Hello, wonderful supporters of Vauxhall City Farm! I am Dumpling the Guinea Pig, this months newsletter host, ready to fill you in on the latest happenings at our beloved farm.
I love to communicate using a variety of sounds. I “wheek” when I am excited about food, “purr” when I am content, and sometimes even “chirp” like a bird when I am happy.
Today I will be sharing the highlights from July and giving you an exclusive preview of the exciting activities we have planned for August.
Some highlights from July 2024!
GOOD NEWS! Our FREE 5-week summer programme, Vauxhall City Summer, started yesterday. It is perfect for young people aged 8 to 14 to make new friends, learn about me and my furry and feathered friends, and enjoy our Community Garden. The programme is jam-packed with Animal Care, Games, Gardening, and Wellbeing activities. Thankyou Lambeth council for your support. We still have spaces left, keep reading for more details!
Our Afterschool Club has wrapped up for the term, with children discovering creative ways to create a healthy balanced meal with a low carbon footprint using produce from our community garden. The young ones worked hard and had loads of fun.
Our Young Farmers Summer Term 2 programme also had a fantastic time, helping with various farm tasks. They mucked out stables, groomed my goat friends, looked after me and my guinea pig friends, and enjoyed our vibrant garden.
Visitors to The Farm were treated to free screenings of the Wimbledon Championships 2024 in the Old Dairy Café, where they witnessed some of the greatest moments in tennis history. After the championships ended, we were kindly gifted used tennis balls from AELTC Community Tennis Centre Raynes Park and have created a wonderful Wimble-Done! installation showcasing how you can upcycle used tennis balls. Pop along to our Community Garden to see how we have utilised these world-famous balls. NOW LIVE: Watch the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on our big screen in the Old Dairy Café, every day from 10.30am to 4pm, expect Mondays.
Finally, the Golden Guernsey Goat breed has been honoured with the title ‘Royal Golden Guernsey Goat’ during King Charles III’s visit to Guernsey. My Royal Golden Guernsey Goats friends are thrilled to be part of this tremendous honour!
SAVE THE DATES!
Family Farm Day in Covent Garden
We are packing up and heading north of the river for one day only! Join our fantastic Family Farm Day in the heart of Covent Garden on 12th August. You can cuddle me and some of my small friends in the Cuddle Corner*. Plus enjoy fun educational workshops, storytelling, face painting, games, activities, see some of our large animals and more! Entry is FREE with a suggested donation to The Farm on arrival.
*Tickets for our Cuddle Corner will be going on sale shortly. All those who have booked a free ticket to attend this event will be sent a link for Cuddle Corner tickets very soon!
Gardening Clubs
We are excited to open our garden gate for all those who have an interest in gardening or are simply looking to connect with nature in a meaningful way.
? Community Gardeners: 7th & 21st August, 1.30pm – 3.30pm. For 18+
? LGBTQ+ Gardening Group: 10th & 24th August, 11am – 1pm. For 18+
It is a safe place where all are welcome!
The Ultimate Summer Party!
This summer we are hosting The Ultimate Summer Party to celebrate YOU!
SAVE THE DATE: Friday 23rd August 2024, 10.30am – 4pm.
Fancy an invite to this family friendly event? Keep an eye out on our socials for all the tea as soon as its spilt, and bookmark our events page to be the first in the know!
#AintNoPartyLikeAVauxhallCityFarmParty
Education Updates!
We have welcomed Lambeth’s Young People back to The Farm for our holiday programme Vauxhall City Summer. We will be delivering a programme of activities and games with a special Olympic theme over 5 weeks, engaging young people within our community from lower income families.
Vauxhall City Summer had a great turnout last year, and we are hoping it will be even bigger and better this year, by opening up the programme to more children and extending the time that they are able to spend with us.
Along with the delivery of our summer programme, we will be planning and preparing many more exciting programmes for the new academic year. Following successful bids for new VCF Education funding, we will build on our programmes and workshops to engage children and young aged 4-25 year olds, with a specific focus on how we better engage those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds within our community. We have a mission to create a space that feels open and welcome to all.
Our Community Garden News!
I hope August will be a sunny month to help our courgettes, cucumbers, and beans flourish. These will be available for purchase at The Farm when ripe. We also have some unique edible plants like Aztec broccoli, magenta spreen, and purple amaranth, alongside familiar favourites such as lettuce and rainbow chard. Do not miss out on our ripening plums, apples, and figs in the orchard, which will be ready for harvest and sale soon.
Thank you to our team of 10 strong volunteers working hard to maintain the growing garden.
Volunteer with us!
Our amazing volunteers are the heart of Vauxhall City Farm, and me and my furry friends are always eager to welcome new enthusiastic members to our team.
Whether you are passionate about animal care, gardening, event support or working with young people, we have a spot for you. Volunteering with us means hands-on experience with feeding, grooming, and looking after me and my fellow animals.
It is a wonderful way to meet new friends, develop new skills, and be an essential part of our lively community. Do not worry if you lack experience; The farm offers comprehensive training and ongoing support.
Host your event with us!
Planning a Birthday Party or a Community Gathering? Perhaps a Corporate Meeting? Whatever your event, with the rustic allure of Vauxhall City Farm as your setting, your event is sure to be memorable. To know more about our Room Hire options, click HERE!
Book a Meet & Greet!
Bond over the joy of interacting and creating lasting memories with me by booking a Meet & Greet session.
Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible support you have given to me and The Farm. Your generosity has made my time here truly memorable, and I am so thankful for it. Thank you for being such a vital part of our community. Make a donation!
With love,
Dumpling, the guinea pig
Don’t forget we have two purpose-built meetings room adjacent to our café, which are perfect for meetings, parties, and events.
Please see our website for full details, give us a call or contact our office team with any questions.
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