Why we exist
Stonebridge City Farm has been part of St Ann’s, Nottingham, since 1978. It was built by local people and has been sustained over time through a mix of community effort, public support, and a clear sense that this place should remain open, accessible and rooted in the neighbourhood. That history still shapes how it operates today. It is not a project that arrived from outside. It is a piece of local infrastructure that has held its ground as other forms of provision have come and gone.
We operate in an area facing sustained deprivation, isolation, and limited access to opportunity. For many people, there are few safe, consistent environments where trust can be built over time, where skills can be developed without pressure, and where taking a step forward does not depend on meeting a threshold first.
Most formal services are designed around eligibility, time limits or defined outcomes. They often work well for people who are already stable enough to engage. They work less well for those whose lives are shaped by trauma, fluctuating health, caring responsibilities or poverty. The result is that many people are left at the edge of systems because the conditions for participation are too rigid, not because they lack motivation.
Stonebridge offers something different. We are open access, we are consistent, and we are built around real work. People do not need to be “ready” before they arrive. They can turn up, be part of something, and begin contributing from day one.
Belonging comes first. Without it, very little holds. But contribution is what creates change. It is through doing something that matters, alongside others, that confidence builds, relationships form and identity shifts.
Across many urban communities, isolation is increasing, mental health is under pressure, access to green space is declining, and shared community infrastructure has been steadily reduced.
What remains is often fragmented or transactional. Places where people can simply turn up, stay, and become part of something over time are increasingly rare.
At Stonebridge, people contribute at a pace and in ways that match their capacity. Through roles in animal care, horticulture, catering and site maintenance, they build routine, relationships and a sense of usefulness that is grounded in real responsibility.
Connection with animals and nature is not an optional extra. It is the environment that makes the rest possible. It lowers stress, creates space for people to regulate, and provides a steady, non-judgemental context in which people can reconnect with themselves and with others.
For many, it is the starting point for re-entering community life in a way that feels manageable and real.
People who have been marginalised regain confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Children experience animals, food growing, and outdoor learning without leaving the city. Local residents gain access to green space that is genuinely public and welcoming. Over time, the farm functions as social infrastructure: a place that quietly holds communities together rather than simply a visitor attraction.
People are more likely to show up consistently, take responsibility, and build competence over time. Retention improves. Incidents reduce. Trust grows. The quality of contribution rises because participation is chosen rather than coerced. The alternative is predictable: churn, disengagement, and reinforcing the belief that “I can’t manage” or “I don’t belong here”.
This model depends on skilled staff, consistent safeguarding, supervision, training, and the daily care of animals, land, and facilities. Free access is a deliberate choice, but it is not cost-free. It only works because individuals, funders, and partners choose to underwrite the real costs of keeping a safe, inclusive space open to everyone.
The history of Stonebridge City Farm & Gardens
From humble beginnings
In the early 1970s, this was allotment space, used and tended by local people. As part of wider redevelopment across St Ann’s, the land was cleared of slum housing to make way for a new estate and a proposed school. That school was never built.
Instead, local conversations began to shift the purpose of the site. The idea of a city farm emerged, shaped by people who wanted something practical, shared and rooted in everyday life. After sustained discussion with the council, a lease was agreed in August 1978. The first permanent structure, the barn, was put up in May 1980. What exists now grew from that moment.
Stonebridge City Farm was not imposed. It grew out of what people here could see was missing, and it has endured because that need is still present.
Let the planning begin!
The site wasn’t exactly ready-made farmland – it was mostly rubble. Volunteers hauled in soil from the Colwick Sugar Beet Factory, spread it by hand, and bit by bit transformed the ground into a living, growing space. The original plan was for education and community involvement: shared flower beds, veggie patches, and herb gardens where everyone – young and old – could get stuck in.
Of course, things haven’t always been smooth sailing. In 1981, the County Council threatened to sell off the land – but local residents fought back with a petition, and the farm survived.
Creating Community
Despite the original focus of the farm being on plants and vegetables, the number of animals quickly started to grow. By the summer of 1982 the animal numbers had increased to 5 goats, 2 lambs, 22 ducks, 40 rabbits and 60 chickens! In 1983, disaster struck when the barn burnt down, destroying the van and a year’s supply of straw. But once again, volunteers rallied and repaired the barn for a fraction of the cost.
People power
Over the years, the farm has kept adapting. In 1992, the layout was redesigned with the north-south footpath, making it easier for the community to connect with us, and the community café was born. In 2009, plans for an access road threatened to cut right through the site, but thanks to another petition and local media coverage, the farm was protected.
A place for volunteers
Today the farm continues to grow for the benefit of the local and wider communities. We care for a whole host of animals, from larger animals, such as cows, to small rabbits and birds. We welcome over 100,000 visitors every year, along with 1,400 schoolchildren, and even host Community Impact Days for local organisations.
Behind the scenes, a staff of 15 people and an incredible 150+ volunteers each week keep the farm alive. Many of our volunteers face challenges such as learning difficulties, mental health issues, or other disadvantages, and the farm gives them a safe, supportive space to learn new skills and build confidence.
Stonebridge exists because people choose to support it.
In uncertain times, regular donations are what allow us to keep the farm open, care for our animals, and remain a free, welcoming space for the community. If this place matters to you, a monthly gift helps secure its future.