Community Story: Stonebridge City Farm

For our latest feature profiling a recent recipient of a Community Matters Fund (Green Spaces 2026) grant from National Grid, we're in St Ann's, Nottingham, to find out about a fantastic project from Stonebridge City Farm. Luke Upton chatted with Grace Devey, Marketing and Events Co-ordinator, about the farm's community roots, its 130 weekly volunteers and how a new all-weather pathway will open up the site to visitors of all abilities.

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for your time today, Grace. To start, could you tell us a little about the origins of Stonebridge City Farm and how the organisation has evolved over the years?

Grace Devey (GD): Stonebridge has been part of Nottingham since 1978. Local residents wanted to turn an area of derelict land into something positive and useful for the community. The idea was very much about creating a place where local people could come together, grow vegetables, work the land and keep a small number of animals.

Over time, the farm grew beyond its community growing roots. It became a visitor attraction, giving local families and visitors the chance to get close to farm animals. It became a place for education, where children, young people and adults could learn about the natural environment. It also became a hub for volunteering, where people could develop confidence, learn practical skills and find a sense of purpose and belonging. Volunteers are involved in everything from animal care and food growing to maintenance, the café, the shop and welcoming visitors.

Today, Stonebridge remains a vital piece of green space in the city. The farm is free to enter and open to everyone, providing a safe, welcoming and accessible place where people can spend time outdoors, connect with nature, meet others and take part in community life. We now welcome around 100,000 visitors each year and have around 130 volunteers on site each week. Many of our volunteers face barriers such as learning difficulties, mental health issues, disability, social isolation or other disadvantages.

That original idea of creating something by and for the local community is still at the heart of what we do: a shared space where people can connect with nature, learn, contribute and feel that they belong.

LU: What are you currently focusing on, and what are the main priorities for the organisation at the moment?

GD: Summer is always a busy time at Stonebridge. We love seeing the site full of families enjoying their school holidays, especially those on a budget. We made sure there were loads of activities for families to enjoy alongside visiting the animals and exploring our gardens.

Our events are designed to reflect our diverse local population. In our area, 42% of people are from a non-white ethnic background, 24% of households experience income deprivation and 38% of children aged 15 and under live in poverty. All three GP practices in St Ann's also record a significantly higher prevalence of severe mental illness than the England average.

Now that summer is over, we're refreshing some of the more tired areas of the site ready for next year and developing new additions to the farm. This includes completing our new reception area and shop, along with a new safe, all-weather pathway and entrance area supported by National Grid.

After that, we'll be focusing on two new projects. The first is redeveloping our play area so it is safe for children to use in the spring and accessible for pushchairs, wheelchairs and people with mobility challenges. The second is building a "Men's Shed", which a variety of community groups will use to build connections. Both projects support our wider aims to reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing, increase independence and help people realise their potential.

LU: You've recently received funding through National Grid and Localgiving's Community Matters Fund (Green Spaces) 2026. Could you tell us more about the project, what the funding will support and what you hope to achieve?

GD: We are just completing our new reception area and shop, which has been built entirely by volunteers with no outside help. As visitors come and go, they currently cross a grassed play area that's now mostly rutted mud! We need a wide pathway and gathering space linking the new building to the site's main paths.

The funding will give us a safe, flat pathway to take visitors from our new entrance desk out into our "slice of countryside in the heart of the city". Our visitors are diverse, not just in age and ethnicity but also in ability. Many have physical needs or conditions that affect their mobility. We also partner with organisations such as Mencap and specialist colleges whose students have mobility issues.

The pathway will also mean more of the farm can be used all year round. It will give us a space to put on community events and activities and host music, bringing people together for years to come. So, a very big thank you to National Grid and Localgiving for making it possible.

LU: How important is grant funding like this to Stonebridge City Farm, and what difference does it make to the work you're able to deliver in the community?

GD: Grant funding like this from National Grid is fundamental to us. We are funded almost entirely through grants, donations and other external support, and funding like this is what keeps the farm open, free to enter and accessible to everyone. Stonebridge costs around £1,400 a day to run, so this support has a direct, practical impact on our ability to keep the gates open and maintain the site.

Keeping the farm free to enter is a deliberate choice. We want people to be able to come through our gates whether they visit once a month, every week or every day, without cost becoming a barrier. It gives people free access to a vital piece of social infrastructure: a safe, welcoming and accessible green space in the middle of the city where they can spend time outdoors, connect with nature and meet other people.

Grant funding allows Stonebridge to remain a place where people can visit, volunteer, learn, build skills, connect with others and feel that they belong. Without it, it would be much harder to keep offering free access and the inclusive volunteering and community support that people rely on.

LU: Wonderful to hear! Beyond financial support, what do you think would make the biggest difference to your organisation and the communities you support?

GD: We are always looking for local businesses to partner with. Lasting partnerships let businesses make a real difference in their community in a way they might struggle to otherwise. Businesses can join us for one of our Community Impact Days or support our work by donating services and skills.

And if you're in Nottingham, come and visit us! Over the winter months the site can get very quiet, but our volunteers are still here mucking out and working in the shop and on the welcome desk. Come and say hello to the animals and, of course, stay for a cuppa and a cake. Just make sure you bring some layers and wear your wellies!

People can also head to our Amazon wishlist to buy some goodies for the animals. Our barn team regularly update it with all sorts of treats and rewards, and it really takes the pressure off our monthly barn expenses.

LU: And finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers, such as upcoming projects, events, achievements or other ways people can get involved?

GD: We have loads of exciting activities and events planned for October and, of course, Christmas. We've already started transforming one of our polytunnels into Santa's workshop! Head over to our website to check out our events calendar and see how you can get involved.

LU: Grace, thanks for the time today, I know how busy you are! Keep up the great work! 

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