Vauxhall City Farm in Lambeth is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary as an “oasis” in the heart of London.
The farm prioritises community connection, therapeutic benefits, wellbeing, education and accessibility.
It offers green space, a variety of livestock and a café, plus work experience, volunteering and corporate programmes.
Around 60,000 people visit the farm each year, compared to 50,000 in the 2000s, and the farm hopes to increase visits to more than 75,000 in the next few years.
But Sharon Noble, head of fundraising and engagement at the farm, said: “We also want to be careful because one of the beauties of this place is how tranquil it is, so we don’t want to lose the ability for someone to come here to escape – so it’s about getting the right balance.”
Seeing children react to animals, and the looks on parents’ faces, keeps Noble motivated despite the challenges the charity has faced during its history.
She said: “There was a baby here last week who started waving when he saw a chicken for the first time. That was a lovely thing to see.
“We have people here who tell us stories of growing up, for example saying their father had a cow they used to ride. It’s about evoking those memories for adults too.”
The farm has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £250,000 ahead of the 50-year anniversary of its official formation as a charity in 1977.
Noble said: “Wrongly or rightly the campaign says ‘help us survive for another 50 years’. £250,000 would not keep us going for another 50 years, it’s probably about a third of a year. But it’d give us a buffer of money to use where we need to use it.”
Find out more in the video below:
Featured image credit: Natasha Norris
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