National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £250,000 to £5million
Woodoaks Farm in Hertfordshire is steeped in rural heritage. It was donated to the Soil Association Land Trust in 2020 with the aim of enabling the farm to work in partnership with and for the benefit of local people.
Our funding will restore, extend and repurpose the Grade II listed Black Barn, transforming it into a vibrant hub for learning and community engagement. A new kitchen and toilet will enable a wider range of activities to take place throughout the year.
The project will protect heritage features across the farm, including increasing biodiversity across 300 acres of landscape and planting a further 1km of hedgerows.
To engage the community throughout the project they will:
- enhance the visitor experience by exploring farming and food production over the past 100 years
- create hands-on volunteering and training opportunities to participate in the life of the farm
- develop programmes for schools and colleges to learn about rural heritage, farming and sustainability
Suzanne Smith, a Woodoaks Farm volunteer, says: “For the first time in my life after 40 years, I finally belong to a real community meeting loads of people who are passionate about nature, the environment, conservation, where farming is going and wildlife – and that's what’s been really rewarding.”
Discover other projects that are protecting the heritage of landscapes, parks and nature across the UK.
