Ravenshall Farm

🌿 Our Vision

We’re creating a community petting farm and café, built and run by young people with additional needs. This inspiring project gives them hands-on experience in animal care, horticulture, and hospitality, helping them gain qualifications, confidence, and future employment opportunities.

🐐 What We’re Building

The farm will include friendly animals such as goats, chickens, guinea pigs, and other smaller animals, cared for by young people who have helped design the space and built the enclosures themselves. Alongside this, we’re developing an immersive walkway with ten activity zones — from sensory play areas and water walls to balance zones and a performance space — creating a truly inclusive environment for all visitors.

🌳 The Treehouse Classroom

At the heart of the project will be a bespoke treehouse classroom. This unique space will:

Provide a safe, stimulating learning environment for workshops and training.
Be used by local schools and community groups for nature-based activities.
Act as a community hub where people can connect, learn, and relax together.

💚 Why It Matters

Our community is among the 5% most deprived in the country, with many families living in poverty. The farm and café will offer a welcoming, inclusive space that:

Creates employment and training opportunities for people with additional needs.
Encourages social interaction, wellbeing, and environmental learning.
Gives the community something to be proud of — a place where everyone can belong.

🛠️ Project Stages

Stage One – Establishing the smallholding and caring for the animals
Stage Two – Developing the immersive walkway and treehouse classroom
Stage Three – Building a café from repurposed shipping containers.
Stage Four – Opening to the public as a community resource and training hub.

🌼 Our Long-Term Goal

Once open, the farm will welcome local schools, community groups, and Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, offering a space to learn, connect, and grow together. It will stand as a lasting symbol of inclusion, empowerment, and community pride.