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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Nine Yards

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www.nineyards.org.uk Nine Yards is an independent charity dedicated to promoting healthy, sustainable and equitable living in the Tees Valley region.

Nine Yards
Sandy Flatts Lane, Acklam, Middlesbrough,
TS5 7YN

We are an independent charity dedicated to promoting healthy, sustainable and equitable living in the Tees Valley region. Our registered charity number is 1070131. This page is managed by Nine Yards. Comments on posts, shared posts from this page and retweets are outside of MEC control. Please note that this account is monitored during office hours only. If you require an urgent response, please call our office on 01642 579820.

03/11/2026

🥕 How can local food help our communities thrive?

From supporting our health and wellbeing to strengthening local communities and protecting the environment, the food we eat – and where it comes from – can make a real difference.

Building a stronger local food system is about making good-quality, healthy food more affordable and accessible, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for communities to flourish. 💚

So, why does local food matter?

🥦 Better access to healthy food – helping more people access affordable, nutritious food and supporting healthier choices.

📈 Stronger local economies – supporting local growers, producers and independent food businesses, helping money stay within our communities.

🌍 A healthier planet – encouraging more sustainable food production, reducing food miles and creating opportunities to grow food closer to home.

🤝 More connected communities – bringing people together through community growing, food projects and local partnerships, helping people share skills and build relationships.

At Nine Yards, we're proud to play our part. Our work helps make affordable food more accessible, supports people to grow their own food and brings partners together to build a healthier, fairer and more sustainable local food system.

Here's how we're making a difference:

🛒 Eco Shops – helping people access affordable food in their local communities, while redistributing surplus supermarket food and reducing waste. Find out more at: nineyards.org.uk/eco-shops

🌱 Community Growing – bringing people together to grow food, connect with nature, develop new skills and enjoy the benefits of greener spaces. Discover more about our community growing projects: nineyards.org.uk/community-growing

🍏 Good Food Middlesbrough – working with local people and organisations to help make healthy, sustainable and affordable food accessible to everyone across Middlesbrough. Find out more at: nineyards.org.uk/good-food-middlesbrough

📖 Read our blog: 'The Importance of Local Food', on the Nine Yards website.

Together, we can help create a Tees Valley where people, communities and the environment thrive. 💚

03/11/2026

🥪 Let’s talk sandwiches!

It’s National Sandwich Day, and we’ve got just one very important question… What’s your all-time favourite sandwich filling?

🧀 Cheese and pickle?
🥓 A classic bacon sarnie?
🥒 Cucumber and cream cheese?
🌶️ Something a little more adventurous?

Whether you’re team classic or love an unusual combo, we want to hear about it!

💬 Tell us your favourite sandwich or go-to filling in the comments. Bonus points if you share a combination we’ve never tried! 👀🥪

02/11/2026

💚 What does a better future for the Tees Valley look like?

It’s communities where people can access good, affordable food and get support to keep their homes warm. Neighbourhoods with more green spaces, opportunities to grow food, and more ways to get outdoors, travel actively, connect with nature and improve our health and wellbeing.

At Nine Yards, we work alongside local people and partner organisations on a wide range of projects – from food support and energy advice to active travel, sustainability and community growing. We also create opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills and make a difference in their communities.

AND YOU CAN BE PART OF IT TOO!

A donation of any size helps support our work to tackle food and fuel poverty, encourage healthier and more sustainable lifestyles, protect our natural environment and create greener, more connected neighbourhoods where communities can flourish.

There’s no such thing as a donation that’s too small. 💚

If you’re able to give, every contribution is appreciated and helps us work towards a healthier, fairer and more sustainable Tees Valley.

🌐 To find out more and make a donation please visit: nineyards.org.uk/donations

Thank you for helping us build a brighter, thriving future for the Tees Valley. 🙏🏼💚

02/11/2026

💚 Did you know…

Nine Yards is still based at the site of Nature’s World?

When Nature’s World closed to the public in 2013, Middlesbrough Environment City – our former name – stepped forward to preserve part of the site.

In 2016, we took on the lease of the allotment and two of the main buildings.
And in 2026, more than 30 years after our story began, we agreed to take on the lease for the whole site.

So while the name has changed to Nine Yards, there’s a very tangible link between where we started and where we are today. 🌱

👉 Discover more about Nine Yards on our website: www.nineyards.org.uk

31/10/2026

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🎃👻🕷️🦇💀

From everyone here at Nine Yards.

30/10/2026

🌽 Could this year’s harvest help us grow an even better crop next year?

