What Hackney City Farm does

Hackney City Farm is a registered community charity (no. 291211) operating a free-admission urban farm at 1a Goldsmiths Row in the London Borough of Hackney under a 100-year lease granted by Hackney Council in 1984. The farm maintains a working farmyard with 40 laying hens, 30 ducks, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, and bees, alongside cottage gardens, an eco-built straw bale event/workshop space, and beehives. Public access is free Tuesday-Sunday, and the farm serves as both a destination for families and a working community resource. Its technology stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS — a WordPress website with Stripe payments, HubSpot marketing automation, MailPoet newsletter subscriptions, Google Analytics, and embedded Google Maps for visitor wayfinding.

The farm generates revenue through a diversified mix of transactional and recurring streams: donations and animal sponsorships (£60-3,000 tiers), paid venue hire (£120 per 3-hour birthday party slot, £50/hour weekday room hire, £100-125/hour film and photography location fees), educational workshops (£100-150 per session), guided farm tours (£60/hour), pottery classes (£5-20), and corporate team volunteering days (£35-50/person). It also receives trust and foundation grants from Big Lottery Fund, City Bridge Trust, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Arts Council England, and licenses on-site space to social enterprise tenants including Frizzante Cafe, Get Loose (packaging-free organic shop), Growing Communities (organic veg box), Soleshare (fish box), Gaia Therapy Collective (low-cost counselling), and Hackney Bike Workshop. Go-to-market is community-led with event-driven activation and enterprise field sales into corporate CSR programs; named repeat corporate clients include Bank of England, Adobe, Accenture, Salesforce, NBC Universal, Starling Bank, and Nomura International.

The organization runs educational programming for schools (workshops on growing food, habitats, chicken and egg, with free admission and donation optionality), alternative education provision (The School at Hackney City Farm for 13-17 year olds, now closed), and youth clubs (Mini Farmers for ages 8-12, Maxi Farmers for ages 12-18). The farm supports community food production through the Haggerston Orchard Project food forest in partnership with London Orchard Project and distributes harvest to local schools and community recipients. A governing board of trustees led by Chair David Brook oversees operations, with Farm Manager Chris Pounds directing day-to-day activities. The site was developed on a former brewery/lorry park and features the straw bale building as a flagship sustainable construction asset.

Name

Hackney City Farm

Legal name

Hackney City Farm

Website

https://hackneycityfarm.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hackney City Farm is a registered community charity operating a free-admission urban farm in East London since 1984, serving families, schools, and corporate teams through animal care, educational workshops, venue hire, and on-site social enterprise tenants under a 100-year Hackney Council lease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Farm and Education Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (115210), Farm Management Services (115116), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock Housing, Bedding & Waste Management Services (Manure Handling) (AFAEALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Contract Herding & Flock Management Services (AFAEAFAL)

Keywords

• Community farm education
• School visits workshops
• Venue room hire
• Corporate team building
• Animal sponsorship donations

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The farm operates as a registered charity (no. 291211) and relies heavily on public donations. Visitors are encouraged to donate, with suggested amounts of £15 to cover chicken feed for six months and £30 to feed piglets for a month. Monthly giving programs are available.
2. Animal Sponsorship: Corporate and individual sponsors can support specific animals: Beehive sponsorship at £3,000, larger animals (sheep/pig/goat) at £350, and chickens at £60-65 per year. These donations cover animal upkeep costs.
3. Venue and Room Hire: Revenue from hiring out facilities including birthday party rooms (£120 for 3 hours), weekday room hire (£50/hour or £150 package), film location fees (£125/hour or £100/hour for 4+ hours), and event hire.
4. Educational Workshops and Tours: Paid educational offerings including guided farm tours (£60/hour), animal handling workshops (£150 per session), and educational workshops (£100 for 1.5 hours). School visits are free but donations are encouraged.
5. Corporate Team Volunteering: Companies pay for team away days at £50/person for full day and £35/person for half day. Past participants include Bank of England, Adobe, Accenture, Salesforce, and other corporate clients.
6. On-site Retail and Produce Sales: Revenue from farm shop sales including fresh eggs from 40 laying hens, vegetables from the garden, and products from Get Loose unpackaged shop and Growing Communities veg box collection point.
7. Rental Income from Tenant Businesses: Licensed office workspace to other charities and space for social enterprises including Frizzante Cafe, Get Loose shop, Growing Communities, and Soleshare. The farm also supplies fresh produce and growing mediums.
8. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from trusts and foundations including Big Lottery Fund, City Bridge Trust, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and other charitable organizations to support community projects and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hackney City Farm is a registered community charity (no. 291211) that operates a free-to-visit urban farm in Hackney, East London, providing public access to farmyard animals, gardens, and educational experiences. Beyond free public visits, the farm sells paid services including school educational workshops, birthday party and weekday room hire in a sustainably built straw bale building, film and photography location hire, corporate team away days, pottery classes, Mini and Maxi Farmers youth clubs, and animal handling workshops. The organization also runs an OFSTED-registered alternative education programme and hosts partner social enterprises offering low-cost counselling, fresh produce, and repair services.

