{"id":15970,"date":"2022-05-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=15970"},"modified":"2022-05-11T13:57:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T11:57:34","slug":"city-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/2022\/05\/04\/city-living\/","title":{"rendered":"City living"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s been 50 years since the first city farm was established and their role in providing a haven for nature continues to grow<\/p>\n\n

By <\/em>MIKE COLLINS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Canary Wharf and London\u2019s Docklands dominate the skyline as sheep graze on the pasture of Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Kentish Town City Farm opened back in 1972<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

I\u2019M LOOKING DOWN at giants \u2013a beech tree avenue that is at least 180 years old. The lime green leaves have created a spectacular show, and clusters of bluebells add a seasonal splash of colour.<\/span> I can just make out the sound of corner of my eye I see a great faint tapping and out of the spotted woodpecker. As I make my way down the steep hillside, a speckled wood butterfly glides in front of me and I catch the excited sounds of a group of children pond-dipping for newts and toads.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Suddenly, the stillness of the spring morning is broken by a train making its way from Bristol to London. I\u2019m wandering the one-mile trail at Bath City Farm and it\u2019s a real wildlife treat. One of 50 city farms across the UK, this 37-acre haven is a wonderful example of why these places matter for wildlife in urban landscapes.<\/p>\n\n

City farms are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Kentish Town was the first to open its doors, in October 1972. Only 5km as the crow flies from central London, it\u2019s squeezed between two railway lines and dense rows of housing in Camden.<\/p>\n\n

The original idea of a city farm was a simple one: take a small piece of land and use food production and farming as a way to connect communities. Following the founding of Kentish Town, city farms started to pop up all over the UK. Green oases in landscapes of tarmac, concrete and steel, city farms became places where children who might rarely visit the countryside could see a cow close-up, collect eggs from the hens and connect with nature.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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Vauxhall City Farm lies within earshot of Big Ben <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

All urban green spaces matter for wildlife, but city farms offer a bit extra in terms of the habitats they can squeeze into a space not much larger than a football pitch. They may be small (the UK\u2019s largest, Woodlands Farm in Greenwich, is 89 acres)<\/span> yet they play a key role in reversing some of the species and habitat loss that we\u2019re seeing.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cCity farms can be hugely important for urban wildlife,\u201d says ecologist Peter Brash.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe mix of habitats and the grazing animals can provide something missing from other green spaces, such as parks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Amy Coulthard, director for nature recovery at Avon Wildlife Trust, agrees. \u201cCity Farms provide green infrastructure in towns and cities that\u2019s vital, acting as homes for nature and places that can inspire people to connect with wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Traditional mixed farms, which raise livestock and <\/em>grow crops, were once a common sight in the countryside, but the decline of the smaller farm has seen a decrease in number. Mixed farms bring great benefits to wildlife and have been replicated in city farms. Lightly grazed meadows burst with wildflowers such as oxeye daisy and cuckooflower in summer; orchards are homes to mistle thrushes, lesser-spotted woodpeckers and bats; while farm buildings provide nesting sites for swifts and blue tits.<\/p>\n\n

Set up in the 1990s, Bath City Farm is visible from the famous Royal Crescent. Most visitors spend their time getting to know the goats and Shetland ponies, but surveys reveal why the farmland is so important for wild animals. Photographer and ecologist Mike Williams has been recording the species at the farm for five years. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s the abundance of species found at city farms, rather than the potential for rarer wildlife, that\u2019s really important.<\/span> In cities, these places might offer the only decent patch of green space for miles. They can act as reservoirs for many species.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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Bath City Farm puts the local community at its heart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Mike\u2019s list currently exceeds 700, and includes 21 species of butterfly (ringlets and the Essex skipper among them) and 17 types of fungi (including King Alfred\u2019s cakes and veiled oyster). New species turn up every year. A red kite was recorded for the first time in 2021, while the alder leaf beetle and Roesel\u2019s bush crickets have become relatively common sights on the grassland.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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Bug hotels give pollinating insects a place to live that\u2019s close to the crops growing on Spitalfields City Farm <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Increasingly, the work of city farms is moving beyond the confines of a small patch nestled in the urban sprawl. Swansea Community Farm (the only city farm in Wales) is not only nurturing farm animals, wildlife areas and allotments, but is also at the heart of a local partnership to improve a rare urban heathland known as Cadle Heath. Donkeys and goats have been loaned out to graze the space into an environment suitable for plants such as devil\u2019s-bit scabious (which attracts the scabious mining bee) and birds, including goldcrests and skylarks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cOur volunteers have driven our increased focus on conservation work,\u201d says wellbeing officer Katharine Aylett. \u201cAfter some basic training from Buglife, they\u2019re now more involved in regular wildlife survey work. These new skills have boosted their confidence and created positive connections with the natural world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Ecologist Peter seconds the approach of working with partner organisations to help wildlife flourish in cities. \u201cIt\u2019s about thinking beyond the boundary,\u201d he says. \u201cWe need to consolidate the links from farms to other green and brownfield sites, both within and outside the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

