Around 50 volunteers came together to work to repair and reopen Bucknall's iconic City Farm at the weekend (7 and 8 January).

Before it closed in 2011 due to budget cuts by the council, City Farm was incredibly popular with the local community and saw around 96,000 visitors a year. 

Now, a charity has been formed to reopen the free attraction. 

City Farm was a thriving local attraction in the 80s and 90s (Tom Lampard).

City Farm called for volunteers to help them clear up the land, which has been abandoned for the last 12 years, and received a flood of support from the local community. 

This weekend was their first work weekend and they welcomed 35 helpers on Saturday and another 15 on Sunday. 

Social media and communications trustee, Emma-Leigh Hayes, said: "People have got really good memories of going to the farm when they were younger and a lot of people were sad when it closed down so people have a sense of growing up with the farm and want the same for their children."

City Farm aims to reopen this Easter and hopes to be a respectful homage to what it used to be - a free, educational attraction for local people. 

City Farm is of huge cultural importance to the Bucknall community (Tom Lampard).

The farm also has a huge educational focus, they will be partnering with local schools to teach children about the lifecycle of animals and where their food comes from. 

The next work date is Thursday 12 January and the next full weekend will be 21/22 January. 

If you would like to volunteer at City Farm, fill out their volunteer form and Emma-Leigh will be in touch.