City farm opens its doors to reveal training advantages

The East Hull Community Farm on Barham Road, Bilton Grange, covers seven acres of land, bordering Andrew Marvell Business and Enterprise College and surrounding housing.

The livestock includes pigs, sheep, chicken, rabbits, cows, a goat, and a donkey.

The farm provides training for adults with special needs and sells eggs, sausages, bacon and lamb through its shop.

The farm is talking to people ahead of a Lottery bid to widen the scope of its work to include unemployed adults, those recovering from ill health, be it physical or mental and youngsters, who aren’t working or in education or training.

Chairman Steve Alltoft said: “We want to carry out consultation with the public about the future uses of the farm to recruit volunteers and also boost future student numbers.

“We want to ensure the local community has a say in what the farm will do.

“There’s a lot of evidence that people who may be unemployed or recovering from illness, who are isolated, that working with animals in the community is beneficial.

“This is a unique environmental facility in the heart of East Hull and we hope to attract people who might have been to the farm a long time ago to come back for a fun day.”

The Open Day on Saturday May 7 – from 11am until 4pm – includes a treasure trail, straw bale maze, food sampling and opportunities to feed and pet some of the animals.

Admission is free.