A sustainable farm is celebrating the hard work of its community volunteers.

New Gokula Farm at Bhaktivedanta Manor is celebrating the work and dedication of its volunteers who give up their time to care for the cows and bulls.

Volunteers come from a number of different walks of life, including organic farmers, veterinary students, and even ex-offenders taking part in community payback projects.

The farm has a mixed herd of almost 60 animals, some of whom give milk or are working oxen, and others who are retired or in their childhood.

All animals are milked by hand and the land is farmed using traditional Amish equipment, meaning that the need for volunteers is high.

Veterinary students spend about a week helping to milk the animals, work with oxen, nurse sick cows, mill grains, clean, look after the shop and learn to make ropes.

The farm also hosts people who are required to volunteer under a community service order, who work within the horticultural department to spread fertilizers, help with manual tasks including hedge maintenance, tree work and weeding. Syamasundara Dasa, Manager of New Gokula Farm said: “New Gokula is a unique project, designed to be a model for sustainable farming in the UK.

“It is a revolutionary project, enabling people to experience a traditional farming lifestyle, which is why it is successful in inspiring and bringing together so many people from different parts of the community.”