The Black Barn Project at Woodoaks Farm

by Simon Farley in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Total raised £26,970

 
Gift Aid
+ est. £2730.75
£50,000 target 18 days left
53% 164 supporters
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  Your donation will be matched

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th June 2025 at 2:50pm

This is our final push.. please help us raise the final £50,000 to complete our £2.5M Black Barn Project to safeguard Woodoaks Farm's future

by Simon Farley in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

 donated match funding
Aviva Community Fund is providing live match funding

Support the Black Barn Project: for Nature, for People, for the Next Generation

Please join us at Woodoaks Farm to bring the Black Barn Project to life: A transformational project that restores wildlife and biodiversity, reconnects people to where our food comes from, and protects precious landscapes for future generations. 

Woodoaks Farm has shaped the landscape for over 1000 years. Our story started with Sally Findlay's generous gift of the 300-acre farm to The Soil Association Land Trust in 2020.  With it, she shared her powerful vision and wish to return Woodoaks to the heart of the community in a meaningful way that creates a lasting legacy and a haven for wildlife and people. 

Since 2020, we’ve built a thriving community, restored over 3K of hedgerows, established a committed group of volunteers, transitioned our arable land to organic and created a school programme that welcomes over 550 school children a year.  In a tough time for nature and the world at large, our positive impact is getting noticed... we have even been featured on BBC’s Countryfile twice in recent months!

With your support we can:

✅ Restore & protect the historic farm buildings while creating new spaces for education, workshops, and community events. 

✅ Reconnect people with nature, providing hands-on experiences in farming, wildlife conservation, and sustainability. 

✅ Welcome diverse communities, ensuring everyone—especially those who may not have easy access to green spaces—can enjoy and benefit from the farm. 

✅ Tackle biodiversity loss & climate change, demonstrating how nature-led farming can support the health of both people and the planet.

Our plans in action:

  • Restore and Protect Nature: Across the farm, habitats will be enriched and expanded, from hedgerows and wildflower meadows to ponds and woodlands. Farmland bird populations will recover, rare plants will return, and pollinators will thrive, ensuring a farm ecosystem that is rich in life.

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  • Planet-Friendly Farming: As an organic farm, Woodoaks will use regenerative techniques that build soil health, enhance biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change. Our land will support a rich diversity of crops, ensuring that soil fertility is restored, carbon is sequestered, and nature flourishes.

This is an artist's impression of how the farm will look by 2030 with traditional landscapes restored. To see just how much is changing visit our farm website https://woodoaksfarm.com and scroll between the before and after maps!  

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  • Reconnect People to Food, Farming and Nature: People are at the heart of our vision. Our project provides the essential visitor services to welcome, educate, and inspire visitors, from schoolchildren and aspiring farmers to local community organisations and families. Through immersive experiences in food, farming, and conservation, we will foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the role we all play in protecting it.

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"Volunteering at Woodoaks lets me give back to this companion I have lived alongside for 60 years, and help heal the decline and leave a legacy for all" Woodoaks volunteer.

"It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills, share knowledge whilst mucking in - I feel like I am part of something very special" Sue, Woodoaks volunteer.

Creating a new Community and Education hub

To truly open up the wealth of possibilities, Woodoaks Farm now needs the basics. Right now, we don’t have any warm indoor spaces—or even accessible toilets—that allow us to properly welcome people in. Without these essentials, we’re limited in what we can offer. The new Community and Education Hub, alongside the restored Grade II listed Black Barn, will give us the space and facilities we need to host events, workshops, school visits and more, all year round. 

But this is about so much more than bricks and mortar. This is about creating a place where people connect with each other and with the land. 

The Hub will be the starting point: a warm, welcoming space where people gather, learn, and get inspired—before heading out into the fields, woods, and grasslands to get hands-on. Whether it’s growing food, restoring wildlife habitats, or learning about the heritage of the farm, this is where community, conservation, and education come to life. This is where true connection happens.  A place that will stand the test of time and help restore balance to people and planet wellbeing.  

The Education and Community Hub will become the gateway to the farm and the wider landscape beyond. A place for:- 

 🌱  Environmental Education with soil health and nature at the heart of it.
🌿 Skills training in sustainability
🍎 Hands-on food and farming experiences
🎉   Community events and celebrations

Here is how it looks now: 

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Here is how it will look: An Artist’s impression.

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Artist's impression of the new learning space interior:

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We are currently exposed to seasonal extremes of wind, rain, heat and cold. With your support we can beat these seasonal challenges, creating a year-round offering for all ages and abilities which will ensure:

Access for All
We’re making Woodoaks a farm for everyone — with new accessible facilities and pathways so all visitors can explore and enjoy the landscape, whatever their needs.

"I have mobility problems alongside mental health issues. I didn't think it was for me but everyone was so welcoming. My weekly session at Woodoaks makes me feel valued in society, something that people like me don't feel generally’ Gary, Woodoaks volunteer. 

Supporting young people with learning difficulties .. planting willow on the farm as part of our Mission Employable pilot programme:

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"They have taken so much from their time there and have been inspired to consider employment in farm maintenance. Ranger Steve Dutch leads with such infectious passion and excellent knowledge for the environment. We look forward to working together more in the future” Cass Langan Mission EmployAble Training manager.

Getting Stuck In
From planting trees to restoring habitats and growing food, we’re creating hands-on opportunities for people to connect with nature and take positive action for the planet.

