Want to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life this BC Day weekend without the stress of traffic congestion and long line-ups? The City of Richmond has just the spot.
Richmond’s historic London Farm has undergone a major facelift thanks to a $687,000 grant from the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada. Those enhancements have resulted in an even more welcoming, relaxing and educational experience for visitors to the three-acre heritage park along the picturesque Dyke Road.
Take a trip back in time to see how our early pioneers lived and worked in an age when travel was horse and cart on makeshift roads, and “using the net” meant you were going fishing. Recent improvements to displays and interpretation signage enable visitors to learn even more about the important agricultural history of the area.
Revitalized garden and lawn areas offer colourful opportunities for reflection and relaxation or, for those who can’t quite leave modern life behind for a few hours, plenty of social media photo opportunities. Don’t forget those #londonfarm and #richmondbc hashtags.
Especially popular is the upgraded chicken coop – yes, even the free range roosters and hens benefit from the new surroundings – and the new bee apiary used to cultivate honey sold on-site by London Farm Heritage Society. The young and young-at-heart can also sit atop a newly displayed 1923 Fordson tractor, a popular machine that revolutionized farm life from the “father” of the automobile, Henry Ford.
Other upgraded amenities include new benches and picnic areas, and improved wayfinding and paths. On weekends, visitors can check out the farmhouse to learn more about the original owners, the London family, and the gift shop featuring jams and honey produced on the farm.
The London Farm park and gardens are open dawn to dusk, and the historic farmhouse and gift shop is open Fridays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The site is operated by the London Heritage Farm Society with support from the City of Richmond. For more information, call 604-271-5220 or visit www.londonfarm.ca.