STANDALONE FARM is one of Hertfordshire’s leading visitor attractions, welcoming over 80,000 people each year. The farm has become a firm favourite for local families as a great day out and also an key educational visit for school children throughout the town.
The venue is currently “seasonal,” opening from February to October each year. The Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation has plans to turn Standalone Farm into a year-round destination by 2024. This will expand the offer for our loyal base of local customers, as well as increasing our focus on education and wellbeing and contributing further to the local tourism economy.
In order to make this vision a reality, the Foundation has committed in excess of £1 Million of capital investment to renew certain areas of the farm. We have consulted extensively with our customers to find out what they want to see at Standalone Farm and are committing to some exciting developments. The Greenway car-park adjacent to the farm is currently closed, as work begins on an expansion to the current car parking facilities at Standalone Farm. The current overflow car park is being entirely redesigned to include a state-of-the-art grid flooring system to enable use all year round. As well as creating additional car parking spaces, the project will also include improved walkways and access paths and will link to future planning around Letchworth’s Green Travel strategy.
Within the farm itself, £150,000 has been invested in brand new outdoor play equipment, expanding the existing park area. The new equipment is in keeping with the rustic feel of a working farm, incorporating the latest in outdoor play trends. The park opens when the farm reopens its gates in February 2023.
Further investment is also being made in a joint project with Central Bedfordshire Council to build new flood resilience measures around Pix Brook. The river which runs through Standalone Farm is prone to flooding, and this project is designed to reduce this and lessen the impact of rainfall in the coming years. Standalone Farm has been selected as the “educational hub” of the project, and investment from the Foundation will allow for the development of interactive activities and information which can be enjoyed by schools and families as a part of their visit.
Jason Valentine, Venues Manager at the Foundation said: “The team at the farm have worked really hard to create a strategy to make major improvements to our visitor experience. We want Standalone Farm to stay at the top of visitors to do lists when they’re in the area, and for that to happen, we need to keep moving and reinvesting. I’m thrilled that we’re able to make these improvements and continue to work on your farm – I can’t wait to welcome you in the new year.”
Graham Fisher, Chief Executive of the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation added: “The Heritage Foundation has clear charitable objects, including improving wellbeing in Letchworth, and focussing on improving education and learning and the environment. This investment goes right to the heart of these objects and will have a really positive impact on the Garden City and its residents. We are confident that the outcomes of this investment will improve the life of countless residents of Letchworth Garden City, and that it’s the right thing for the town.”
