One of London’s biggest urban farms hosts first ever wine night

Surrounded by high-rise blocks, within earshot of Big Ben and in the shadow of the M16, Vauxhall City Farm (VCF) is one of the oldest and most central city farms in London.

Now, VCF is opening its doors for its first wine night set in their evening bar, Faith’s Place, in Tyers Street, on March 9.  

The evening will include a variety of cheese, meat or vegan grazing boards, each served with a glass of wine or soft drink and set to a backdrop of music through the decades.

There will even be a cheese board specially created for children to create the perfect family experience or even a Mothers Day treat.

Home to alpacas, sheep, Polish chickens and a riding school, it would be easy to dismiss VCF as a cute place to visit and ‘all about the animals’. 

But behind its public front is a diligent team using these animals as a vehicle for education and change.

Each year VCF welcomes around 50,000 visitors to the farm, to deliver training and development programmes, workshops and activities for around 7,000 children and young people as well as reaching more than 50,000 more off-site through online sessions.

Despite its proximity to ‘wealth’, Lambeth is one of the most deprived boroughs in London. VCF relies heavily on community donations to stay alive.

Between 1972 and 1976 residents protesting against large-scale demolition of buildings set up the North Lambeth Neighbourhood Council (NLNC). The NLNC encouraged people to take responsibility for their area and community and youth projects began to spring up on unused land in and around Vauxhall.

By 1976, a group of architects were squatting at St Oswald’s Place and began working on a small vacant plot called Jubilee City Farm – as VCF was formerly known.

It was a collaborative project with residents growing vegetables, providing for themselves and caring for livestock.

In 1977 VCF registered as a charity in Lambeth. Since then, the farm has grown but it still relies on the commitment of volunteers and visitors donations.

Today, the farm is home to more than 100 animals, a riding centre, dozens of education and youth projects, a cafe and so much more.

Head down to VCF in Tyers Street on March 9 to see everything this historic community farm has to offer.

Pictured top: VCF is opening its doors for their first wine night set in their evening bar (Picture: Dana Mendonca)