The Save Babbinswood Farm campaign has passed a major milestone, raising over £80,000 in recent weeks, taking the overall total to more than £220,000 through community share purchases and donations. This brings the campaign significantly closer to its £250,000 minimum target.

Babbinswood Farm has become widely known for its unique dairy farming practices, where cows raise their own calves and, in recent years, surplus milk has been shared directly with the local community.

Casha, who farms at Babbinswood Farm, said:
“It is absolutely incredible the support we have seen in recent weeks, which has taken us past the £220,000 mark. Our minimum target is £250,000. While this won’t allow us to save all of Babbinswood Farm from going onto the open market, it will keep a small but vital part of the land in community hands.”

The campaign was launched in response to the farm’s uncertain future, following the need to repay an initial altruistic loan that enabled the community share offer to begin.

Barbara Jones, who also farms the land and is the current owner of Babbinswood Farm, has delayed placing the farm on the open market in the hope that the community would recognise the long-term value of protecting a local organic farm through community ownership.
“I had high hopes that the community would step in to save all 117 acres of Babbinswood Farm,” Barbara said. “Sadly, I can’t wait any longer. The initial funders need to be repaid, and the farm must now be put up for sale.”

Despite this, Barbara remains deeply committed to the principle of community ownership. A smaller area of land has been earmarked for community purchase if the revised minimum target of £250,000 is reached by 31 December 2025.

If this lower minimum is not met, the remaining land will be offered to other interested parties, which may include developers and energy companies — a worst-case scenario for the long-term vision for the land, and one that has already driven renewed public support to help save the land from this fate.

“Even saving part of the farm matters,” Casha added. “It keeps land rooted in community values, organic farming, and care for animals and people. Every share bought and every donation made helps protect that future.”

Members of the public are encouraged to support the campaign by purchasing community shares (priced at £50 per share), donating, or sharing the appeal widely to help secure community ownership of part of Babbinswood Farm before the deadline.

About the Save Babbinswood Farm Campaign
The Save Babbinswood Farm campaign is a community-led effort to protect organic farmland through shared ownership. The project seeks to safeguard land for ecological farming, community benefit, and long-term stewardship.

Campaign link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-babbinswood-farm

Members of the Babbinswood CBS team pictured after a recent community litterpick in Babbinswood.