Product overview

Hackney City Farm operates as a community farm and social enterprise hub offering free public access to farmyard animals and gardens, alongside a diverse portfolio of paid services and educational programs. Core offerings include school visits with educational workshops (Growing Food, Habitats, Chicken and Egg), birthday party and event room hire in a sustainable straw bale building, and film/photo location hire. The farm hosts multiple sub-brands and partner enterprises including Get Loose (zero-waste shop), Growing Communities (organic veg box subscription), and Soleshare (sustainable fishbox scheme). Educational programs include pottery classes, Mini Farmers Club (ages 8-12), Maxi Farmers Club (ages 12-18), animal handling workshops, and work experience placements. Additional services encompass team volunteering days for corporations, garden volunteering sessions, Gaia Therapy (low-cost counselling), and Hackney Bike Workshop. The farm also runs an alternative education school for young people aged 13-17. Revenue streams include donations, animal sponsorship, room hire fees (£120-£150 for parties, £50/hour for weekday hire), workshop fees (£100-£150), and corporate team building (£35-£50/person).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Get Loose: A quality organic packaging-free shop selling nuts, grains, pastas, pulses, tinned goods, eggs, herbs and oils, located at the farm.
• Growing Communities
• Soleshare
• The School at Hackney City Farm
• Mini Farmers club
• Maxi Farmers club
• Gaia Therapy Collective
• Gaia Therapy Project
• Hackney Bike Workshop
• St Mary's Secret Garden

Products and services

• Farm Visit Experience Free entry to the Hackney City Farm farmyard offering visitors the opportunity to see farmyard animals, explore gardens, and experience farming in an urban setting in East London. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-16:30.
• School Visits and Educational Workshops Educational programs for school groups including workshops on Growing Food, Habitats Mini-beasts, Chicken and Egg, and self-guided tours. Sessions available Tuesday-Friday 10:00-12:00 or 13:00-15:00. Maximum 30 children per session, free with optional donation.
• Birthday Party Room Hire Hire of the straw bale building for children's birthday parties on weekends. Three-hour sessions available morning (10:00-13:00) or afternoon (13:30-16:30) with a maximum capacity of 35 people. Priced at £120 per session with a late fee of £50 per 30 minutes over time.
• Weekday Room Hire Hire of the straw bale room for meetings, workshops, and community events on weekdays (Tuesday-Friday 9:30-16:30). Priced at £50/hour or £150 for a 3-hour package, with a minimum 3-hour booking.
• Film and Photo Location Hire The farm serves as a filming and photography location for documentaries, music videos, fashion shoots, and events. Location/garden/farmyard fees are £125/hour (under 4 hours) or £100/hour (over 4 hours), with additional animal handling at £75/hour. Straw bale room available at £50/hour.
• Animal Handling Workshops Educational workshops teaching children and teenagers about farm animal care, behaviour, and lifestyle with hands-on experience. Priced at £150 per workshop (£120 for a second booked workshop), available Wednesday to Friday for groups of up to 12 students.
• Guided Tours Tailored guided tours of farm animals, gardens, and site history, available by booking. Priced at £60 per hour.
• Corporate Team Volunteering Corporate team building days offering activities like pond-building, painting, gardening, and beekeeping. Full day costs £50/person, half day £35/person. Designed for CSR programmes and team building for companies including financial services, technology, and professional services firms.
• Animal Sponsorship Donation programme allowing corporate and individual supporters to sponsor specific animals at the farm. Beehive sponsorship £3,000; larger animals (sheep/pig/goat) £350 per year; chickens £60-65 per year. Donations cover animal feed, bedding, vet bills, farrier, electricity, water, maintenance, and fencing.
• Pottery Classes Drop-in pottery sessions for children and adults. Children's sessions run on Wednesdays and Sundays (£5-10); adult sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays (£20). Includes kiln firing of completed pieces.
• Mini Farmers Club Saturday morning sessions (10:30-12:30) for children aged 8-12 to learn about nature, make arts and crafts, and interact with animals under supervision.
• Maxi Farmers Club Sunday sessions (11:00-13:30) for teenagers aged 12-18 offering a 12-week opportunity to help in the farmyard and take on animal care responsibilities.
• Work Experience Placements Work experience opportunities in animal husbandry, horticulture, and environmental management for students considering outdoor careers, arranged in collaboration with colleges such as West King College.
• Farm Shop Produce Sales On-site farm shop selling fresh eggs from a 40-hen laying flock, vegetables from the farm garden, and related local products. The shop is supplemented by a Get Loose organic packaging-free shop and Growing Communities veg box collection point operating on the farm site.

