Miriam Gopaul explains why the Kentish Town farm is so important
Kentish Town City Farm has been at the heart of the local community since 1972, when it was the very first urban farm in the UK. With thousands of visitors of all ages every year, the farm has something for everyone!
The animals are at the heart of everything the farm does. From our tiny quails and cuddly guinea pigs to our colossal and sweet Shirley the cow, there is something for everyone. The guinea pigs are especially popular, and you can join them on Mondays and Fridays at 11:30, and weekends at 12, for free meet and greets with the public. Other animals on the farm love to greet our visitors for a cheeky head rub, especially the young sheep and the goats, who can often be found sunbathing and posing for visitor photos.
The farm runs a variety of programmes, both free and paid, for the community.
Young Farmers runs every weekend in termtime for children aged 8-16. Hundreds of young people have participated in the programme, which teaches farm maintenance and animal care. Long term young farmers get to take part in mobile farms, local fairs showing the animals, and the yearly London harvest Festival. Many of the children have also been supported to go on to careers in animal care, including vet technicians, veterinary nurses, and vets.
During Easter and the summer holidays, the farm runs its popular Holiday Hub. With both paid and Camden-funded spaces, open to all children aged 8-16, the Hubs are a vibrant, exciting programme that includes animal care, cookery (the participants cook lunch for everyone), and gardening, plus baking, pottery, arts and crafts, and nature explorations. Many children attend every holiday, catching up with friends and expanding their nature skills.
For after school activities, the farm runs Pet Club, a series of six-week courses for young people to learn all about caring for small animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. They learn how to look after them properly, including grooming and claw care, and how to grow fresh food for them at home. Participants can attend multiple courses, learning new skills every time.
On Wednesdays at 3:45pm, the farm’s resident potter, Pedro, runs family drop-in pottery sessions. Children can make all kind of clay-based art, which is then fired for the next week to take home. Places are limited, so be sure to get there on time.
On Tuesdays at 10am, the farm runs Nature Explorers, an outdoor drop-in for pre-school children, full of muddy play, seed planting, guinea pig cuddles, and crafts. The session is free, but places are limited, so arrive on time to secure your spot!
Also offered are a series of afternoon sustainability workshops, for ages 8-21. These focus on promoting a sustainable future and using natural materials to support the environment and help us live. Groups have learned how to make bags and phone cases from sheep wool, making bug homes and bee hotels, and natural dyes for clothing.
For adults, the farm offers a variety of volunteering opportunities that are vital in supporting the running of the farm. Our Farm Friends, or ‘Meet and Bleaters’ as they are known, are there to greet visitors at the weekend, selling produce, answering questions and offering information while the staff are on animal duties. There is also a Growing Club in the gardens on Sundays for adults and families to drop in and help maintain our gardens.
And the farm always has volunteering opportunities for its fair days – May Day, Apple Day, and Christmas. With thousands of visitors attending each event, volunteers are vital to run stalls, sell food, and help out on arts and crafts tables. The fairs are a huge part of the revenue for the farm, which supports itself through grants and donations, plus paid activities such as corporate team days and hiring out space for birthday parties, business breakout meetings, and training days.
We hope to see you there soon.
To learn more about Kentish Town City Farm and all the activities on offer, visit ktcityfarm.org.uk, and follow on Instagram and Facebook. The Farm is at 1 Cressfield Close NW5 4BN, off Grafton Road, south of Gospel Oak (there’s a great view of passing trains) and is open seven days a week,8am to 5pm, entry free.
