ABERDEEN’S Doonies Farm will close in three months after Aberdeen City Council bosses agreed to wind it up.

Doonies rare breeds farm in Aberdeen’s Nigg, was given a new lease of life despite being threatened by Aberdeen City Council budget cuts last year.

But Friends of Doonies, which had tried to keep the Aberdeen farm going, admitted defeat last week because the group could not get enough sponsorship from recession-hit businesses.

Aberdeen City Council’s resources management committee decided to shut Doonies Farm down.

Convener Kevin Stewart said: “The committee unanimously agreed to begin winding up the farm. It is unfortunate that Friends of Doonies were unable to secure enough sponsorship to ensure its future.”

The Aberdeen farm has to stay open for a further three months while baby animals are born and weaned. They will then be sold off to specialist farms.

The equipment will also be sold off and the land leased.

Doonies Farm was due to close in April last year as part of Aberdeen City Council’s £27 million budget cutbacks, but it was given a stay of execution.

The group was allowed to run the farm on a short-term lease while trying to negotiate a bigger plan to take it on for 30 years.

John Sleigh, Friends of Doonies chairman, said last week as much as £150,000 would be needed to re-ignite a bid to save the farm.

Evening Express champion Barbara Kirkbride from Cove, who volunteered at Doonies Farm, said: “It is sad. But I’m going to keep on fighting.”

nevans@ajl.co.uk