Paddington Farm Trust provides opportunities for disadvantaged young people, families and the local community to connect with nature and to learn about organic growing, rural skills and sustainability.
We host farm residentials for youth groups from disadvantaged urban areas, immersing young people in a very world. It’s a world of friendly farm animals, birds and bugs, rolling green hills, clean air, starry skies and evenings by the campfire, combined with the freedom to explore. Many of these young people come from very challenging backgrounds; most have never stroked a sheep or fed a horse, and some have never been on holiday. Staying at Paddington Farm has a profound and lasting impact on these young people, and we often welcome groups back year after year.
We also host a range of activities that enable people from the local community and beyond to reconnect with the natural world and take part in the life of the farm. Our ongoing volunteer programme helps people deepen their connection with the land, develop their skills, and, of course, make a positive contribution to our work, as well as enabling us to provide opportunities for those with additional support needs. We host rural skills courses and family-friendly events and activities – including the ever-popular Family Festival, in partnership with local charity Children’s World.
A working farm, we grow a wide range of organic fruit and vegetables, which are sold at Glastonbury’s weekly market. We also have 2.5 acres of organic apple orchards, and each autumn we press our harvest into delicious apple juice. Our four-legged residents include goats, pigs, alpacas, sheep and ponies, and we rent out our fields to local farmers for grazing and haymaking.
Any profits that we made are put towards supporting our core aim of facilitating nature connection and access to the countryside, particularly for disadvantaged young people.
