History
1800-1830
Woodlands Farm was created from the dense forest called Bushy Lees Wood. The farm was originally 122 acres.
1901
Management of the farm was taken over by the Baldock Family.
1919
The farm was purchased by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS), farming pigs as well as barley and hay.
1937
The RACS opened an abattoir at the back of the farm near Cloth Workers wood. Woodlands Farm became a ‘model’ pig farm for intensive pig production.
1983
Abattoir closed and although someone still lived on site active farming ceased.
1985
Farm threatened by plans to build the East London River crossing through the farm land and Oxleas Woods. Plans for this were dropped in 1993 due to opposition from local groups including People Against the River Crossing (PARC).
1995
The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) applied to build houses on the cleared abattoir site. The local community fought to save the land.
1997
The Woodlands Farm Trust was founded, aiming to regenerate the farm leasing the land from CWS on a 999 year lease.
Present
Woodlands Farm Trust has continued to develop, with renovations to buildings, increase in animal stock, development of education at the farm, a new classroom as well as dipping ponds.
