With two young adult sons with special needs in our family, Newham City Farm was an asset. It was local, within walking distance with our boys in their wheelchairs. No need to wait around endlessly for transport as parents and helpers could wheel them there. They absolutely enjoyed every minute of being there and mingling with the animals in a well provided for space.

It was a place to meet others and their peers, for all to socialise and to be at one with nature.We don’t have anything else like it in this area within walking distance.

Beckton District Park North is nearby but the pathways need attending to dramatically for wheelchair users and those pushing them.

The paths around our Newham City Farm were in a far better state for accessibility than the surrounding areas in Custom House and Beckton.

As residents in E16 we heard nothing of the NCF closure. It wasn’t until we kept going past it and wondering why it hadn’t opened and why the animals seem to be disappearing.

I got onto the Next Door neighbourhood site and asked if anyone knew of anything about the farm closure. Someone mentioned it had closed during the Covid lockdown of 2020 and didn’t think it was going to re-open.

So we got together with other residents to see what we could do to campaign for its re-opening.

I also wrote to my local MP, Lyn Brown around August who did reply.

There is no alternative to having a lovely local, accessible farm in our Borough. I feel the need to ask Councillors and officials if they are anti-animal as we certainly have nothing else like our farm in Newham.

Another unique and wonderful thing about the farm was that they offered work experience to special needs people.

This farm needs to be reinstated and made good again. Residents should be able to put forward what they want to see there. Wouldn’t it be good to keep bees and go and buy a pot of local honey? When stressed out, to wander with the animals to make you feel calm.

Kim Thompson and family, E16

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