A GROUP striving to set up an educational farm in Oxford has announced that work could start as soon as next month.

Oxford City Farm, off Cornwallis Road in Cowley, is being built for those living in the city who may have never seen a working farm, or have learned where food comes from.

The farm’s steering group plans to turn the once-derelict site into an innovative community space, and is submitting a planning application to Oxford City Council this week.

Chairwoman of the steering group Lucie Mayer said: “We’ve got all the information we need and have consulted with all the people we need to. It takes a bit longer as we’re all voluntary.

“We are in the very final stages of negotiating the lease as well. Then we can get on the land and have a big push for fundraising.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to start properly in October which is really exciting. But in the meantime we can do little things before planning permission. People can get involved with clearing the site. We want to get water and electricity and we need to fix the fences.”

Last week children and adults enjoyed picking blackberries and learning all about the farm as leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett paid visit.

Ms Mayer said it was a lovely afternoon and Ms Bennett made a “great impression”.

She added: “We hope that Natalie was inspired by sustained efforts of the steering group to get the farm off the ground as well as the wide community support the group has generated for the project.

“The sustainable community-focused ethos and the design of the farm and future buildings which feature many environmentally friendly features are likely to sit well with the Green Party leader.”

Anyone interested in helping out at the farm should visit oxfordcityfarm.org.uk for more information.