RETIRING FROM PUBLIC LIFE

The Vauxhall City Farm alpacas, Ben and Jerry retire from public life after 17 years. Enter Cookie, Rolo and Toffee.

Vauxhall City Farm’s famous alpacas, Ben & Jerry left last year for a quieter life in the countryside on Wednesday 23 February 2022. During their 17 years on the farm Ben & Jerry have starred in a Star Wars film, hob-nobbed with royalty, and featured on the BBC multiple times.

Ben, Jerry, and their late friend Tom, came to the farm in 2005, and were soon a star attraction at the Summer Sundae festivals on Clapham Common, run by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. This early taste of fame obviously left an impression, as in the years since they turned their toes to adverts, TV spots and supporting parts in films and television. They reached the giddy heights of Hollywood in 2015 when they featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and a 2020 meeting with Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, which made national news.

Monica Tyler, the CEO of Vauxhall City Farm said: “Ben and Jerry’s contribution to Vauxhall City Farm has been incredible. They were some of the most popular animals here on the farm, and our alpaca Meet & Greet experiences were booked up months in advance.

Enter Cookie, Rolo and Toffee

They arrived a short time later to take over the role, and have fast become three of the most popular animals here at Vauxhall City Farm. They are now taking part in the VIP Meet & Greet experiences and mobile farms in the spring and summer this year are booking up fast. All three are very friendly and affectionate, and love getting grass nuts from our visitors!

It’s lovely that these beautiful animals can be seen and understood right in the middle of London where education on farm animals is top of the agenda for city farms. Their beauty and uses can be enjoyed by so many people – and it appears that the boys enjoy meeting their public.

Vauxhall City Farm is one of the oldest and most central of London’s City Farms, and although there is wealth in the surrounding area, the residents of Lambeth face many challenges, including low income and poverty of opportunity. VCF uses its animals as vehicles for education and change, providing local people with experiences that might otherwise preclude them. The farm also provides a vital green space in a heavily built up area, an escape from city life, and a chance to relax and reconnect with nature.