London’s second oldest city farm has received £123,600 in funding to boost its educational work with schools.
The City Bridge Trust grant will finance the hiring of a development manager to run new education and community projects at Freightliners City Farm in Islington.
The farm already hosts around 45,000 visits a year, and homes a diverse range of animals include goats, sheep, cows and Kunekune pigs.
Backed by 60 volunteers, the new post will also manage the community café and lead on site improvements, such as transforming on-site ornamental gardens.
Freightliners City Farm has been operating for 40 years in Paradise Park.
The charity provides a safe haven for local residents and communities in a densely populated part of London.
The farm gives local children the chance to see farm animals up close in real life, and classes and workshops are run on spinning and weaving, bee keeping and composting.
Liz McAllister, of Freightliners City Farm, said: “Not only does the grant support the farm’s aim to provide a free and open access green space for our local community, but it will enable us to manage a range of activities and programmes which bring our diverse community together.”
