Group: Road Farm Countryways CIC
Project: Inspired to Grow
Grant: £10,000
Fund: General
Road Farm Countryways is a working farm based in the Chilterns. The farm aims to provide active and meaningful opportunities for the local community to be engaged with the countryside, interact with farm animals and nature, nurture life skills, and promote wellness.
With a grant from Heart of Bucks, Road Farm Countryways launched the Inspired to Grow project. This project empowered individuals to take control, learning how to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, harvest, and nourish themselves sustainably through healthy cooking sessions.
Over the course of 12 inspiring workshops, participants explored biodiversity, seasonal planting, fermentation, harvesting, and more. With hands-on experience, they not only took home fresh produce but also seeds to extend their learning and independence beyond the farm. Participants felt an immense sense of pride and achievement, watching the fruits of their labour grow. They also left feeling happier, healthier, and more confident in their ability to grow food, reduce waste, and make sustainable choices. Young people, in particular, were inspired to adopt greener lifestyles that will benefit both their future and the planet.
But beyond growing fruit and vegetables, this project cultivated confidence, a refreshed sense of community, and a deeper connection to nature. A once-underused farm space was transformed into a thriving hub, linking plants, nature, education, and wellbeing. It became a space where people from all walks of life came together—learning, laughing, and forming friendships that lasted beyond the project.
Case study
A SEND pupil took a brave step, attending Inspired to Grow independently—a milestone he hadn’t reached anywhere else. The farm’s calming atmosphere and hands-on experiences with donkeys, goats, and newborn calves brought food production to life, keeping him fully engaged. With a perfectly paced approach, he built skills at his own speed, finding joy in his achievements. More than just gardening and cookery, this experience nurtured his confidence, independence, and social connections.
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