Gorgie Ciy Farm, one of Scotland’s last urban farms, has closed suddenly after going into liquidation yesterday. Eighteen members of staff and dozens of volunteers have now lost their jobs.
The popular project has had around 200,000 visitors annually since it was saved from closure in 2016 after a crowdfunding appeal raised in excess of £100,000.
MHA Henderson Loggie has been appointed to wind up the farm, which has about 50 livestock and 50 pets. The livestock will be sold for slaughter and the pets will be re-homed.
Gail Zencker, the farm’s volunteer and inclusion manager, told BBC Scotland: “I thought I was going to throw up when I heard. I feel ashamed and personally responsible even although it was a board decision and not mine.
“It is not how we would have chosen to end the farm and we want to thank all our volunteers and to say sorry to them.”
The news came out of the blue – earlier this week, the popular project said on Facebook:
Gorgie City Farm houses over 100 animals, welcomes 200,000 visitors per year, has supported and trained 237 volunteers since January and has educated 1,961 children through our education activities on the farm this year alone.
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Green councillor Gavin Corbett has reacted to the “devastating news” that Edinburgh’s much-loved Gorgie City Farm has been permanently closed.
Cllr Corbett said: “This is devastating news for the area and the city as a whole. Like thousands of families, we have spent endless hours at the farm and my oldest son was a volunteer for a while, as hundreds of young people have been.
“Only three years ago there was a major funding campaign to put the farm on a firmer footing so it’s really disappointing to hear where we today. I’m still seeking to get more of the background but I still hope something can be done from the ashes of such bad news.”
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