About City Farms and Community Gardens

What are city farms and community gardens?

They are community-managed projects working with people, animals and plants. They range from tiny wildlife gardens to fruit and vegetable plots on housing estates, from community polytunnels to large city farms.

They exist mainly in urban areas and are created in response to a lack of access to green space, combined with a desire to encourage strong community relationships and an awareness of gardening and farming.

City farms and community gardens are often developed by local people in a voluntary capacity, and commonly retain a strong degree of volunteer involvement. Some larger community farms and gardens employ many workers whilst others are run solely by small groups of dedicated volunteers. Most are run by a management committee of local people and some are run as partnerships with local authorities, whilst retaining strong local involvement.

Most projects provide food-growing activities, training courses, school visits, community allotments and community businesses. In addition, some provide play facilities and sports facilities, and after school and holiday schemes.

What do they look like?

There is no typical city farm or community garden as each develops according to the local area and in response to the needs of the local community.

They are places where people of all ages, all ethnic backgrounds, all abilities and from all sections of the community are made welcome.

Why do they matter to people?

"It's all about including people, providing a 'growing space' for groups and individuals. People come to the farm because they want to work with animals, but they stay because of the people.
- Rob Gayler, Farm Manager, Lambourne End Centre, Essex

"We are worried about pollution and litter. People can learn about farms and how to care for them and not be so selfish."
- Hirza Mahmood, aged 11

"I felt institutionalised after spending many months in hospital. I was at rock bottom, then I started working at Redhall Walled Garden. It gave me purpose, I no longer dreaded waking up and the sheer physical activity felt good. I learned to laugh again and I have hope. Redhall is a very special place. At Redhall I was part of something not defined in mental health terms. I was a gardener."
- Some months after she started at Redhall Trish left hospital and moved into her own flat and has since found a job.

Gardening is a joy that recognises no restrictions of race or class or wealth or education: it unites and enriches us all. What community gardeners have in common is their determination and their biggest resource is ingenuity.
- Gardening Which? magazine