New lease signed for much-loved city farm

Hopes to revitalise a city farm in south Bristol have been solidified as a lease has been signed by its new custodians.

Hartcliffe City Farm was run by volunteers for decades and welcomed thousands of visitors free-of-charge and provided numerous education opportunities.

But the site closed its doors to the public in February 2021 after 40 years of being run by Hartcliffe Community Park Farm.

One year on, the future of the farm looks a little brighter.

The new team say the site on Lampton Avenue is “brimming with potential” – The Bristol Mayor

Through a joint venture between two south Bristol organisations, an interim lease for the main site has been signed. Come spring, the farm’s gates could reopen for general visits.

Teams from local community group Heart of BS13 and Windmill Hill City Farm will look after the council-owned plot, with the hope of transforming it into a “thriving hub of community activity”.

Georgina Perry and Steve Sayers, chief executives of Heart of BS13 and Windmill Hill City Farm, broke the news on a post on the mayor Marvin Rees’ blog.

Calling the update a “little step forward”, they set out their ambitions to give the farm a new lease of life.

They wrote: “The site is brimming with potential to be a thriving hub of community activity that will transform the neighbourhood and become a player in the whole city’s life.

“In the long term, it will become a multi-faceted place that brings together the local community with training, education, cultural events, gardens, and, of course, farm animals.

“All framed within the context of a sustainable enterprise that is serious about addressing the threats of climate change.”

……………………………………………

This Bristol24/7 content is made possible by contributions from our members. In February and March, we are on a mission to get to 1,000 supporter members. Membership is £5 a month and allows us to continue our important work bringing you the best stories in Bristol. If you enjoy reading our articles, please consider supporting us and join today.

……………………………………………

At the core of the farm’s will be its partnership with the local community, with 1,000 people being engaged in the process so far and more than 50 people volunteering their time.

Perry and Sayers wrote: “Local people were clear that the site should deliver on three priorities: access for all; engaging with animals and nature; providing education and employment.”

There is considerable work to be done before the site can reopen – photo: The Bristol Mayor

They continued: “Having been fallow for some time, the site has needed considerable attention. Beds have been cleared and re-laid to form the basis of a horticulture enterprise: it will grow food and cut flowers.

“The buildings on site have been surveyed, and work to make them safe and useful is underway. Education spaces are being put together to enable school visits and early years groups.”

“In the spring we hope to open the gates to more general visits from the public. What they’ll find will be a work in progress – a place taking many ‘tiny steps’ towards a transformed future.”

It it their plan that Hartcliffe City Farm should reopen to the public in spring as a “work in progress”.

Main photo: Ellie Pipe

Read more: Hartcliffe Community Farm ‘seriously threatened’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: