Celebrating 50 Years at Shallowford Service
On Saturday 17th October, Widecombe Parish Church was full as friends, supporters and members of the Shallowford community gathered to celebrate 50 years of East Shallowford Farm opening its doors to young people and families.
The service was led by Robert Musgrave MBE, who has been involved with the project from its earliest days, and brought together people representing many different chapters of the Shallowford story.
It was an opportunity to look back over five decades, but also to think about what comes next.
The occasion also marked the launch of our 50 years, 50 people, 50 stories book, bringing together personal reflections from some of the many people who have shaped, experienced and supported Shallowford over the years.
A ‘lung for the city’
Elizabeth Braund, founder of both Providence House in London and The Shallowford Trust, described the farm as a “lung for the city”. Her vision was to create a place where children and families from inner-city streets could breathe, explore, get muddy and discover a world far beyond the estates and busy roads they knew. Half a century later, that connection between Providence House and Shallowford continues. Jerome Hughes, CEO of Providence House, reflected on what that legacy means today:
“Half a century on, Elizabeth’s vision is still alive. Young people from Battersea still travel down to Devon, still feel the space and freedom she wanted them to have, and still come back changed in ways that are hard to put into words. It was a privilege to stand alongside so many people whose lives have been shaped by that farm, and to give thanks for a woman whose faith and determination opened up something extraordinary for our community.”
Today, Shallowford’s reach has grown beyond its original London connection, welcoming young people from communities including Exeter, Plymouth and Bristol. Rev Nick McKinnel, who spoke at the service, described Shallowford as a place of “exploration and freedom” which opens up new opportunities and possibilities.
He spoke of a place where young people can “discover who they can be, can step out of a comfort zone and find a new community, even become a new family sometimes.”
A place that feels like home
That sense of belonging ran throughout the service. Ross Clotworthy, who brings young people from an Exeter school to Shallowford every Thursday, shared a poem about the farm:
“Finding a place that is special is hard to find, but we found one, a hilltop farm surrounded by roads that wind. Shallowford Farm is a place which instantly makes you feel at home, with its grand farmhouse at the centre made from old stone.”
Phil Dorman has experienced that connection across much of his own life, first coming to Shallowford as a boy and continuing his involvement as an adult. Speaking at the service, he reflected on the role the farm played in his journey and his faith:
“One thing that struck me the most, for myself, in my journey is faith. On one occasion coming to the farm, I came over the hilltops and I can only explain it spiritually that God revealed creation to me and I could see it in its full glory. From that moment, I started to be looking, looking, looking at my faith.”
The people carrying Shallowford forward
While the day celebrated the people who built Shallowford’s first 50 years, it also recognised those carrying the work forward today. Trust Manager Fiona Lambeck spoke about the strength of the current team:
“We all come from very different backgrounds, bringing such a wide range of experience, but we all share such a drive to work together to ensure that we can provide the best opportunities for all who come back to Shallowford again and again and for all those who will visit in the future.”
That future was an important theme throughout the day. Trustee and local farmer John Dracup reminded everyone that celebrating 50 years is not simply about looking backwards.
“Today is about more than just looking back and celebrating these marvellous past 50 years or honouring Elizabeth and Rosemary’s foundational vision. It’s also about setting our eyes firmly on the horizon and laying the foundation for the next 50 years. The need for connection, outdoor learning and rural sanctuary will only grow and we intend to ensure the trust is here to provide it for decades to come.”
For 50 years, Shallowford has brought people together around a working farm on Dartmoor, offering space, responsibility, community, new experiences and the freedom to discover something beyond the familiar. The service gave us the opportunity to give thanks for everyone who has been part of that story. And to start looking towards another 50 years.
