Residents have expressed concerns after some animals were sold from a farm, less than a month after South Gloucestershire Council said no animals would be moved until June at the earliest. Grimsbury Farm, in Kingswood, was reported to be losing the council £260,000 a year.
In February, the council said that despite the farm making a six-digit loss each year, the site would remain open as a cherished community farm. But the council added that if there was no way of making the attraction break-even, that it would have to move the large animals, such as cows, pigs and goats, elsewhere.
Cabinet member Cllr Louise Harris said: “In 2020 the closure of Grimsbury Farm was proposed as a council-saving measure by the previous administration. It wasn’t implemented, and the directive was made towards going to a self-sustaining model, as the report clearly says. The report talks about June being the soonest [moving the animals away] can happen, not that it’s going to happen in June.”
However, towards the end of February, concerned residents noticed that the animals were being prepared to be moved. The council later confirmed that some of the animals had already been sold, including sheep in lamb, partially due to reducing costs.
South Gloucestershire Council said: “We have committed to keeping Grimsbury Farm as a community facility and to exploring ways that we can work with the community and partners to make the farm cost-neutral to the council. While we do need to reduce our current costs, there are no plans to build on the farm site, which sits in the Green Belt and on land that contains old mine workings.
“We are currently reducing the number of large animals on the farm in a managed way. This is happening through a mix of normal commercial sales that routinely happen at this time of the year, as well as taking the opportunity to reduce the numbers of some animals to reduce costs to help protect the long-term future of the farm. For example, sheep in lamb have been sold and were moved at the end of last week, while four ‘pet’ sheep remain on the farm.
“We will be holding a Community Conversation in the Spring, with local people and potential commercial partners, who we are keen to hear from and talk to about helping to shape and manage the future of the farm, and to secure its long-term future.”
On Facebook, local residents expressed concern over the update, asking the council to not “destroy” the farm. One commenter said: “Please don’t destroy what this fantastic resource offers to so many in the community. It offers everyone a lovely, outdoor place to visit for free – I imagine this place has been a little lifeline for some families when times are tough. “
“The café is lovely and is fantastic in its development and inclusivity of our young people. It is a little gem of a place that I’m sure so many residents are grateful to have.”
Another commenter said: “Please do not close our community farm, the café attached works with people with difficulties and is a wonderful place for families to visit, play in the park, see animals up close and for many of us great memories for many years.”