As part of creating a Wilder Nottinghamshire network, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is out in the community connecting with local groups to find out how to shape our network. I'm Harri, the Wilder Officer (North) and I had the absolute pleasure of going to meet Ben Sofield, Training Assistant & POV Lead at Rhubarb Farm, and spending a few hours getting to know all about the project.

The site I was warmly welcomed into was far from the weed-tangled field that would have been found there as little as ten years ago. One area has been left untouched to show what the whole site looked like at the start of the project.

This is a great way to see how the project has developed but also a haven for wildlife, as it provides shelter and a safe space to breed. This project has gone from strength to strength, and I can see why after my visit.

The community feel was evident from the start, with the warm welcome received from Ben and everyone I met thereafter. Rhubarb Farm supports a vast number of people from different  walks of life and can welcome up to 50 volunteers a week. There are so many opportunities for volunteers to take part in activities and training. There is something for everyone at every level.

Three very special members of Rhubarb Farm who cannot go without mention are Murphy the donkey, Domino the Shetland Pony, and Sherley the pig, who has her hands very full with all her gorgeous piglets.

One of the things I loved about the farm was that there is no hierarchy, and everyone is a volunteer on site. There is also the opportunity for people as young as 16 to volunteer within the POV (Point of View project), an Arts Council England funded project to encourage young people aged 16-25 to explore volunteering via the arts.

I had the pleasure of looking around the community shop that is currently under development and ready to re-open very soon. All products in the shop are grown or handmade by volunteers with all proceeds going back into the farm. Whilst in the Rhubarb Woodshed area, I was lucky enough to meet some of the volunteers working on products that will be available in the shop. The standard of the woodwork was amazing. I can’t wait for the apple bird feeders to be in stock! We then moved into another training area where I met Georgina, the on-site mental health worker, delivering some sewing lessons. There were some amazing cushions being made.

Rhubarb Farm is taking action for nature in many ways. There is a growing area where every planter has been made from re-using what others may class as rubbish, reducing waste and recycling items doomed for landfill. There is even an old toilet used as a planter. The plants don’t mind one bit. 😊

They collect rainwater into massive containers to cover most of the watering needed in their amazing, wonderful, inspiring poly tunnels.

Making their own compost to use on-site reduces what they need to buy. There are many benefits to homemade compost. Compost is a resourceful way to recycle food scraps and garden waste, thus managing your waste more sustainably. By using leaves, grass clippings, and food you reduce the volume of materials otherwise destined for landfill. Rhubarb Farm is mostly peat-free and is currently conducting experiments to compare the growing outcomes in their planting tunnels with peat-free compost, making massive leaps in the right direction. There are no pesticides used on-site, instead they use lots of companion planting; planting things together that enhance or protect each other as well as rotating planting plans to reduce the chances of pests and disease and ensure healthy soil throughout the season.

I was really inspired by my visit to Rhubarb Farm and the community they have built. I left with a spring in my step and a real feeling of connection. It would be impossible to include everything that Rhubarb Farm does as there is so much going on site.