About Woad Farm
The Woad Farm Project is a not-for-profit community farm, founded in 2022 to support the wellbeing of children and young people in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.
While we have a particular focus on looked-after and care-experienced children, our mission is to make the healing power of animals, nature, and the outdoors accessible to all children — especially those who might otherwise fall through the gaps.
The idea for Woad Farm was born after years of fostering young people in Milton Keynes and repeatedly hearing the phrase: “they don’t meet the threshold.” We found ourselves asking, why isn’t there more out there for these kids? After speaking with professionals, we realised there was a clear and pressing lack of preventative, relational support for children and young people in the area — and we felt compelled to do something.
We started crowdfunding and writing to local businesses for support, with £3000 raised we got to work, volunteering every spare hour we had to get the area ready to host people! Then came the fun part… finding animals!
We started small, offering a few sessions over the school holidays — but word quickly spread. The demand was immediate and overwhelming. Before long, we were opening multiple days a week just to meet the level of need.
Soon after opening, we met Nicky — a key ally — and began running regular holiday and Saturday sessions. Together, we set a goal: by the end of Year 3, we would be open three days a week, with a staff member in place to support the work.
Fast forward to today — Year 3 — and we now have four dedicated staff, a thriving volunteer base, and over 1,000 children and young people have accessed the farm.
This is more than a project. It’s a community. A safe space. A place to grow, heal, and belong.
We have a particular focus on looked after or care-experienced children, but are driven by the opportunity to share the benefits of animals, nature and the outdoors to ALL children.
We set this project up thinking we could provide a little support over the holidays, but it wasn’t long before word got out. We soon had to open multiple days a week to support the level of need in mk .
