Posted on: Monday 1 June 2026
This #VolunteersWeek, we're celebrating our wonderful volunteer army! We're working with communities to harness the power and passion of volunteering as part of the Torfaen Deal. Today, we celebrate the volunteers putting the word "community" into Greenmeadow Community Farm!
More than two hundred volunteers have signed up to help at Greenmeadow Community Farm since it reopened last year.
The volunteers, who range from school leavers to retirees, regularly help out with a wide range of activities, including gardening, animal care, customer services and running events.
This has enabled some of the volunteers to learn skills, which have resulted in employment opportunities at the farm, and has allowed farm staff to concentrate on more specialist work.
Steve Allen, from Cwmbran, who has been volunteering at the farm since September, said: "We are a family that loves nature, and we are all animal lovers. I was in the fortunate position to to do volunteer work last September, so I could spend time in my favourite environment as often as I liked.
"The rewards I get from working with animals and being amongst experienced colleagues are worth more than money, as I am now learning about gardening, farm animals and maintenance as I work. The team here are hard working and fun to be around, and every day is a different day."
Farm manager Jac Griffiths said: "We do not underestimate the work our volunteers do at the farm. Their contribution does not go unnoticed, and the value they bring is huge.
"I want to say a huge thank you to every volunteer who has supported us. Without them, back in September 2025, we would not have been ready to open.
"Our volunteering community is a great example of how by pulling together we can achieve great things, which is what Volunteers Week and the Torfaen Deal is all about."
To celebrate Volunteers Week, the farm has a variety of opportunities for anyone interested in exploring the health and well-being benefits of volunteering.
You can sign up to do some painting, landscaping or enclosure improvements from tomorrow until Friday this week. For more information, click here: Volunteers Week at Greenmeadow Community Farm
You can also find a wide range of voluntary opportunities by visiting Connect Torfaen.