Woodhouse Farm

The Vision

Woodhouse Community Farm Ltd (WCFL) is a campaign to save a unique and historic piece of our rural past and to give it sustainable and valuable future...and you can be part of it.

The run-down 22 acre smallholding on the outskirts of Lichfield in South Staffordshire is under threat of being sold-off by Birmingham City Council. It was gifted to that city more than seventy years ago, but it has been neglected and is now over-overgrown and falling down. In 2009 councillors voted to sell it off and to evict the family which has lived there for almost half a century.

Campaigners have formed a Trust – WCFL – determined to restore the farm and give it new life as a centre for education, health, welfare and well being, showcasing fresh food production, low input agriculture and renewable energy. In doing that they will finally realise the ‘vision’ of the man who gave it to Birmingham in the first place.

   

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 300 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 Rural Studies 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 £400,000.

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.

Woodhouse Community Farm Limited is an Industrial and Provident Society for the benefit of the community. It has six trustees and a legally-qualified secretary. The not-for-profit model was originally developed by Co-Operatives UK to help brother and sister Ben and Charlotte Hollins raise £800,000 to prevent their farm, Fordhall in North Shropshire, from being sold from beneath them (www.fordhallfarm.com). They won and are now actively encouraging and advising the trustees of Woodhouse Community Farm Limited.

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