Our Horticulturist and Project Lead, Matt, has been harvesting, shucking and storing sweetcorn on our allotments – and he’s looking ahead to next year’s growing season, too! 🌱

Matt is growing Golden Bantam, a heritage sweetcorn variety dating back to 1902. As an open-pollinated variety, it gives us the opportunity to save seeds from this year’s crop and grow them again next year.

Here’s the plan:
🌽 Choose the best cobs – save seeds from the healthiest plants with the earliest-ripening cobs.
📒 Keep track – record sowing dates, harvest dates and how well each plant performs.
🌱 Repeat and refine – select the best-performing plants each year and see if we can develop a variety that thrives in our local growing conditions.

There’s one important thing to remember: sweetcorn is wind-pollinated, so nearby varieties can cross-pollinate and affect the seeds we save.

It’s all part of learning from our allotments, working with nature and finding ways to grow food that works for our local climate. 💚

What are you growing in your garden or allotment? Share your growing tips with us in the comments! 👇

30/10/2026

🏡 Helping local people stay warm and save money! 💚

Earlier this week, our Affordable Warmth team – Connor, Simon and Graham – visited St Thomas More Food Bank in Middlesbrough to share practical home energy advice and information about current government grants.

The team also collected follow-up forms from residents who need more in-depth support, helping them take the next steps towards a warmer, more energy-efficient home. 🌿

💚 Need advice or support with your energy bills? Get in touch with our Affordable Warmth team to find out how we can help.

📩 Email: [email protected]
☎️ Or call (freephone) 0800 304 7084

30/10/2026

🌳 Remember our mysterious medlars? Here’s how they’re getting on! 👀

Back in July, we introduced you to one of Britain’s forgotten fruits – the medlar - and you were fascinated!

We received a huge amount of comments, queries and interest in the trees - so we thought it was time for an autumn update. 🍂

Our medlar trees are now sporting their unusual fruits, and October marks the start of the traditional harvest season. But don't be tempted to take a bite just yet! These little fruits need a little patience before they're ready to eat.

The next step is a process called 'bletting', when the harvested fruits are left to soften over a few weeks, turning darker, sweeter and wonderfully aromatic. The result? A traditional delicacy perfect for jellies and desserts. 🍯

Who knew such a curious little fruit had so much going on? 💚

🍈 Have you ever tried a medlar – or do you remember them growing in your garden? Let us know your stories in the comments!

29/10/2026

🌱 Many hands make light work! 💚

There’s been plenty going on in our allotments today, with our wonderful volunteers rolling up their sleeves to help transform our growing spaces.

From creating new planting beds and tending to our vegetables to clearing overgrown areas and opening up more space for growing, every helping hand makes a difference.

Fancy getting involved? We’d love to welcome you! 🙌

Our volunteer sessions run every Thursday, from 10am to 2pm, and everyone is welcome, whatever your skills or experience.

Activities include:
🌱 General gardening and planting
🥕 Tending to our vegetables and growing spaces
🌿 Clearing overgrown areas and creating new opportunities for growing

Whether you’re a keen gardener or simply fancy getting outdoors, learning something new and meeting people, there’s a place for you.

Email: [email protected] or give us a call on 01642 579820 to find out more.

A huge thank you to everyone who gives their time to help our growing spaces flourish. Together, we’re growing something special! 💚

29/10/2026

💡 Autumn Budget: What does it mean for your energy bills?

Yesterday’s Budget included several measures aimed at helping households manage energy costs, with support for eligible households and changes planned to make energy bills fairer.

Here are some of the key announcements:

💷 £100 energy payment – for eligible households in council tax bands A–D in England, with payments expected from January 2027.

⚡ Lower electricity costs – the temporary cut to VAT on household electricity bills will be extended until July 2027.

🏡 Changes to gas standing charges – the Government has asked Ofgem to remove standing charges from gas bills, potentially helping households that use less gas.

🤝 Help with energy debt – targeted support is planned for eligible vulnerable households struggling with energy debt.

Want to find out more about these announcements and what they could mean for you? Read the full story: What the Autumn Budget 2026 means for your energy bills on GOV.UK.

Need help with your energy bills now? You don’t have to wait for these changes to come into effect. Our Affordable Warmth team can offer advice and help you explore the support available. 💚

📩 Email: [email protected]
☎️ Or call (freephone) 0800 304 7084

Address

Former Nature's World Site, Sandy Flatts
Middlesbrough
TS57YN

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

01642 579820

Website

http://www.nineyards.org.uk/

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