See & do

Pottery classes making an egg cup

education workshops

We offer interactive and engaging workshops on a range of topics to do with food, farming and the natural world.

Here are some of the most popular workshops we get asked to deliver. If you have a topic not covered here, let us know and we can usually meet your needs.

All workshops are £100 for an hour and a half with an experienced member of the Farm’s Education Team. Maximum capcity for each workshop varies so please check in the workshop description that it will meet your class size.

After the workshop you are welcome to stay and explore the Farm and its gardens.

Animal handling

Ever thought about what it takes to look after farm animals?

Under the guidance of the Farm’s Livestock Team learn about each animal, their behaviour and lifestyle.

Each student will get an opportunity to work one-on-one with the animals, including close-up contact, grooming and leading on halters.
Find out more

Chicken and egg

By looking at the life-cycle of the chicken we learn about how a chick develops inside the egg, hatches out and then grows into a full grown clucking, pecking chicken in the yard.

Introduces concepts around biological development and where our food comes from.

Habitat

What do plants and animals need to survive?

We explore the various habitats around the farm both wild and domestic, and discover the wonderful range of creatures that live in them.

Work experience

At Hackney City Farm we offer a rare opportunity for students living in the city to experience what it is like working on a farm.

We have a range of work experience opportunities in animal husbandry, horticulture and environmental management for students considering a career outdoors.

Places are limited so please get in touch to arrange your placement well in advance of the date.

Apply for work experience

For more information, please contact cj@hackneycityfarm.co.uk
“I love being around the animals and helping out at the farm. This gives me confidence to be around other people.”
Jacqui Greene, Aged 16

Volunteering

Team volunteering

Come down with your team to work alongside the Farm team to make Hackney City Farm a much loved community resource in the heart of East London.

Food hub volunteering

The Food Hub saves edible food from going to waste and distributes it to food banks or community initiatives. We need volunteers to sort, collect and deliver for the Hub.

Farm volunteering

Volunteer alongside the Farm Team to care for the garden, look after the animals and maintain the site.

Mini Farmers club

Saturdays, 10:30–12:30
Children aged 8–12 years

Held every Saturday morning from 10:30–12:30. It’s a great way for younger kids to learn about nature, make arts and crafts and get to know the animals, under the careful supervision of our livestock worker.

Maxi Farmers club

 

Sundays, 11:00–13:30
Teenagers aged 12–18 years

A 12 week opportunity for young adults aged 12–18 to help out in the farmyard and take on responsibilities for care of the animal.

Apply by email. Sorry, no drop-ins.

Want to volunteer?

We are always grateful for additional help at the farm, let us know if you can lend a hand. For more information, please contact cj@hackneycityfarm.co.uk

Want to volunteer?

hire

A green oasis in the middle of the city, Hackney City Farm is a unique venue to host your events, whether they are training sessions, children’s birthday parties or corporate away days.

We are also popular with bands, advertisers, television companies and film production crews who hire our locations, props and animals and propel them to stardom – Peppa Pig started here.

Straw Bale room

Book our large straw bale room room for a children's party, meeting or workshop in an inspiring space. The room opens out onto the woodland garden where you can gather to chat and unwind.

The building is used regularly by community groups for everything from yoga to choir practice.

Meetings or community times
Tuesdays 12:30–17:30
Wednesdays 9:30–16:30
Thursdays 9:30–17:30
Fridays 9:30–17:30

Children's party times
Saturdays or Sundays
Morning slot: 10:00–13:00
Afternoon: 13:30–16:30

Children's party rules:
Max of 35 people, including children.
Sorry no adult parties.

Room fee (3 hours)
– Children's parties: £120
– Meetings or community (weekday): £50/hour (min. of 3 hours)
Book a room

School visits, groups and nurseries

You must book your visit even if you are doing your own activities.

We have a maximum number of 30 children that we can safely accommodate at any one time, and if we get schools or large groups who turn up and are not booked in we may have to turn you away, so please book to avoid disappointment.

Sessions (2 hours)
Tuesdays 10:00–12:00 & 13:00–15:00
Wednesdays 10:00–12:00 & 13:00–15:00
Thursdays 10:00–12:00 & 13:00–15:00
Fridays 10:00–12:00 & 13:00–15:00

Farmyard Rules
– No food or drink
– No shouting
– No running or chasing animals!

Book a school visit

Animals for hire

We have well behaved animals available for hire.  One of our sheep, goats or Clover the donkey can attend your event accompanied by an experienced animal handler.
Get in touch

Film location

As a unique destination in the city, Hackney City Farm is often used as a location for everything from documentaries to music videos.

A variety of locations are available as a backdrop. Farm animals and bees can also be hired on location. Hourly or daily services available.

Fees for location, garden, farmyard, outside on the fields:
– Less than 4 hours: £125/hour
– Over four hours: £100/hour.

