Vision

On Hazelhurst Lane, in the beautiful Moss Valley on the edge of Sheffield, there is a place where organic growers and craftspeople can work on the land, producing sustainable local food and building ecologically-based livelihoods.

Our vision is to create a diverse patchwork of market gardens, orchards, beehives and coppice woodland on the edge of the city. Organic growers and wood-workers work on the site, using local materials to produce food, fuel and woodland products for Sheffield. 

Wildlife thrives in the field margins and adjoining woodland, which also provides coppice wood and timber for fencing, fuel and buildings.

Our motivation is to respond to the challenges of climate change, resource depletion and social inequalities by supporting a sustainable food system and land-based livelihoods. In this way, we aim to help create a more ecologically, socially and economically resilient city, engaged in the transition towards 'one planet living'. 

Aims

Building a windbreak hedge for the orchard

Friends' Field has developed 15 acres of agricultural land on the edge of the city as a site for productive and ecologically sustainable land-based enterprises. The project provides small-scale organic food growers and other land-based workers (such as woodworkers, beekeepers etc) with land, infrastructure and shared equipment at an affordable annual rent. The main part of the site is now leased and managed by Regather Ltd, a local social enterprise, which is growing vegetables to supply their expanding veg box scheme.

As well as sharing infrastructure and equipment, the project enables small enterprises to co-operate through skill-sharing, exchange of products and materials, and co-operative marketing and distribution. The site also adjoins 29 acres of woodland, which is owned by Heather Hunt and is managed in co-operation with the project. This will enable woodland products such as coppice wood and firewood to be conveniently sourced and integrated into productive enterprises.

Friends' Field is part of the wider Transition and Food Sovereignty movements. We are interested in collaborating with movements and research organisations engaged with locally-controlled, low carbon, land-based initiatives preparing to adapt to our changing climate.