For the team at Mudchute, a city farm nestled under the gaze of London\u2019s Canary Wharf, working with partners such as Tower Habitats and Froglife makes total sense. \u201cSix of our native-breed sheep have been helping to graze an area of Green Park, right by Buckingham Palace,\u201d says farm manager Tom Davis. \u201cNow, when you walk through there in summer, it\u2019s humming with insects.<\/span> It\u2019s helping to raise awareness of what the farm does while also improving biodiversity in the heart of the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Mudchute has ambitious plans for the wildlife on the 32 acres it manages. It\u2019s one of the Rare Breed Survival Trust\u2019s approved conservation centres and these animals are key to improving areas of parkland and woodland. \u201cTheir teeth, hooves and poo will enhance the richness of our farm,\u201d says Tom.<\/span> \u201cTake some of the willow and hazel coppice \u2013 grazing here will open up the area and we\u2019ll see snowdrops and celandines again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

For Amy, it\u2019s about how city farms can fit into the bigger picture. \u201cThere\u2019s a really interesting role that city farms can play as conveners of change to help tackle the ecological emergency,\u201d she says. \u201cThis could be as a wild hub where local authorities and wildlife organisations can collaborate to reverse some of the species declines that we\u2019ve seen over the past 30 years, with hedgehogs or house sparrows, for instance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

In what feels like a pivotal new chapter for city farms, they\u2019re also helping to deepen our connection with nature. This includes supporting volunteers who might be overcoming personal challenges, or visitors for whom a trip to a city farm might be their only experience of a green space. Visitors, like Mike, for example.<\/p>\n\n

Mike\u2019s world was turned upside-down when he was diagnosed with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis). He went from being a busy ecological consultant, travelling around the UK, to being unable to leave his home. \u201cTo find myself in a position where I could barely get out of the door was soulcrushing,\u201d he recalls. \u201cBut having Bath City Farm nearby was amazing. I had easy access to green space and could keep up my natural history skills at my own pace \u2013 and rekindle my passion for wildlife photography.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Swansea Community Farm seen first-hand the impact being close to nature has on volunteers. One of them has discovered a passion for bees and now spends hours collecting data.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cMany volunteers had little experience of conservation work before coming to the farm,\u201d says Katharine. \u201cBut they all quickly recognise the benefits for their wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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You can easily get to Ouseburn by train, bus, bike or on foot<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Getting hands-on at Spitalfields City Farm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

For Miles Richardson, a professor at the University of Derby who has been researching the importance of our connectedness to nature, city farms can also help people notice nature more. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that we have a fundamental and basic need to connect with nature. Yet we\u2019re losing the ability to notice wildlife in our daily lives. For many people living in cities, spending time in green, natural spaces is the exception rather than the norm. That\u2019s why city farms really do matter; they provide places where wildlife can flourish and spaces where volunteers and visitors can have that regular connection with birdsong, butterflies or wildflowers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Amy sees another role for city farms \u2013 inspiring visitors to think about the relationship between the food they eat and the natural world. \u201cFor 50 years, city farms have played a huge role in bringing to life the story of how our food is produced,\u201d she says. \u201cThe movement deserves greater recognition for its role in tackling the crisis facing the natural world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

These much-loved places, which welcome over a million visitors a year, are now on the frontline of efforts to tackle the ecological emergency. Combined, all city farms would cover an area roughly equal to one large farm in the countryside. Yet, collectively, their impact far outweighs their size, by offering habitats that can be at the heart of a movement to rewild our cities and bringing more nature into the lives of the millions of people that live in them. <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
TOP 10<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

