Our journey
2010
The North East Autism Society buys New Warlands Farm comprising 78 acres of farmland and develops it into an agricultural training facility.
2012
Charity patron Niall Quinn opens a new training centre on the farm providing social and vocational programmes in horticulture, woodwork, IT, textiles, leisure, therapy and floristry. Around 50 adults attend the centre each day.
2013
Two specially-adapted lodges are built on the farm site to offer short breaks for autistic adults. Four more luxury lodges open in 2018.
2018
Our apple orchard gets underway when we start the process of grafting 500 heritage trees from the National Fruit Collection in Kent, aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We also buy specialist equipment for the small-scale production of apple juice and cider.
2020
The first labelled bottles come off the production line, designed by our new patron, artist Mackenzie Thorpe. The juice and cider are sold locally.
2022
A planning application is submitted to Durham County Council for a visitor centre, cider press, workshop and café at New Warlands Farm, and public consultations begin.
2023
Planning permission is granted, and demolition work to clear the site takes place.
2024
The charity appoints a farm manager, David Wilde, to create an ethical, regenerative farm at New Warlands and develop habitats for wildlife to flourish. The first lambs are born there in May.
Corporate volunteers begin to work on the site, together with DWP-organised placements.
A successful year is rounded off with the news that New Warlands Farm has been selected by the National Trust to receive one of the saplings from the famous Sycamore Gap tree. CEO John Phillipson says:
“This sapling, from a beloved North East landmark, will represent a symbol of hope and a positive future to our visitors.”
2025
Building work tenders are chosen and the 36-week project is expected to start around spring.
The “Tree of Hope” Sycamore Gap sapling will be planted in winter.