You can be forgiven for thinking that you are dreaming when you're in the middle of Gloucester and you see cows or sheep running about. But since 1998, St James City Farm has provided a taste of the countryside in the heart of the city of Gloucester. With exciting projects ranging from learning how to grow your own vegetables to getting young people to design and build livestock housing, the City Farm has partnered up with a range of organisations to get these ideas off the ground.
Offering hands on practical farm experience shows how we can connect young people to these opportunities, acting as a gateway, building knowledge, experience and aspirations so city kids can have fun, learn and benefit from interaction with animals and nature.The farm is run as a community project by 'The Friendship Cafe' a registered local, charity, run mainly by volunteers.
Offering hands on practical farm experience shows how we can connect young people to these opportunities, acting as a gateway, building knowledge, experience and aspirations so city kids can have fun, learn and benefit from interaction with animals and nature.The farm is run as a community project by 'The Friendship Cafe' a registered local, charity, run mainly by volunteers.
Services
The Friendship Cafe provide mainly youth & community based activities, focusing mainly but not exclusively on young people, children and families in the Barton & Tredworth areas of Gloucester City, although our users come from many different backgrounds and from all over the City and County, which means that we are used by hundreds of different people each week.
The farm was originally established by Gloucester City Council in partnership with local people who got together over the idea to convert this then derelict and overgrown piece of land into a 'city farm', so children from the area could see and learn about farm animals. After plenty of planning, meetings, debates and consultation, eventually 'St James City Farm', was established in 1998.
Dexter cattle originated in Ireland and are the smallest of British breeds - first introduced into England in 1882. They are extremely hardy and can live outdoors all year round if necessary. We like to provide them with shelter over winter as this gives the grazing areas chance to recover in time for Spring and also gives the cattle some respite from our cold wet weather.
Some of the pictures taken during pony race training, a project run in conjunction with the Pony Racing Authority and Bourton Vale Equestrian Centre. This is a part of the City Farm that volunteers have been working hard in over the past three years to turn a bit of derelict land into a beautiful area.
Our Pony care and riding project is a chance for children who would otherwise not have the chance, to learn the basics of riding and horse care with 1-1 lessons. The riding school is approved by the British Horse Society and also an official Pony Club Centre and aims to link young people to horses and hopefully explore the many horse-related career and leisure opportunities.
Reviews (8)
Carolina Benvegnu
Jan 13, 2022
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I volunteer here and I have the best time! Everyone's wonderful and happy to work here and educate our visitors :)
For anyone considering visiting, please do, I'm sure you'll be greeted with a smile and have a great time! You will also have the opportunity to hang out with farm animals in the city, which is not that common.
For anyone considering visiting, please do, I'm sure you'll be greeted with a smile and have a great time! You will also have the opportunity to hang out with farm animals in the city, which is not that common.
Amber Haskins
Oct 08, 2021
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Davinder Badhen
Aug 25, 2021
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Fiona Burns-Davies
Aug 12, 2021
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I understand that the city farm is run by volunteers but the animal care is shoddy. The sheep were struggling to keep cool during the last heatwave because they hadn't been shorn. Visibly panting! The pigs looked stressed. No clean water to drink. No food and their mud pit was almost dry. Witnessed a few weeks earlier, one of the volunteers taking a child on a hack through the adjacent park on one of the ponies. The said pony had no shoes on and their hooves needed clipping. Again in the searing heat. Animal welfare needs to be improved.
Luna Staple
Aug 08, 2021
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Nasrin Mozlu
Jun 17, 2021
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Such a brilliant and educational little farm in the middle of a small space! Free entry and a little space for parking. If you go after breakfast at weekends you can tour this little farm with your kids. More cities should have places like this. Brilliant and enjoyable for an hour as it is small. Good range of animals and I love the horse!
Andrew Brown
Dec 05, 2019
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What an awesome place this is I the most unlikely of places! Not a massive amount of animals but certainly enough to keep a 2 year old entertained for a couple of hours! The owls are a particular highlight with their handler ever willing to chat and tell you all about them!
Give it a go you won't be disappointed!
Give it a go you won't be disappointed!
James Cullis
Jun 21, 2018
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