Woodhouse Farm

The Vision

Woodhouse Community Farm Ltd (WCFL) is a campaign to restore the semi-derelict farm and give it new life as a centre for education, health, welfare and well being.

We aim to make it a showcase for local food, low input agriculture and renewable energy.

The farm is part of the Elford Estate which was bequeathed to the nearby industrial conurbation of Birmingham in the 1930’s. It is surrounded by 38 acres of woodland, is bordered by of the River Tame with overgrown pools and ponds-teeming with wildlife, undisturbed for decades.

   

Many of its features were designed by the renowned 18th century landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown - including an orangery, ha-ha and a 3.7 acre walled garden - thought to be up to 400 years old. Most of the buildings – including the farmhouse – are Grade II listed. But they are now in a sad and sorry state and need urgent work before they are lost forever.

A four–phase action plan has been drawn up. The first is to create a Local Food Centre to generate revenues and to help support the long-term restoration. It will consist of a classroom, teaching kitchen and associated facilities to host groups from education, health and leisure. The farmhouse will also be refurbished and access improved. Phase One is projected to cost around £800,000.

Hopefully, some of that money will come from grants. BUT it is hoped that the majority will be raised by the community – through buying shares and bonds. There are lots of other ways to back the project, by becoming a ‘Friend’ and subscribing to regular newsletters and updates, by investing some muscle by joining a volunteer work party, or by supporting special fund raising events.

 

How We Got Here

The farm has been growing food for local people for more than 400 years – the walled garden at its heart having supplied food to the 'big house' been since the 15th Century, when it was part of the Fisherwick Hall and then the Elford Hall estate.

In 2009, when its elderly tenant died, the owners, Birmingham City Council, announced plans to sell the farm at auction. A small group of local people decided to try to save the farm for the community – it is the last smallholding in Whittington & Fisherwick parish and our last chance of being able to secure local food production.

At a public meeting that August, nearly 100 people pledged their support for the creation of a community land trust to run the farm. Many more have since registered their interest.

Since then, a small steering group of volunteers has been sorting out the essential legal, insurance and other issues.

Now we are on the verge of formally taking over the farm and we need to start fundraising in earnest and to recruit many more hands to help keep the project on course. Please go to the ‘Support Us’ page to see how you could help this wonderful project.

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