Farm Bus project set to drive better food education

A vintage double-decker bus is being transformed into the UK’s first “Farm Bus” to bring food education to schools and local communities.

The Pony Group, a family-run hospitality business by brother and sister Josh and Holly Eggleton in partnership with food distributor Arthur David, has launched a campaign to raise £100,000 to renovate a classic double-decker bus into a fully interactive mobile farm and kitchen.

The Farm Bus will travel across Bristol, Somerset and beyond, offering hands-on food education to schools, community groups and charities at no cost.

See also: Two city farms bridging the gap between city and countryside

Designed to increase awareness of where food comes from and to promote healthier choices, the bus will host up to 25 schools a year, delivering practical workshops, live cooking demos, and growing experiences using hydroponics and planters.

There will also be chickens on board, alongside a demonstration platform, kitchen and dining space.

Josh said: “It has been an idea for ages and it’s great to see this come to fruition. Immersing ourselves in the community is behind all we do.

“Seeing the bus busy and active, going out to suburbs and helping to alleviate food insecurities is important, but we also want to keep this fun.”

Core values

Organisers say the mobile farm will take the core values of empowering, inspiring and informing communities through accessible, informal education.

Each visit will be tailored to the age group, location and seasonal produce, ensuring a relevant and engaging experience for all participants.

Holly said: “Immersing ourselves into the community is behind everything we do, and it’s been a real community effort getting the wheels of the Farm Bus in motion.

“As much as we’re looking forward to seeing it out and about in our local area, it will also be exciting for our teams to travel around the country, helping all sorts of groups.”

Fundraising is under way through a series of events and collaborations. All proceeds will go towards the renovation and rollout of the bus, with extra funding required for programme delivery.

Volunteers are also being sought to support both the refurbishment phase and ongoing activities once the bus is operational.