An additional fee of £75/hour is for onsite animal handling (donkeys, sheep, lambs in Spring, goats, kids from May-July), pigs, chickens, ducks and geese.

Fee for straw bale room:
– £50/hour.
Get in touch

Events hire

Come to the farm to mark the occasion. The gardens, farmyard and meadow are available for weddings, celebrations, launch parties, storytelling, outdoor theatre… just about anything bringing people together.

Hourly or daily services available.
Get in touch

Photo shoot

The farm has been used as a secluded backdrop for everything from fashion shoots to profile pics and photojournalism. A variety of spaces can be used as an agricultural setting, a view of historic East London made of cobbles and brickwork or the feel of a wild secret garden. 

Farm animals and bees can be hired on location. Hourly or daily services available.

Fees for location, garden, farmyard, outside on the fields:
– Less than 4 hours: £125/hour
– Over four hours: £100/hour.

An additional fee of £75/hour is for onsite animal handling (donkeys, sheep, lambs in Spring, goats, kids from May-July), pigs, chickens, ducks and geese.

Fee for straw bale room:
– £50/hour.

Ignore this line

The farm has been used as a secluded backdrop for everything from fashion shoots to profile pics and photojournalism. Recently, Radio Times featured actors from The Archers. A variety of spaces can be used as an agricultural setting, a view of historic East London made of cobbles and brickwork or the feel of a wild secret garden.

Farm animals and bees can be hired on location. Hourly or daily services available.

Fees for location, garden, farmyard, outside on the fields:
– Less than 4 hours: £125/hour
– Over four hours: £100/hour.

An additional fee of £75/hour is for onsite animal handling (donkeys, sheep, lambs in Spring, goats, kids from May-July), pigs, chickens, ducks and geese.

Fee for straw bale room:
– £50/hour.

Get in touch

garden

Open all year round to the public, the garden is divided into sections: the orchard area with apple, pear and plum trees, and the bog garden filled with wetland plants. A large part of the garden is given over to raised beds in which we grow vegetables and at the top end of the garden, we have a selection of herb beds with many different varieties including types of mint, sage, thyme and marjoram.

ACTIVITIES

See our What's on calendar for details at the top of this page.

Pottery

We have pottery classes for children and adults. The sessions are drop in so no need to book.

Our resident potters will help you design and make your own clay objects and the price includes firing in the kiln. We have only two pottery wheels so you will not be able to spend a whole class using a wheel. It takes up to 3 weeks to get your piece fired for collection.

Children’s pottery – £10/£5
Wednesdays: 15:00–17:00 £5 per child
Sundays: Three sessions including hand building, glazing and a turn on the pottery wheel (not 13:00–14:00)
11:30–13:00 £10 per child
13:00–14:00 £5 per child (no pottery wheel)
14:00–15:30 £10 per child

Adult pottery – £20
Wednesdays 19:00–21:00.
Thurdays 19:00–21:00.

Drop in. 

Please collect pottery within 6 weeks. Unclaimed pottery will be recycled.

Woodworking

Learn green woodworking through making cooking utensils with London Green Wood. Over the school holidays kids can learn whittling.

A variety of workshops are held outdoors at the Farm.
Visit London Green Wood

Psychotherapy

Gaia Therapy Project is a low cost psychotherapy and counselling service offering weekly therapy sessions to individuals for up to one year.

Gaia provides affordable psychotherapeutic services to those who need them most. We aspire to cultivate a community and culture in which people feel welcome and able to explore the challenges of living.
Visit Gaia Therapy

Using herbs

Explore the beneficial uses of herbs with Hackney Herbal. Learn how to grow your own herbs, enjoy them through the seasons and the history and use of essential oils at our workshops at the farm.

Check Hackney Herb website for details below
Visit Hackney Herbal

Bike maintenance

Hackney Bike Workshop run sessions from 19:00–21:00 on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

You can maintain and fix your bike with help and guidance from the team of volunteer mechanics.

Donations towards tools and other costs are gratefully received.

Bike repair
19:00–21:00 First and third Tuesdays
Visit Hackney Bike Workshop

Arts classes

Hackney Fine Arts art classes equip young people and adults with the essential skills to make the art they always dreamed of.

​Learn advanced drawing and painting techniques in a small class after school, on Saturday, during the holidays and for adults in the evening. All art materials included.

A range of after school and weekend classes are available. See website for details.
Visit Hackney Fine Arts

Choir

Come and sing as the Hackney Harmony, a diverse and vibrant choir in the heart of East London. We sing a wide range of music including Gospel, African, Folk, Eastern European, Sacred songs, and pop. We have regular concerts as well as gigs at local events and venues such as The Nest Collective, Woodburner Folk night, and Shoreditch Church.
Visit Hackney Harmony website
Farm logo
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths Row
London E2 8QA
Tuesdays to Sundays
10:00–16:30
Closed Mondays except bank holidays