Surrey Docks Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Surrey Docks Farm |
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![]() Thames Entrance to Surrey Docks Farm
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Type | City Farm |
Location | Rotherhithe, London |
Status | Open year round |
Surrey Docks Farm is a special place in the middle of London. It's a working city farm, which means it's a farm right inside a city! It covers about 2.2 acres (which is like two football fields) and sits on the south bank of the famous River Thames in an area called Rotherhithe.
Contents
What You Can Do at the Farm
Surrey Docks Farm is a busy place where people can learn all about farming and how food is made. It's a great way to get involved with farm life, even in the city!
Meet the Animals
The farm is home to many different animals. You can see:
- Goats, including Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian types
- Oxford Down sheep
- Oxford Sandy and Black pigs
- Ducks, geese, and chickens
- Ferrets, rabbits, and guinea pigs
- Donkeys and a tiny Shetland pony
- Even bees, which help make honey!
The farm takes great care of all its animals, making sure they are happy and healthy.
Explore the Gardens
Besides animals, the farm has many green spaces and gardens. These include:
- An orchard with fruit trees
- A herb garden where you can find plants used for cooking
- A dye garden, where plants are grown to make natural dyes
- Plots for growing vegetables
- A wild area that is a home for native species of birds and amphibians (like frogs and newts)
You can even buy fresh food and produce grown right on the farm!
Other Cool Things to See
The farm also has other interesting areas:
- A bee room, where you can learn about bees and honey.
- A cozy café for snacks and drinks.
- A working blacksmith’s forge, where you can see metal being shaped.
- Rooms for adult education, where grown-ups can learn new skills.
- A fully equipped classroom for schools from all over London to visit and learn.
How the Farm is Run
Surrey Docks Farm is managed by a special group called the Surrey Docks Farm Provident Society Ltd. This group is a charity, which means it's set up to help the community and doesn't make a profit. They really want local people to become members and help guide the farm, making sure it stays a true community project. Important people, like the Bishop of Southwark, support the farm.
A Look Back at the Farm's History
Surrey Docks Farm has an interesting past!
Early Days
The farm first started in 1975. Back then, it was on a smaller piece of land (about 1.5 acres) that used to be old, unused dockland. The idea was to try and raise animals and grow food on land that wasn't being used for anything else. In 1980, the farm officially became a charity group.
Moving to a New Home
In 1986, the farm moved to its current, larger spot, which is 2.2 acres right on the River Thames. This new location, called South Wharf, has its own history. Long ago, it was part of a big shipyard where boats were built. Later, it was used for storing timber. From 1883, it became a place where people who were sick with diseases like smallpox were brought before being taken to hospitals. This building was damaged in 1940 and never rebuilt.
For many years, until 2011, a local person named Barry Mason helped manage the farm.
Looking to the Future
In 2019, with help from Southwark Council, the farm began an exciting plan to improve its riverfront area. They want to turn unused parts of the farm into new and better facilities for the community to enjoy.