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Stonebridge City Farm is an urban farm in St Ann's, Nottingham, England. Created in 1980, it is relatively small in size, being sited in an area of regeneration, on the footprint of a school and grounds that were originally planned to have been built there.[further explanation needed][citation needed]
| Stonebridge City Farm | |
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| Motto | A slice of the country in the heart of the city |
| Location | St Ann's, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Nearest city | Nottingham |
| Coordinates | 52°57′27″N 1°08′03″W / 52.957577°N 1.134118°W |
| Created | 1978 |
| Managed by | Peter Armitage |
| Open | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Farm logo |  |
| Website | www.stonebridgecityfarm.com |
The farm has gardens, a café, a shop, a play area for children, toilets, hand washing facilities, and a barn. It is a registered charity,[1] hosts educational visits and work experience,[2][3] is run entirely on grants and donations, and has staff and volunteers.[4][5][6]
History
editThe St. Ann's area of Nottingham underwent a great deal of slum clearance starting in the 1960s and 1970s, making way for more modern council housing. Although much of the area was regenerated, a school that was planned for the site was canceled, and the land became derelict. Urban farms had started to appear in the Netherlands and, in 1977, started to be discussed for this site. By 17 August 1978, a lease was signed, and a barn was erected in May 1980.[7]
Gardens
editThe farm has a number of areas of cultivation, from orchards and greenhouses to more formal gardens and wild spaces. Fruit and vegetables grown there are used in the kitchens of the on-site café, or sold either in the shop or a stall on the nearby Sneinton Market. Bees are also kept, both as pollinators and to harvest their honey.
Stonebridge City Farm Gardens have won a number of awards, firstly winning the Civic Trust "Green Flag" award (a national standard for parks) in 2010.[8] The gardens won the Royal Horticultural Society in Bloom Bronze and Gold Medals.[9] In 2011, the gardens won the Outstanding award in the East Midlands Bloom Finals.[9]
In January 2020, local police donated confiscated equipment from drug crimes for use on the farm, including fertilizer, tools, and hardware.[10][11]
In 2022, the gardens won a Civic Trust "Green Flag" Community Award.[12]
Animals
editLivestock
editSeveral animals of many different sizes are kept. Although these change over time – the farm rescues unwanted animals – kunekune pigs, cows, goats, sheep, and ponies are usually to be seen in the paddocks around the farm. A large number of chickens, ducks, quails and geese are kept, partly for the eggs they provide. There are also smaller animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits and an aviary of exotic birds both of which may not be touched. [13][5][14][15][4]
Wildlife
editEvents such as the RSPB "Feed the Birds Day" for the wild birds are often staffed by members of the local RSPB group. There are also other wildlife events such as pond dipping held there.
Education
editThe farm encourages school visits so that urban children can learn about farm life.[16] It offers courses on beekeeping and gardening, placements for students studying animal-related courses, and supports people with special needs.[4][3] It has an education building with a purpose-built classroom. The farm hosts a work club for over-18s.[2]
References
edit- ^ Data for financial year ending 31 March 2019 charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ a b Work Clubs in Area 6 nottinghamcity.gov.uk, Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ a b Supported placement programme over one or more days each week, for adults with disabilities Transition: leaving school, moving to adult services. nottinghamshire.gov.uk Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ a b c Stonebridge City Farm's urgent appeal raises £12k in under a week Nottinghamshire Live, 13 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ a b Behind the scenes of Stonebridge City Farm where every animal has a name Nottinghamshire Live, 12 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ Volunteering "NTU Catering regularly provide staff volunteers who visit Stonebridge Community Farm in Nottingham to help maintain the grounds and care for the free range animals." Nottingham Trent University. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ "A History of Stonebridge City Farm". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012.
- ^ "Top 21 put the flags out". Archived from the original on 4 September 2012.
- ^ a b "One East Midlands Stonebridge City Farm Case Study" (PDF).
- ^ Police drug support team donates equipment from cannabis grows to Stonebridge City Farm Nottinghamshire Live, 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020
- ^ Force donates confiscated equipment to St Ann’s farm Nottinghamshire Police official website, 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020
- ^ "Green Flag Award Winners 2022" (PDF).
- ^ Parrots and other exotic birds are on the loose after vandals attacked their aviary at a Nottingham city farm. BBC News Nottingham, 21 April 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2020
- ^ New Aviary opening at Stonebridge City Farm visit-nottinghamshire. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ Popular city attraction Stonebridge City Farm in urgent need of £30k to keep running Nottinghamshire Live, 7 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020
- ^ Stonebridge City Farm Visits Crabtree Farm Primary school, 14 May 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020