Farm closure baaa-d news for lambs

IT HAS only been their home for a few days, but soon they may gone.

The first of this year’s offspring have been born at Aberdeen’s Doonies Farm.

But with the family attraction due for the axe in Aberdeen City Council’s cuts, the young animals now face an uncertain future.

The campaign to save Doonies Farm at Cove is stepping up a gear.

A petition has been launched by an Aberdeen dad whose daughter named a lamb there last year.

And the local community council has demanded a meeting with council boss Douglas Paterson.

The closure means nearly 300 animals, including horses, sheep, ducks, hens and pigs, may be auctioned. But today a city council spokesman allayed fears the animals could be slaughtered.

He said: “There is absolutely no basis for any claim that animals at Doonies will be slaughtered.

“This is completely out of the question.

“Mothers with unweaned young will be sold as family units either at rare breeds auctions or by private sale.”

This is little consolation for the people who have enjoyed the centre for years.

Steven Thomson, of Sheddocksley, has launched an on-line petition to fight closure.

He is distributing leaflets with his 11-year-old daughter Eilidh, who named a lamb on a visit last year.

He said: “Closing Doonies will be an utter disgrace. This wonderful farm gives children the chance to feed and handle a wide range of animals from lambs, pigs, horses, goats, ducks, chickens and cows.

“Children are even allowed to bottle feed calves and lambs.

“The delight on children’s faces when visiting this traditional hands-on Scottish farm is a joy to behold.”

Meanwhile, Cove and Altens Community Council is calling for a meeting with council chief executive Douglas Paterson.

Chairman Andy Finlayson said: “We are totally opposed to the proposed closure of this unique facility which is of unquantifiable benefit to the public and in particular to ‘the hands on’ education of children throughout the city.”

The farm is to be closed as part of a £30 million savings scheme by the city council.

Mr Finlayson said: “The benefits to the community and the welfare of the livestock must take precedence over ill-conceived short-term savings. All that has been achieved will be lost and it will be extremely difficult and costly to reopen the farm.

“We would demand that the closure of the farm be stopped and the council actively pursue sourcing the necessary funding to retain this unique and much-loved facility.

“If sensibly managed it could also act as a tourist attraction,” he said.

dewen@ajl.co.uk