Volunteering at Bath City Farm is a great way to spend your time. Not only do you get to spend some time at one of Bath's undiscovered wildlife havens, but you also get to contribute to a worthwhile community project.

Volunteering activities include cleaning out the chickens, gardening, fencing, hedgelaying, tree planting and much more, even walking the goats!!

We are not only looking for volunteers to help out with site work. You can also get involved with the Farm's youth programme, office work and fundraising. These are all areas where skilled help is needed.

We run the following activities during the week:

Mondays: General volunteering (animal care and gardening), plus volunteering for over 65s. We also offer supported work placements on this day.

Wednesdays/Thursdays: come and help with out on our new community garden plot at the farm. Learn how to grow and cook with produce harvested (for those who have suffered mental distress - funded through Ecominds).

Wednesdays: for those looking to get back into work (in particular landscaping/grounds maintenance) we have a more contract level group of volunteers who carry out construction/maintenance tasks around the farm including fencing and path construction.

So, if you are looking to get fit and healthy and want to help your local community farm give us a call or email for an application form.

Ecominds Update.
We are running 3 sessions every week on a Wednesday am, Thursday am and Thursday pm for people with experience of mental health problems. We have prepared 75% of the ground and are cultivating a wide variety of vegetables. We have already harvested our first crop of lettuce, spinach, peas and broad beans. So far 13 people have engaged with the project. They have all reported great benefits to their personal lives through joining the project. An example is, one volunteer has been isolated at home for nearly 20 years and is very nervous about meeting new people. He now attends the farm regularly and is making friends. This is a huge step for him.

The following sample of feedback received from volunteers at the end of 2011 further demonstrates the positive difference that volunteering at the Farm has made to people’s lives:
“A year ago I’d never have believed I would be allowed to come somewhere like this.  With my history of stealing I didn’t think anyone would trust me.  Everyone here is really supportive and patient.”

“I came to the Farm after becoming unemployed.  Working here with others has given me a sense of usefulness and value which would have been lacking otherwise.”

“I have been unemployed for a period of time and without the City Farm and the self-esteem and friendships and the feeling of usefulness I have developed here, I’m sure I would have succumbed to depression.”

“The project adds much needed structure to my week.”

“I love the Farm because it means I get out into the fresh air and I’m learning new things … it has meant a start to a new life.”

“There is a really inclusive atmosphere at the Farm.”


“I’ve made friends at the Farm and feel healthier.”

“People here are very non-judgmental.  People take you as they find you, unlike many people in Bath who can be critical.”

“I really like the give and take of information and you get feedback.”