Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive, Christopher Price, highlights the urban centres making vital contributions to the rare breed conservation effort.
Much of the most visible work to conserve the UK’s rare livestock and equine breeds takes place in rural landscapes, but a number of city farms are doing important and valuable work in the most urban of environments to support the survival of some of the UK’s rarest native breeds.
Within the 30-strong network of RBST-approved centres, there are several urban farms and educational facilities taking part in crucial conservation programmes, managing special pedigree breeding groups, and providing education to new audiences about rare breeds and why they matter. These city farms provide a fantastic facility for people living in their communities, and the education they deliver centred on rare breed animals can bring multiple benefits for local people in tandem with these breeds’ conservation.
The RBST-approved farmparks, educational centres and associates are all actively breeding pedigree, registered groups of Watchlist breeds and they are all open to the public.It is a diverse group, varying in size, style, mission and location, and each organisation offers an important public showcase for native breeds as well as an important source of pedigree stock.
CONSERVATION NEAR CANARY WHARF
Of the RBST-approved centres in urban locations, the largest is Mudchute City Farm on the Isle of Dogs close to Canary Wharf in London. It is one of the largest city farms in Europe, and supports the conservation of Watchlist breeds including Tamworth, Large White, Middle White and Large Black pigs; Dorking, Sussex and Indian Game chickens; Aylesbury, Indian Runner, Rouen and Pekin ducks; Norfolk Horn, Whitefaced Woodland, Oxford Down and Soay sheep; and Royal Golden Guernsey and Bagot goats.
Other urban centres making vital contributions to the rare breed conservation effort include Heeley City Farm in the heart of Sheffield, which keeps Bagot and Royal Golden Guernsey goats; Large Black, Oxford Sandy and Black and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs; and Soay and Whitefaced Woodland sheep. RBST-approved associate Spitalfields City Farm is located in one of the most densely populated wards of Tower Hamlets and delivers an impressive programme of education and community engagement as well as keeping Castlemilk Moorit and Portland sheep.
Picture caption: Norfolk Horn sheep grazing near Canary Wharf on Mudchute City Farm.
This article extract was taken from the March 2025 edition of The Country Smallholder. To read the article in full, you can buy the issue here.
