Virgin Money supports the Worshipful Company of Farmers at a Golden Jubilee Party to celebrate 50 years of Surrey Docks Farm in the heart of Thameside London.
At a time of unprecedented challenges for the UK’s agricultural industry, Virgin Money is flying the flag for the farmers who continue to put food on our tables to the highest standards of quality and animal welfare anywhere in the world.
The majority of Virgin Money’s agricultural customers are raising crops and livestock out in the British countryside, but on Thursday 17th July, Virgin Money Head of Agriculture, Brian Richardson, was helping The Worshipful Company of Farmers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a remarkable city centre smallholding, the Surrey Docks Farm on the banks of the River Thames which since its inception has introduced thousands of urban families to the importance of food production.
Every day of the week since it was founded in 1975, Surrey Docks Farm has welcomed children and their families from the local community to their 2.2 acre ‘countryside oasis in the city’. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, this charitably funded green haven has brought many children and adults into their first contact with farm animals.
For Brian Richardson, this event was a wonderful opportunity to show the bank’s appreciation for some of the most positive aspects of the UK’s excellence in agriculture and shine a spotlight on the critical issue of educating young people about where our food comes from and food security. For some, the engagement with growing food and caring for animals is also supporting their mental health.
"Surrey Docks Farm is a wonderful example of how even a small piece of land can bring the joy of farming to people of all ages, especially those who have spent their whole lives in the city. The staff here are introducing children to a way of life they have never imagined, and this is an educational showcase that gives urban people a glimpse into the lives of farming families all over the country.
"The great majority of the UK’s population live in cities, and it’s vital to educate consumers on how their food is produced, and how our farmers are meeting the multiple challenges of maintaining our food security and caring for our rural environment at the same time.
"We wanted to show our appreciation for The Worshipful Company of Farmers which supports many of the 12 City Farms in London, including Surrey Docks, and the 40 more green spaces in cities all over the UK. The Company, the 80th in City Livery precedence, is well known for its industry-leading management and leadership courses, and is one of the prime movers in the development of modern agricultural practice and technology for the future.
"So, this party at Surrey Docks Farm was a nexus of old and new, city and rural. At Virgin Money we’re supporting hundreds of farming customers who are forging ahead to beat the challenges and build an environmentally and financially sustainable future and today was an excellent platform to reminded everybody in UK how proud we should be of our world class agricultural industry."