Monkshill Farm getting a café and shop

Monkshill Farm is just made of goodness - good people doing good things for the right reasons, and making great food into the bargain. Go and have a look round, and treat yourself to some of their food.

Ground broken for farm's café and shop

A hoped-for royal visitor cried off - but dignitaries turned out in force for a ground-breaking ceremony at a children’s farm on Tuesday. Mayor of Swale Adrian Crowther and the deputy Lieutenant of Kent Frank Martin were among guests to see the turning of the first turf of what will be a new shop and cafe at the farm in Monkshill Road, Waterham, near Faversham.

The honour would have gone to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is patron of the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate with which the farm is linked, but she cancelled the trip due to illness. Instead the task fell to the Right Honourable Viscountess Lady Monckton of Brenchley a long-time supporter of the John Townsend Trust which runs both the school and farm and associated projects for young people with hearing problems and other disabilities.

The 300-acre farm is run as a commercial operation, selling fresh meat and eggs to restaurants such as the Sportsman at Seasalter. It is also an educational establishment. Youngsters visit regularly to help care for the animals, which include chickens, calves, sheep and alpacas. The skills they learn there help them to live independent lives. The new shop will eventually incorporate the farm’s butchery and meat-packing department.

Much of the £100,000 needed for the first phase of building work has still to be raised, but it is hoped it will be found in time for the shop to open in 2011.

HB Times 20th May 2010