Council Contractors Donate £35,000 Facilities to City Farm

Volunteer-led City Farm is celebrating another step in its revival this month following the unveiling of a new toilet block.

The £35,000 block is the latest in a series of improvements at the popular working farm which is located inside Bucknall Park. The block was built and donated by Lovell Renew as part of their contract with the Repairs and Maintenance Service at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

It is the latest in a series of improvements that have been made by Stoke-on-Trent Community Trust since they took over the running of the much-loved facility in 2023.

Lovell Renew Central Refurbishment Director James Phillips said:

“City Farm is a much-loved community hub and we’re proud to be supporting in its revitalisation.

“Working alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the volunteer team at City Farm, the delivery of this new toilet block is our way of supporting the team’s commitment to ensuring the farm is enjoyed for many years to come. This is also a central part of our ongoing contribution to this great community.”

At its height, City Farm had more than 120 animals and welcomed over 90,000 visitors per year. The Community Trust now aim to bring the farm back to life, focus on helping to educate children and families and promote a love of the outdoors.

The farm is free to enter and is open at weekends from 10am, with a long-term plan of adding to visiting times in the future.

It now has a range of animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, geese, ducks, chickens and an aviary - as well as a wildflower meadow an allotment and an area for growing pumpkins. There are also wild ducks on the pond.

The team at City Farm, said

“Lovell, together with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, has made a huge difference to our farm. We’re excited to grow and having these modern facilities means we can welcome even more visitors and volunteers.

Volunteers and donations are vital for our work. We want to continue to expand what we do and welcome more animals, but every penny we raise goes back into the farm, so we rely on the generosity of the public and companies like Lovells.”

Councillor Duncan Walker - Cabinet Member for Safe and Resilient Communities and Housing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, as well as Ward Councillor for Baddeley, Milton and Norton - said:

“I was delighted to see the work Lovell have completed at City Farm. The farm is much loved by the public and it’s wonderful to see the work that Stoke-on-Trent City Council and its contractors can achieve in partnership together.”

For more information on City Farm: https://www.cityfarmstoke.com

Picture l-r: James Phillips, Projects Director for Lovell,  Paul Cotterill, Founder of the City Farm charity, Rachel Forster, CSR Coordinator for Stoke-on-Trent City Council Repairs and Maintenance Service

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