Vauxhall City Farm

Vauxhall City Farm is a city farm located in Vauxhall in the London Borough of Lambeth. The farm is run as a charity focusing on education, youth work, animal care and horticulture[1] and is a centre for Riding for the Disabled.

Vauxhall City Farm
Entrance to Vauxhall City Farm
Location within central London
TypeCity Farm
LocationVauxhall, London
Coordinates51°29′14″N 0°07′09″W
StatusOpen year round
Websitehttps://vauxhallcityfarm.org/

History

Vauxhall City Farm was founded in 1977 as Jubilee City Farm by a group of architects squatting at St Oswald's Place, following large-scale demolitions in the neighbourhood between 1972 and 1976.[2]

The farm contains animals such as alpacas, sheep, goats and pigs which are used for the farm's education and youth work as well as for filming and photo-shoots.[3] The farm's pigs have appeared on the Alan Titchmarsh Show[4] and the goats were used to graze a meadow on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank in 2013.[5][6] In April 2009 BBC London's 'Farmyard Cam' streamed live footage of the sheep at the farm.[7]

In October 2013, Vauxhall City Farm was approved for planning permission to provide a major overhaul of the farm alongside new affordable housing.[8][9] In 2013, the farm was also granted a fund from Sport England and The National Lottery to build three new stables.[10]

The farm celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017.

Projects and services

Entrance to the farm is free, and there is a cafe and gift shop.[11]

The farm operates a therapy riding centre as well as youth and animal projects. Former riders at the farm include Sam Martin,[12] who trained to take part in the 2016 Summer Olympics. In November 2011 the farm offered twenty London families free riding lessons run by European Dressage Championship gold medalist Emile Faurie.[13][14] It also hosts a group of Spinners who make yarn from the wool of the sheep and alpacas using dyes cultivated from vegetables and plants grown on the site.[15][16]

The farm's riding school offers lessons for people with disabilities[17], while children can “own a pony” during school holidays to learn how to muck them out and ride them. A scheme with local schools and nurseries allows children to watch chicks hatch in their classrooms.[18]

  • White chinchilla
  • A spring lamb
  • Donkeys Bert & Ernie
  • Spring lamb with daffodils
  • An alpaca helping TfL advertise their overground map
  • Pond dipping
  • Incubator with freshly hatched chick
  • Livestock paddock
  • Kids gardening
  • Farm yard with animals
  • Gardening with young people
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References
  1. "Charity overview". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  2. "About Us". Vauxhall City Farm. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  3. "What We Offer". Vauxhall City Farm. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. "Our Family". Vauxhall City Farm. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  5. "Goats cut grass along the South Bank". ITV News. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  6. "PICTURES: Grazing goats grace South Bank roof". London24. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  7. "BBC London's Farmyard Cam". BBC Online. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  8. Thompson, Max (17 October 2013). "Overhaul of Vauxhall City Farm mooted". Architects Journal. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  9. "Skyscraper developer to farm out 'affordable housing' to Vauxhall City Farm?". The Vauxhall Society. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  10. Mathieson, Amy (6 September 2013). "Vauxhall City Farm riding centre gets funding boost". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  11. Boulter, Liz (30 March 2018). "Take the kids to … Vauxhall City Farm, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  12. Douglas, Hilary (9 June 2013). "Gang boy escapes streets to become Olympic hope". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  13. "Central London families muck in with Emile Faurie at Vauxhall City Farm". British Equestrian Federation. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  14. "Central London Families Muck in with Emile Faurie at Vauxhall City Farm". Eurodressage. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  15. "Exhibitor biography's - Queen's Gardens". Fashion Capital. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  16. Babbs, Helen (17 February 2012). "Beer, bread and threads: cottage industries grow in the city". The City Planter. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  17. "RDA Groups". Riding for the Disabled Association. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  18. "The 7 best city farms in London". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
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