The city farm boosting community wellbeing

Last year, Dureshahwar Shaikh found it a "challenge" to go outdoors during the winter months.

But that changed when she started volunteering at Balsall Heath City Farm in Birmingham to get gardening, meet new people and enjoy meals with the community.

Spending her time caring for plants, she encouraged others to get involved during the cold weather because fresh air and talking to people makes you "feel good".

"I feel fresh and lively, otherwise watching television and doing nothing is like a poison," she said.

"Go out, encourage yourself and do something because we are not rotten, we are useful to others."

Balsall Heath City Farm was founded in 1980 to provide local families with access to more than 40 animals that they may not usually see.

Lasima Begum is one of three cooks who use the farm facilities to provide free lunches for anyone in the local community.

She said that cooking gave her a "sense of happiness and warmth" especially when providing people with hot meals.

"I feel happy because I've done something to help others and feed people and know my colleagues do too," she added.

Tony Coles joined the farm during lockdown as a way to improve his mental health.

From growing vegetables to looking after animals, he said volunteering two days a week had helped him "relax in a friendly environment".

"It's just brilliant working with animals, at the age of five I had a lamb and fish, I've grown up with animals," he said.

"It's all about mental wellbeing and the happiness of the volunteers that are here."

Hywel Williams manages the farm and said there was "loads to do", even in the winter months.

He holds weekly sessions to teach people about the importance of compost and encouraged people to get in touch to volunteer at the farm.

"We compost nearly every organic item on this site. Compost is something you can do at home and it's really good for the environment," he said.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.