City farms and the wildlife you can see<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Enjoy bluebells in Hackney<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1<\/span> BALSALL<\/strong> HEATH CITY FARM,<\/strong> Birmingham <\/span>
A small city farm situated just south of Birmingham\u2019s city centre. Home to foxes and common garden birds, the farm is adding new hedgerows, bug hotels and a pollinator bed to attract more wildlife. <\/span>@BalsallHeathCF on Facebook<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/span> GORSE HILL CITY FARM, <\/strong>Leicester
Established by local people in the 1980s, these former allotments cover 20 acres in the west of the city. You can spot buzzards and sparrowhawks, and they\u2019ve seen a big increase in bees and butterflies thanks to nature-friendly planting. gorsehillcityfarm.org.uk<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3<\/span> ST JAMES CITY FARM, <\/strong>Gloucester
A short walk from the city centre, this city farm is home to rare-breed pigs and sheep, and has a paddock where kids can learn to ride horses. You can spot sweet violets, grey wagtails and comma butterflies. stjamescityfarm.co.uk<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/span> HACKNEY CITY FARM, <\/strong>London
A city farm that packs a real punch in terms of habitats within a small area. There\u2019s everything from a woodland to allotments. You can spot bluebells, stag beetles and dove\u2019s foot cranesbill. hackneycityfarm.co.uk<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5<\/span> MEANWOOD<\/strong> VALLEY URBAN FARM,<\/strong> Leeds
Opened in 1980 near the centre of Leeds, Meanwood has a long history of farming and a range of habitats, from woodland to pasture, plus a stream running through its heart. You can spot kestrels on the farm, and smooth newts and white-clawed crayfish in the stream. mvuf.org.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 <\/span>LOVE<\/strong> GORGIE FARM, <\/strong>Edinburgh
Only a couple of kilometres walk from the city centre, this city farm is on a former derelict site that was saved by the local community and turned into a treasured green space. You can spot red campion, hedgehogs and tree bumblebees. lovegorgiefarm.org.uk<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7<\/span> OUSEBURN<\/strong> FARM,<\/strong> Newcastle
This community-run farm was set up in the 1970s<\/span> by local parents who wanted their children to experience nature and growing food.<\/span> It\u2019s a short walk from the River Tyne in the heart of the city and you can spot kingfishers, southern hawker dragonflies and even an otter in the river. ouseburnfarm.org.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kestrels can be spotted in Leeds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8<\/span> OXFORD<\/strong> CITY FARM, <\/strong>Oxford
A community-run farm in the heart of Oxford on a once-derelict site. Volunteers learn new growing and cooking skills as connecting people with nature is central to life here. You can spot green woodpeckers, honeybees and foxes. <\/span>oxfordcityfarm.org.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9<\/span> SPITALFIELDS CITY FARM, <\/strong>London
Situated on the site of a former railway goods yard, the farm has been welcoming Londoners since 1978. The 1.3 acres has a dedicated wildlife garden and has become a haven for wildflowers. You can spot evening primrose, great crested newts and small red damselfly. spitalfieldscityfarm.org<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10<\/span> ST WERBURGH\u2019S CITY FARM,<\/strong> Bristol <\/strong>
An 18-acre oasis in north-east Bristol, spread across a number of sites, connecting local people with farm animals and providing much-needed space to grow food via community allotments. You can spot sparrowhawks, early dog-violet and small tortoiseshells. <\/span>swcityfarm.co.uk<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St Werburgh\u2019s City Farm helps people understand where food comes from<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

Biodiversity at Bath City Farm<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

City farms cram a lot of life into a small space so you\u2019ll find more than just the familiar farm animals and crops. Here are a few of the species you might see on Bath City Farm\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. BEE FLY
Key insects for pollination. They carry pollen between flowers while using their long tongues to collect nectar.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. GREAT CRESTED NEWT
These amphibians feed on invertebrates but require a good, clean water source to thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. GREEN WOODPECKER
Found all over Britain, this bird spends a lot of time on the ground searching for and feeding on ants.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. WASP SPIDER
Named after its wasp-mimicking colouration, this arachnid is gradually spreading further north and weaving its distinctive orb-shaped webs along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. IVY BROOMRAPE
A parasitic plant that depends on its host, usually ivy, to provide all the chlorophyl it needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Mike Collins is a trustee at Bath City Farm, has worked in nature communications for more than 10 years and is a volunteer with his local toad patrol group. You can follow him on Twitter at @mikeyc74.<\/p>\n\n

Photos: JANE SWEENEY\/JON ARNOLD IMAGES LTD\/ALAMY; ARCHIVE IMAGE: FRED MOTT\/GETTY; VAUXHALL: ALAMY; KESTREL: GARY CHALKER\/GETTY; BLUEBELLS; MANDY DISHER\/GETTY; ALLOTTMENTS: SARAH FLINT\/ST WERBUGHS CITY FARM; BUG HOTEL: SPITALFIELDS CITY FARM; PONY: SIMON TAYLOR;  GOAT: JULIO ETCHART\/ALAMY; LANDSCAPE: OUSEBURN FARM; BIODOIVERSITY (X5): MIKE WILLIAMS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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