I was gutted when I learned that our neighbourhood farm was threatened with closure last year, due to shortage of funding (the dreaded credit crunch strikes again).
Freightliners Farm is part of the heart and soul of Islington and provides a welcome escape from the hubbub of central London.
Then my friend Anyi, one of many Islington parents who visit the farm regularly, invited me to be part of an amazing grassroots effort bringing some famous names and the community together to help the farm.
Getting Piggy with It
It all kicks off in earnest this June with A Night of Comedy for Freightliners Farm, hosted by actor/comedian Alan Davies, with help from friends Jo Brand, Rich Hall, Phill Jupitus, Isy Suttie, Ian Stone, Roisin Conaty and Tiffany Stevenson!
‘It’s one of the best comedy bills I’ve ever been part of,’ says Davies, who says he was ‘horrified’ to hear of the farm’s plight. ‘My little girl loves it there so I’m delighted to help raise funds.’
Tickets are now on sale for A Night of Comedy for Freightliners Farm, happening on June 16 at Islington’s Union Chapel, recently voted Time Out’s Best Live Music Venue.
It promises to be an unforgettable night so bag your seats before they sell out!
Farm Hands Unite
The benefit gig is the first in a series of events and activities being planned by Islington locals in support of Freightliners Farm.
Babes about Town will be blogging the action as it unfolds as well as offering a helping hand on ground. People are encouraged to get involved through farming, gardening, environmental and crafts activities, skills sharing or just visiting with your kids and leaving a donation.
Freightliners Farm is a lovely space to hang out with family and give little townies a taste of country life.
The vegetarian cafe serving up truly yummy food made with farm-fresh ingredients is one of Islington’s best kept secrets!
Tickets for A Night of Comedy for Freightliners Farm are on sale through www.ticketmaster.co.uk
To find out more about the event, go to www.freightlinersfarm.org.uk, www.unionchapel.org.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk
Visit Freightliners Farm on Sheringham Rd, N7 (Highbury & Islington tube). Tel: 0207 609 0467
It promises to be a fantastic evening. Thank you so much for writing about the farm, and especially for the Getting Piggy With It pun!
Hi Chris, it’s my pleasure, we love Freightliners farm and will do whatever we can to support. I’m very excited about the comedy show. And I had many puns I could have crammed into the piece, but thought it best not to overdo it! ;-)
It such a shame that such talented comedians agreed to perform to save such a miserable place as Freightliners city farm. This so called farm may be seem good for some parents but it is utterly miserable for the animals who are behind bars, in very small spaces with concrete floors. There has already been two fires in Freightliners where animals died in agony (as they are left alone at nights). What does this place teaches children? That it is o.k to treat animals in this way in order to entertain children. The whole concept of that place is hypocritical and a disgrace. I suggest to Alan Davies that next time he wants to be charitable do something truely charitable and raise money for animal sanctuaries.