St James City Farm

St James City Farm is a project run by The Friendship Cafe, a registered UK charity with the mission to connect the city's population with the many opportunities found in the countryside. Our aim is to provide hands-on practical farm experience and act as a gateway for inner-city children and families, building knowledge, and creating aspirations by interacting with animals and nature. The farm has been providing a taste of the countryside in the heart of Gloucester since 1998 and is home to a variety of animals.

Our Animals

Our farm is home to a variety of animals, including goats, sheep, and ponies. We provide city children with a chance to see farm animals and nurture an interest in animals. We also run a tiny riding school, which aims to give an opportunity for children who would otherwise not have the chance, to learn the basics of riding and horse care with 1-1 lessons. Our priority group are local inner-city children who cannot afford to ride, and the riding school aims to link young people to horses and explore the many horse-related career and leisure opportunities.

Visiting Us

Visitors are welcome to the farm, and we have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers to ensure a fun and educational experience. The farm is currently closed for maintenance and staffing changes until further notice, but most of our animals can still be seen from outside the farm during the day. The nearby allotment is still open for visitors.

Farm Tour and Advisory Precautions

We offer farm tours for groups, and we advise visitors to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Children must be supervised at all times, and we advise against bringing food for the animals, as it can cause health issues.

Horse Riding

Our riding school aims to provide an opportunity for inner-city children to learn the basics of riding and horse care. We offer 1-1 lessons, and our priority group is local inner-city children who cannot afford to ride. We hope to link young people to horses and explore the many horse-related career and leisure opportunities.

News and Updates

We regularly update our Facebook page with news and events, and we encourage visitors to stay up-to-date with our latest news and events. Our 2022-2023 Annual Report is now available to read, and we have a vacancy for a manager at the farm.

Volunteering and Support

The farm is run by The Friendship Cafe, a non-profit community project, and we rely on donations towards animal feed, vet fees, insurances, tools, transport, and many other costs involved in keeping the farm open. If you feel you can help out in any way, please get in touch.

Useful Links

For more information about our work, please visit our website, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook.