Down on the City Farm: Tyneside's Community Farms

In the midst of the urban North East, in places where one might least expect them, there are farms where city dwellers can meet animals, grow food and connect with the natural world. The city farms of Tyneside, run for and often by their communities, offer a wonderful green oasis in the urban landscape and a host of benefits to the people they serve. These community farms are a delightful and valuable part of local life, bringing the countryside into the heart of the city.

Farms in the City.
City farms are working farms located within urban areas, established to give people who live in towns and cities the chance to experience farming and the natural world close to home. On Tyneside, community farms such as those at Bill Quay in Gateshead and in the Ouseburn valley in Newcastle provide green spaces where animals are kept, food is grown and the public can come to visit and take part. These farms bring an unexpected touch of the countryside into the urban environment, offering city dwellers a connection to farming and nature that might otherwise be beyond their reach. They are a charming and valuable feature of the urban landscape.

Meeting the Animals.
One of the great attractions of the city farm is the chance to meet and learn about animals. The farms keep a variety of animals, from goats and sheep to pigs, hens and other creatures, and visitors, especially children, delight in seeing them and learning about them. For many city children, who may have little opportunity to encounter farm animals, the city farm offers a precious chance to connect with these creatures and to understand where food comes from. The presence of the animals is at the heart of the appeal of the city farm, bringing joy and learning to visitors of all ages.

Growing and Learning.
City farms are also places of growing and learning, where food is cultivated and people can learn about gardening, farming and the natural world. The farms often have gardens, allotments and growing areas where vegetables and other produce are cultivated, and they provide opportunities for people to get involved in growing food and to learn valuable skills. This educational role is an important part of the work of the city farm, helping people to understand food production, to appreciate the natural world and to develop practical skills. The farms are a wonderful resource for learning and for connecting people with nature.

A Community Resource.
The city farms of Tyneside are, above all, community resources, run for the benefit of the people they serve and often involving local people in their work. The farms provide a green space for the community to enjoy, a place for families to visit, and opportunities for volunteering and involvement that bring people together. Many city farms depend heavily on the work of volunteers and the support of their communities, embodying the spirit of community involvement and mutual benefit. They are places where the community comes together, where people can contribute and belong, and where the bonds of community are strengthened.

Benefits for Wellbeing.
The city farms offer considerable benefits for the wellbeing of the people who use them. The chance to spend time outdoors, to be among animals and growing things, and to take part in gentle activity in a green setting does much for both physical and mental health. For people whose lives are spent in the urban environment, the farm offers a restorative connection to nature and a welcome escape from the pressures of city life. The therapeutic value of contact with animals and nature is increasingly recognised, and the city farms provide this valuable resource freely to their communities, contributing to the health and happiness of the people they serve.

Supporting Inclusion.
City farms often play an important role in supporting inclusion and providing opportunities for people who might otherwise be excluded. Many farms offer activities and involvement for people of all abilities and backgrounds, including those facing particular challenges, providing a welcoming and supportive environment in which everyone can take part and contribute. This inclusive role is a valuable aspect of the work of the city farm, offering opportunities for learning, activity and belonging to people who benefit greatly from them. The farms are places of welcome and inclusion, open to all and supportive of those in need.

A Green Treasure.
The city farms of Tyneside are a green treasure in the heart of the urban North East, offering a wonderful connection to animals, nature and farming for the people they serve. They bring joy and learning to children, provide a green oasis and a community resource, support wellbeing and inclusion, and embody the spirit of community involvement and care. As places where the countryside meets the city and where communities come together, they enrich the lives of all who visit them. The city farms are a delightful and valuable part of local life, and a fine example of the benefits that community-run green spaces can bring.

Connecting People with Nature.
At a time when so many people, and especially children, are increasingly disconnected from the natural world and from the sources of their food, the city farms of Tyneside perform a valuable service in reconnecting people with nature, animals and the growing of food. Modern urban life can leave people, particularly those growing up in cities, with little direct contact with animals, with the countryside or with the processes by which food is produced, and this disconnection has consequences for understanding, wellbeing and attitudes to the natural world. The city farms address this disconnection directly, offering city dwellers the chance to meet animals, to see and take part in the growing of food, and to experience a connection with nature that might otherwise be missing from their lives. For children especially, the experience of meeting farm animals, of understanding where food comes from and of spending time in a green and natural setting can be both delightful and educational, fostering an appreciation of nature and an understanding of food that will benefit them throughout their lives. This reconnection with nature has value not only for individual wellbeing but for the development of attitudes of care and respect towards the natural world and towards animals. By bringing the farm into the city and making contact with nature accessible to all, the city farms perform an important role in an age of urbanisation and disconnection. They remind us of the value of contact with the natural world and of the importance of ensuring that, even in the heart of the city, people can experience the joys and the lessons of nature, animals and the growing of food.

Join the conversation.
Tyneside's city farms bring animals, growing and a green community space into the heart of the city.

Have you visited one of Tyneside's city farms with your family?