city farms

Something kind of unique I've found in London:

City Farms!

There are several of them scattered around the city and some of them are quite central.  This one was in Vauxhall, a five minute walk from the National Rail station, and in sight of downtown London.  It's quite quietly tucked into a mixed neighborhood of social housing, Victorian row houses, and some new office buildings.  

Most of them are just glorified petting zoos and are volunteered-run and rely on donations.  They have a mix of sheep, goats, chickens, alpacas, rabbits, and usually an organic garden and a place to compost.  Most of them have horseback riding lessons and a small riding ring squeezed in with a stable of a half dozen ponies.  

These are from the slightly more suburban Dean City Farm:

Every time I happen by one, curiosity gets the better of me, and I poke my head in.  Far from rustic, most of them have cafes and lots of places to wash your hands, and the animals all look fat and happy and friendly enough to accept the handouts you can buy from the farm.