Our Charity

About

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The Pearce Coggan Foundation lies at the heart of Green Farm — a natural extension of everything the farm stands for: connection to nature, wellbeing, and a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations.

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Both Maryann and Martin Richmond-Coggan were fortunate to grow up spending time in the countryside, experiencing first-hand the freedom, confidence and sense of calm that nature can bring. Having later spent much of their working lives in the city, they became increasingly aware that many children and families do not have the same opportunity to access the outdoors.

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Green Farm — with its land, gardens and ancient woodland — offered a way to change that.​

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In 2014, they founded the Pearce Coggan Foundation to help people, particularly young people and families, get outside, be active and build a meaningful connection with nature. The Foundation became a registered charity in 2020 (Charity No. 1189417) and continues to grow its reach and impact.

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Mission

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At its core, the Foundation has a simple but powerful mission: to inspire a love of the countryside while actively protecting it.

The work of the Foundation is grounded in two key aims: encouraging young people to experience the freedom and benefits of being active outdoors and working collaboratively to conserve and enhance the surrounding landscape — from ancient woodland to traditional meadows.

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Work

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A central part of this work is the Community, Wildlife and Vegetable Garden at Green Farm. More than just a productive space, it is a place for learning, participation and inclusion. The garden provides fresh, seasonal food for visiting families, supports horticultural apprenticeships, and offers volunteering opportunities for local adults, children and those completing community service. For many, it is also their first experience of growing food — helping to build a deeper understanding of where food comes from and how to live more sustainably.

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Alongside the garden, the Foundation has built long-standing partnerships to widen access to nature. Working with charities such as Outdoor People, welcoming families from inner-city areas to stay at Green Farm and experience life outdoors, ECOkids educating young children about nature, the environment and sustainability, as well as Dandelion Time, who support children who have experienced trauma, neglect or difficult early life experiences, working with the whole family to rebuild confidence, relationships and a sense of safety. For Dandelion Time, the addition of our dedicated Community Room, this charitable support can now continue all year round — providing both a safe indoor space and access to nature, whatever the season.

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The Foundation also works closely with Kent Wildlife Trust, to better understand and care for the surrounding landscape. Together, they focus on habitat improvement, species enrichment and the long-term management of low Weald meadows and ancient woodland. Green Farm itself serves as a living study site, helping to demonstrate how conservation and land use can work hand in hand.

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Recent work with South East Rivers Trust has been a huge success, to protect and enhance the River Beult as it flows through the farm. By introducing natural flood management techniques — often referred to as “slow the flow” — we help reduce erosion, improve water quality and support aquatic habitats. These initiatives form part of a wider commitment to caring not just for the land, but for the entire ecosystem it sits within.

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Priorities

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Everything the Foundation does is guided by three interconnected priorities.

1. COMMUNITY - encouraging people to get outdoors and be active is at the heart of its work, based on the simple belief that time spent outside benefits both physical and mental wellbeing, regardless of age or ability.

2. CONNECTION - helping people reconnect with their food is another key focus — bridging the gap between farm and table, and encouraging a deeper awareness of how food is grown, prepared and valued.

3. CONSERVATION - underpinning it all is a commitment to nurturing a genuine connection with nature — fostering respect for the environment and a shared responsibility to care for it.

 

Much of the Foundation’s work is supported by Green Farm itself, creating a meaningful link between the farm’s commercial activities and its wider purpose. Every visit, stay or experience contributes to something larger — helping to open up the countryside to others and protect it for generations to come.

 

To learn more about the Foundation and its work, visit The Pearce Coggan Foundation.