On Friday we got the sad and sudden news that a liquidator had been appointed to administer Gorgie City Farm.
By today a former staff member Hannah who has fronted a crowdfunding initiative has already raised just shy of £40,000 to try and keep the farm open.
A new Twitter account has been set up here.
130 volunteers were let go on Friday, when many of the staff, volunteers and councillors found out about the financial problems through social media. The council owns the land and there is a huge educational aspect to the farm. Some of the children who visit might never otherwise see a farm animal, and for the volunteers, some of whom have mental health issues, this is a unique opportunity to work in the outdoors.
This much loved city attraction has been in the wars before when £100,000 was brought in through a similar crowdfunder to keep it open in 2016. The café was closed and the future of the farm had been uncertain. It was believed that this changed the farm’s fortunes and that it was on a sounder financial footing.
The Gorgie/Dalry Community Council meets on Monday evening when this matter is going to be added to the agenda.
One problem is that there are still animals at the farm which need to be cared for.
The Liquidator Shona Campbell from MHA Henderson Loggie issued this news yesterday :
“Following Shona Campbell’s appointment as Provisional Liquidator of Gorgie City Farm on Friday 1 November 2019, MHA Henderson Loggie has received many enquiries from people offering to re home animals and questions about the Liquidator’s intention regarding the animals.
“Thank you to everyone who has contacted us with an offer to re home animals, we are collating and sorting through the offers and we will be in touch in due course.There are over 100 animals on site, about half of these are traditional farm livestock animals such as pigs and cows and the other half are smaller animals including gerbils and rabbits. It is the Liquidator’s intention to re home both the livestock and pets and given the level of interest received to date, the Liquidator is confident that this is achievable.”
Local councillor Gavin Corbett is very concerned and anxious that the council do all they can to keep the farm open.
Thanks to everyone for feedback about Gorgie City Farm. It's important to be reminded just how much the farm means to so many people. I've written a thread here on what I know so far. pic.twitter.com/S2pI7vZY79
— Gavin Corbett (@gavincorbett) November 2, 2019
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
