewhere, mostly in Ireland, identifies a need to codesign solutions with local communities; with community ownership of solutions being a key factor. One thing that Growing Circles noticed on our visit, was that where land is designated for specific and valued community use, for example, the football pitches beside the TFD Centre, the land did not appear to be used for horses or targeted for fly-tipping. ​ 

Horses as part of the culture for Gypsy and Traveller communities 

‘Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people belong to minority ethnic groups that have contributed to British society for centuries. Their distinctive way of life and traditions manifest themselves in nomadism, the centrality of their extended family, unique languages and entrepreneurial economy. It is reported that there are around 300,000 Travellers in the UK and they are one of the most disadvantaged groups’ (The Traveller Movement, 2022). The real population may be different as some members of these communities do not participate in the census or actively hide their heritage for fear of victimisation. Gypsies and Travellers are recognised Ethnic Minority groups under the Race Relations Act (2000), and have ‘protected characteristics’ according to the 2010 Equality Act. 

Horse and culture​ 

Horses are central to gypsy and traveller culture, particularly for men and boys. The tradition of horse ownership and care has been passed from generation to generation and boys are often bought their first miniature pony as young as age 2. Horses are also used as a financial investment and an alternative to savings. ​ 

It is estimated that around 67% of this community now resides in bricks and mortar accommodation, with 15% on sites and less than 5% living by the roadside. As people settled they lost access to the land they need to look after their horses. Finding suitable local land for horses is a challenge as landowners can be reluctant to deal with these ethnic groups. Steps by local authorities to secure land are likely to be opposed by settled people locally (Crowley and Irwin, 2017).​ 

Without appropriate resources, it is challenging to maintain effective animal welfare. There is a widespread perception that horses are not well kept in in these communities but this is not substantiated by research (Rowland et al, 2022). A study of Irish Traveller horses in England and Ireland showed over 80% had good body condition. Compare this to a study which found that 72% of leisure horses within a 50 mile radius of The Royal Veterinary College in England over the age of 7 were obese (Ibid) However, there are clear challenges when keeping horses in urban environments and tethering is not considered good horse management (Ibid).​ 

Horses, well-being and economy​ 

The health statistics for people from these communities are bleak. The average life expectancy for Gypsies and Irish Travellers in Leeds is about 50 years of age, compared to 78 the local average​ (Leeds Racial Equality Council, 2005).  
Health outcomes for settled gypsies and travellers are worse than for those who travel although it is hard to identify whether this is cause or effect; does their health deteriorate due to loss of culture or the isolation which settled life brings or are those in poorer health more likely to settle? (Parry et al, 2007).​ 

Gypsy men have a suicide rate 7 times higher than men in the general population. Exclusion from education and work is widespread and health benefits have been seen for those able to keep horses. These are attributed to the daily structure and economic opportunity which horse care creates (Crowley and Irwin, 2017). This indicates that finding a way to support this community to keep the horses which are central to their culture would have significant benefits. 

Horse Projects – Best Practice 

In Ireland, there are a number of positive examples of horse projects which have been established. These projects provide designated facilities for horses which incorporate equine training and skills provision. ​ 

A number of characteristics can be identified from across the spectrum of horse projects already in place that could serve as a template for the further evolution of a developmental strategy based on them. These include:​ 

• Roots in an acceptance and understanding of Traveller horse ownership as entwined with Traveller culture and identity.​ 

• Acceptance of the need for a long-term developmental approach to Traveller horse ownership.​ 

• The centrality of the needs, voice, and active involvement of Traveller horse owners.​ 

• The concern for responsible horse ownership.​ 

• The provision of land.​ 

• The availability of the support infrastructure that can be offered by Traveller organisations. ​ 

• Investment in relationship building based on trust and equality across the full range of interests involved.​ 

• An inter-agency structure that brings together all those that have a stake in the issue of Traveller horse ownership and that hold resources that could be deployed in a developmental strategy and enables them to operate as partners. 

There are instances where funding has been directly provided by the HSE and other sources of funding to such initiatives as the Traveller organisations are thought to be best placed for such a role. This model could be further expanded upon in a developmental approach.​ 

Community Land Trust models have been used to purchase land for traveller sites in places such as Mendip. A similar model could potentially be explored here. The Youth Investment Fund could also be a potential capital route to support this project.​ 

The National Horseracing College in Doncaster has previously told us they struggle to fill courses and have found it hard to recruit people to work in equine related jobs. They are less concerned with a person's academic ability than their interest in horse management.  

Examples of Best Practice Horse Projects 

A great example of a horse project that promotes best practises is the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre. This project just outside Dublin was established to promote horse riding and related activities by adopting a structured training program and providing trained personnel to:​ 

• Assist and encourage the youth, long-term unemployed and disadvantaged of the community to develop their equine skills. ​ 

• To acquire land for the purpose of developing an equine centre in the Cherry Orchard community​ 

• To provide such facilities for indoor and outdoor equine activities for the Cherry Orchard community ​ 

• To promote the maintenance and training of horses in the Cherry Orchard community; - to promote the equine project as a centre for the development of educational and cultural activities for the community; and ​ 

• To provide active preparation for employment in the horse and other industries.​ 

Why is this community-focused research so important to the physical regeneration of an area?  

Looking at our findings from our time within the Holme Wood community, it’s clear to see that the horses are an integral part of the community that need to be considered and included in future plans for the local area. 

Here at Growing Circles, we love getting to know communities and find that the impact and opportunity realised from taking the time to do this type of exploratory work has benefits that far exceed the time taken. We can’t wait to see how Bradford take our recommendations forward through the Holme Wood urban design framework. 
 
If you’re a business or an organisation that wants to explore ways to strengthen your connection to your local community, then we invite you to schedule in a curiosity session here, we’d love to chat!

Blog Photography by Chris Wright of www.21stcenturynorth.com