The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Surrey Docks Farm last week, to mark her appointment as the Royal Patron of the UK-wide charity, Social Farms & Gardens, writes Louisa Woolf.
Surrey Docks Farm is a long-standing member of the charity, which aims to bring nature into people’s lives every day, and supports 3,000 member community farms, city gardens, school farms across the UK.
Surrey Docks Farm, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, is a working city farm and charity that enables the community to learn about farming, food production and the natural environment.
Her Royal Highness joined the staff and volunteers of Surrey Docks Farm as they tended to tomatoes, handled chickens and met the newborn goats and lambs.
Supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers who attend on a weekly basis, Surrey Docks farm runs a range of educational projects for the community in Rotherhithe, and beyond.
The Duchess of Edinburgh took on the role of patron after previous patron, Prince Charles, became King.
Gemma Hooper, the manager of Surrey Docks Farm, said: “How wonderful to have been asked to host this Royal visit for Social Farms and Gardens.”
“It has been our pleasure to showcase the fantastic community and educational work that goes on at our farm, particularly as we celebrate our 50th year. We would welcome the Duchess back anytime!”
The city farm is home to a variety of animals,including ponies and cows, an apiary with several beehives and an impressive farm shop.
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It’s an exciting time of year for Surrey Docks Farm, who will host their Spring Fair on the 10th May. The highlights of this lively annual event will be the sheep shearing demonstrations, rabbit petting and wood-fired pizzas.
Surrey Docks Farm is accessed from the Thames Path in Rotherhithe, it is free to visit and is open from 10am until 4pm every day of the week, including bank holidays.
Feature photo credit: Camila Pastorelli.
Some people, and naysayers, forget just how hard our Royal Family works; much of it low-key and unnoticed.
With all their activities and encouragement of others, plus their being above and beyond Politics, they are the invisible cement that helps bind this country together.
The money brought in from Tourism is just the very welcome ‘Icing On The Cake.’