City Farm closes

David Aust

14 May 2008

IT WAS the end of an era on Wednesday as City Farm closed its doors for good after 25 years.
Ongoing problems securing funding led the charity's trustees to vote to wind it up at the beginning of April, and since then their efforts have been concentrated on finding new homes for the animals and selling off tools and equipment.
The farm had still been open for members of the public to visit, but from now on the remaining staff will concentrate their efforts on clearing the site, ready to hand back to the city council at the end of May.
City Farm chairman Graham Partridge said: "The last of the animals have gone, and the sale of equipment has gone well, even selling things we didn't expect to, which all helps with the closure costs."
The decision to wind up the charity was taken earlier this month after the city council withdrew its funding and an application for lottery cash was unsuccessful.
The council are now engaged in talks with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust about re-opening the site as a wildlife haven and community open space.
A spokesperson for the council said: "We're having very useful talks with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust about a way forward that will see it become a wildlife haven.
"There is short-term work taking place to ensure the site is safe and a long-term plan to work with the community to make sure it is a place for everyone to enjoy."

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