Woodoaks pumpkin growing project with our local school:

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Life-Long Learning in Nature
We’ll offer nature-based learning for all ages — from toddlers to older adults — including tailored sessions for those with special educational needs and alternative education groups.

Local school children getting familiar with worms in our compost piles:

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‘My class loved their visit and gained so much from the experience that I will be actively encouraging other teachers to visit and make the most of this amazing resource we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep.’ Teacher, Shepherds School

We're Nearly There—But your Woodoaks Farm needs you!  

HELP US RAISE £25K and get our money doubled to £50K with the help of AVIVA Matchfunding!  

Thanks to generous funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, HS2 Community & Environment Fund, together with grants from national Trusts & Foundations, Corporate Partners and Individuals we are now close to reaching our target and we are hugely grateful for the generous support of so many already. 

Now, we're reaching out to the wider community to raise the final £50,000—with £25,000 to come from this public appeal. 

🌟 Be Part of the Legacy 

👉Join us, to support this valuable community and environment project, to be a part of Woodoaks' sustainable future.  Every donation—large or small—brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality. 

Thank you so much for being part of something truly special. 

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"The plan for the future of Woodoaks is a beacon of hope in an area which has been so blighted by overdevelopment in the last few years. We would be devastated if this was lost". Maple Cross resident.

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Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£500 or more

1 of 5 claimed

Sponsor a camera bird/hedgehog nest box

An opportunity to take an active role in wildlife monitoring at Woodoaks by sponsoring a camera-fitted bird or hedgehog box. A unique opportunity to get a window into the hidden world of nesting birds while directly supporting wildlife conservation and education at Woodoaks Farm. You will receive a special acknowledgement and updates from the live feed.

£10 or more

Thank you - from £10

All donations from £10 will receive a digital certificate to acknowledge your support. All donations help restore Woodoaks' habitats, protect our wildlife and help to create access for people to be immersed in nature, to learn and to get involved. You will receive exclusive updates on our progress and the impact of your support.

£20 or more

8 of 10 claimed

First Edition of The Findlay Century Book

The Findlay History of Woodoaks Farm – First Edition. Be among the first to own a new book detailing the rich history of Woodoaks farm and the Findlay Family. This beautifully crafted edition uncovers the farm's legacy, the stories that shaped it and how Sally came to gift the farm to The Soil Association. A must- have for history lovers and farm supporters.

£30 or more

12 of 30 claimed

Sponsor a tree in our Community Growing Orchard

Leave a lasting legacy by sponsoring a tree in our new community orchard— a space for people and wildlife to thrive. Your tree will provide fruit, shelter, and beauty for generations to come, and you’ll be able to visit it anytime to see the impact of your support. Support includes 3-year maintenance of your sponsored tree. As a thank-you, you'll receive a certificate of sponsorship and updates on the orchard’s growth!

£100 or more

0 of 24 claimed

Small group seasonal farm walk with Ranger Steve

An opportunity to be part of a small group (of 6) to spend a full morning or afternoon on a guided seasonal walk, led by Ranger Steve to explore the biodiversity of the farm. Lunch included together with access to off-limits area and a visit to the farmstead's very rare medieval kitchen. Please indicate Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter when confirming .. numbers restricted to 6 per walk.. advised to book early!

£200 or more

3 of 20 claimed

Sponsor 10m of new hedgerow or wildflower margin

Sponsor 10 meters of new hedgerow or wildflower margin and help create vital wildlife corridors, boost biodiversity, and enhance the natural landscape for generations to come. You'll receive a special acknowledgment, photographs of your sponsored row and updates on the wildlife your hedgerow is helping to protect! Double your support to £500 and create 25m of new hedgerow!

£1,000 or more

Permanent name credit on our Donor Tree Ring

With a donation of £1,000 or more, your name will be proudly displayed on our Tree Ring Donor installation, permanently honouring your generous support in shaping the future of Woodoaks Farm. Leave a lasting legacy and be recognised as a key supporter of this transformative project.

£2,000 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Dedicate a seat in our Community Garden

Honor a loved one with a lasting tribute in our new community garden. With a donation, you can sponsor an In Memoriam Seat, featuring a name carved on the seat. This special place will offer a peaceful spot for reflection, surrounded by nature, while supporting the restoration and future of Woodoaks Farm.

£4,000 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Endow a bench on Woodoaks circular trail.

A unique opportunity to endow a family bench to be permanently installed in a prominent view position on Woodoaks circular trail. You will be involved in all aspects of the design, materials and position of the four-seat bench including a personal inscription of your choice / In Memoriam dedication to a loved one.

£20,000 or more

0 of 1 claimed

Sponsor a pond

A unique opportunity to invest in a key biodiversity asset and major milestone of Woodoak's Conservation Management plan. This significant investment will allow the installation of a first pond on the farm for generations, providing an essential water resource to aid irrigation, protect wildlife and boost biodiversity. You are welcome to be involved in the installation process and to have naming rights in perpetuity of the pond.

£50 or more

5 of 5 claimed

Sponsor a Swift brick or Bat box

Sponsor a swift brick or a bat box, to be installed in the lime render facade of the new Hub. Help provide a safe nesting space for these incredible birds and bats. You will be supporting biodiversity and playing a vital role in restoring wildlife at Woodoaks Farm for future generations to enjoy. Your brick or box will have a name tag and we will send you a photograph of it once it is installed.

Show your support

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