UK: Urban farm in Bucknall reopens despite fire setbacks
An urban farm has reopened to visitors for the first time in more than a decade after being forced to close due to council budget cuts
By Caroline Gall & Simon Glover
BBC News, West Midlands
Feb 8, 2024
Excerpt:
Organisers said more than 500 people visited last weekend and more volunteers were needed to enable it to open more often.
The farm is home to nine pygmy goats, two pigs, two sheep, 16 chickens, three cockerels, nine ducks and a goose called George.
Volunteers have created a sensory garden and a small, quiet woodland area, and hope to add improvements after further fundraising.
The farm’s founder, Paul Cotterill, said: “We’re building up slowly and we’re letting people in to see the progress we’re making really before any official reopening.”
Volunteers started clearing the site in January 2023 with the aim of opening in July, but the suspected arson attacks halted plans, he said.
They want to get more animals at the site and “keep building up” by also turning a house on the land into a tea room.
