Community farm in West Sussex appeals for new home as it searches for land to rent
The Garden Army says it has not found a suitable site
A community farm that supports people with health and wellbeing needs is appealing for help to find a new home in Sussex.
The Garden Army, a Community Interest Company, says it is losing its home in West Hoathly and has not yet found a suitable site.
In an Instagram post shared last week, it said it was asking landowners for help.
The Garden Army said: 'We are surrounded by hundreds of thousands of acres, yet right now, we haven't found a single acre available to us that could give The Garden Army a suitable, secure new home.'
What The Garden Army does
The group's profile says it was set up to support people of all ages who are living with health and wellbeing needs.
A graphic shared with the post says: 'For the past five years our farm has been a safe, supportive place where people can grow in nature, build confidence and improve their mental health. Now we urgently need to find a new home so this vital work can continue.'
The Garden Army said: 'The Garden Army is somewhere people find friendship, support and a sense of purpose. It is where children who struggle in mainstream education get the chance to learn differently and discover what they can do.'
The group said it needs to stay in the local area.
It said: 'We need to stay local because the people who come to us need to be able to reach us.'
Why finding land is difficult
The post says people often ask why the group cannot simply rent a field that looks unused.
The Garden Army said: 'A field can look empty and still be part of a working farm, an existing tenancy or someone's future plans. And even where land might be available, we need permission to run our activities, safe access, basic facilities and enough security to make moving worthwhile.'
The Garden Army said: 'We can pay rent. We are prepared to work hard. But we need someone willing to open that door.'
The group said a lot of work is going on behind the scenes, including calls, emails, conversations and visits.