Quantifiable outcome

• 173 community members attended the 40th anniversary film premiere
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and historical.

• London Borough of HackneycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Hackney Council granted a 100-year lease to the farm in 1984. The council has been a key supporter, with the farm receiving funding from London Borough of Hackney and operating as a community resource for local residents. Historic core funding has been reduced since 2000 due to council cutbacks.
• London Orchard ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided 10 trees and funded training for 5 local people to learn natural orchard management for the Haggerston Orchard Project. Local stewards now run open days to share knowledge.
• E5 BakehouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in healthy food hub ambition, working together with farm on local food initiatives and community food education.
• Gaia Therapy CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLow-cost counselling and psychotherapy service operating from the farm, offering services to marginalized community members with a third of work provided free/low-cost. Grounded in anti-racist, feminist, and ecological values.
• Hackney Bike WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree bike maintenance workshop running drop-in sessions twice monthly from the farm. Volunteer mechanics help community members maintain and fix bikes.
• Get LoosecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganic packaging-free shop operating from the farm premises, selling nuts, grains, pasta, pulses, tinned goods, eggs, herbs and oils. Visitors encouraged to bring own containers.
• Growing CommunitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubscription veg box scheme collection point at the farm. Fresh organic seasonal produce packed Monday-Tuesday, delivered Wednesday-Thursday for customer collection.
• SoleshareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable fishbox scheme with collection point at the farm. Brings fresh locally caught seafood direct from fishermen to consumer members.
• Frizzante RestaurantcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian cuisine cafe operating independently on the farm site. Cafe closed December-January and reopened around 3 January. Separate business from farm operations.
• Sebright Children's CentreminorOthersRecipient of produce from Haggerston Orchard Project harvest days, helping distribute fresh fruit to local families.
• Morrell Court Residential HomeminorOthersRecipient of fruit harvests from Haggerston Orchard Project for distribution to elderly residents.
• British Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for Ourmala yoga program helping refugee and asylum-seeking women. Women referred from organizations including British Red Cross and Freedom from Torture.
• Freedom from TorturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for trauma survivors to access Ourmala therapeutic yoga services at the farm.
• The Felix ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood redistribution charity that enabled Food Hub project. Received King's donated fridge for storing rescued food. Partner in distributing food to community organizations across Hackney.
• Kentish Town City FarmhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspired the founding of Hackney City Farm in 1984. Local community members were motivated by Kentish Town City Farm's success to create similar resource in Hackney.
• Haggerston Park User GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group that first proposed turning corner of park into food production area, leading to the Haggerston Orchard Project food forest development.
• University of East LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture students from University of East London collaborated with volunteers to create Woodland Place pavilion in 2018, led by local architect Sarah Bland of Studio Wic.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Larger US-based non-profit educational farm combining livestock, on-site food production, school programming, and venue-based events. A scaled-up comparable on the educational-farming model relevant to long-term benchmarking.

Direct peers

• Stepney City Farm: East London community farm delivering free animal visits, school programmes, and corporate volunteering. Directly comparable operational footprint and beneficiary demographics to Hackney City Farm.
• Mudchute Park & Farm: Largest urban farm in London, located on the Isle of Dogs. Runs the same combination of free public access, livestock husbandry, educational visits, corporate volunteering, and venue hire — competing for similar East London visitors and corporate CSR budgets.
• Freightliners City Farm: Small North London community farm offering free access, school visits, animal care volunteering, and produce sales. Closely matches Hackney's scale and operating model.
• Surrey Docks Farm: South East London community farm combining livestock, education, volunteering, and a farmers' market. Runs a similar paid-workshop model alongside free public access, with comparable revenue streams from corporate days.
• Deen City Farm: South West London community farm with livestock, school visits, and corporate volunteering — a comparable charity-run urban farm serving families and schools in a different borough.
• Vauxhall City Farm: Central London community farm offering free animal visits, school workshops, corporate volunteering, and venue hire. Closely comparable service mix and pricing structure to Hackney City Farm.
• Kentish Town City Farm: Founded in the 1970s, this is the Camden-based community farm that directly inspired the creation of Hackney City Farm in 1984. Operates the same urban-farming, education, volunteering, and venue-hire model in a comparable London borough.
• Spitalfields City Farm: East London community farm offering animal encounters, school visits, volunteering, and a training/education programme. Operates an overlapping set of programmes within walking distance of Hackney City Farm.

Emerging players

• Cultivate London: London urban-gardening social enterprise focused on growing food and training young people. Adjacent rather than head-to-head, but competes for the same pool of London CSR funding and volunteer hours targeting food-growing causes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hackneycityfarm_official
• Xx.com/hackneycityfarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/HackneyCityFarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackney-city-farm-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hackney City Farm