HISTORY
& BACKGROUND
Leigh Court Farm is based around the two acre walled garden
originally built at the turn of the 19th century to serve
Leigh Court Mansion. The property remained with the Miles
family until 1915 when it was bought by the Reverend Burden
for use as an institution. In 1948 the NHS acquired the
estate and they ran it until the 1980’s. Latterly the
walled garden, the orchard, the paddock and the historic
pleasure gardens were the property of Freeways Trust, a local
charity caring for young adults.
The Leigh Court Farm Project started in the summer of 1998
with our first full season of growing taking place during
1999. Much of our initial focus involved infrastructure works
to the walls, gates, paths and orchard, necessary before the
growing could begin.
Over time we hope to secure funding which will enable us to
restore the original glass-houses, pineapple pit, pig styes,
mushroom house, not to mention the Repton Pleasure Gardens
which run from the walled garden to Leigh Court Mansion.
Public access is currently limited to open days, although we
plan to make access more freely available in the future.
EDUCATION
Learn Horticulture, our educational charity, offers a wide
range of training opportunities in domestic to commercial
organic horticulture, and includes volunteering
opportunities, and from time to time weekend and evening
courses.
The Farm has worked with City of Bristol College and
Cannington College to provide placements for NVQ courses and
also has had links with the Department for Education &
Employment (DfEE) “New Deal” programme and the
European Social Fund (ESF) “Pathways to Work”
scheme.
NOT FOR
PROFIT
Leigh Court Farm is a not for profit company which has been
set up to act as a source and a demonstration of local food
enterprise. Learn Horticulture is a registered educational
charity.
OPEN DAYS
The walled garden and orchard are not generally open to the
public, however we generally hold at least two open days a
year which we publicise through the press, flyers and by word
of mouth.
Please contact our Administration Office on 0117 903 1082 to
enquire about dates of forthcoming open days.
ORGANICS
Leigh Court Farm is registered with the Soil Association and
was originally awarded full organic status in December 2000.
PARTNERSHIPS
Leigh Court Farm was instrumental in setting up the Bristol
Organic Partnership (BOP), an informal grouping which sought
to provide training opportunities and fresh, low cost, local
organic produce to people on low incomes, unemployment
benefit or who have dietary related health problems. Our
initial activity centred on Hartcliffe and Withywood, though
in time we hope to work with other communities across Bristol
and in North Somerset.
Leigh Court Farm is represented on the management board of
Bristol Local Food Links, a project which is run by VOSCUR.
PRODUCE
Produce is available through the Box Scheme that operates on
a weekly basis. Two sizes of box are available, the small box
is suitable for 2-3 people and the large box is suitable for
a family of 4-5 . In any one week customers can expect to
receive 7-8 different vegetables which vary according to
season.
Residents of Hartcliffe and Withywood are able to obtain
fresh farm produce at very attractive rates through the
Hartcliffe Health and Environmental Action Group’s food
co-op.
The farm has a weekly stall at the Bristol Farmers Market
from May to December. The restricted quantity of fruit grown
at the farm will generally be available through the
Farmer’s Market.