Willderland farm is a 4.5 acre community farm, based near Haddenham, between Ely and Cambridge in the Fens. We established ourselves as a membership organisation in 2015, with the aim of growing food sustainably, supporting wildlife & benefitting the wider community.

We purchased the land in July 2015, as a semi-improved grassland site. Our vision is to have the land managed for:

Grazing livestock We will maintain and improve the grass sward, using seeds of local provenance and seasonal grazing livestock.

Fruit production & chickens We recently established a fruit orchard, containing apple, quince, plum, green gage and cherry trees. We intend to install fencing to enclose chickens, who will keep the soil clean of fruit pests and enjoy a habitat close to their natural one (they are descended from jungle fowl).

Market & community gardens We are gradually adding to the market garden with raspberries, gooseberries, black currents, rhubarb, already in place. We have yet to establish the community garden, but it will be managed for small scale growing projects, to benefit schoolchildren, or vulnerable members of the community (for example).

Wildlife We want to enhance the land with pollen and nectar rich plants, to help the bees, butterflies, and other insects. We would like to plant more trees and put up bird boxes for birds, and maintain our long grass margins for small mammals and overwintering invertebrates.

We have many other ideas for the farm, everything from: growing shiitake mushrooms on oak logs to creating a pizza clay oven, and there will be a Music and Cider festival each harvest! So please find out more about how you can become a volunteer of this fun and worthwhile venture.