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We are a UK wide charity supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together.
Our vision and mission
Our vision is to see people and communities reaching their full potential through nature-based activities as a part of everyday life. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and the environment through nature-based activities.
Read our 2024 strategic plan >
What we do
We support organisations offering nature-based community activities. Our membership collective is the largest of its kind in the UK. It includes community farms, city gardens, school farms and green care organisations. We also lead and contribute to funded community projects right across the UK. We work with sector partners, councils and government at regional and national levels.
Our work includes:
- Representing UK community gardening and farming organisations and groups
- Advocating for better recognition, funding, opportunities and policy
- Leading community partnerships, networks and funded projects across the UK
- Providing specialist support and a free membership community for the sector
- Offering UK-wide sector training and events
- Awarding quality assurance for green care provision
- Helping organisations and groups to explore income-generating opportunities
Reach and impact
Our work is helping:
- 200 city and school farms
- 1,000 community gardens
- UK care farms
- Hundreds of farms and gardens in development
Our history
Social Farms & Gardens was born from the merger of two long-established charities. Both organisations championed community farms and gardens - a valuable legacy that we continue today.
The Federation of City Farms, established in 1980, provided support and advocacy for community farms and gardens. The charity’s strong track record in partnerships and projects is at the heart of our work. Care Farming UK supported and promoted the use of farming activities for therapeutic purposes. Care Farming UK brought care farmers together as a united voice. We’re passionate about highlighting the positive impact of care farming on health services, social care or education.
Moving forward we draw on our rich 50-year history. Our support and representation continues to evolve, along with our members. More people than ever recognise the value of nature-based activities. As the sector has grown and diversified, so have we.