Edinburgh's Gorgie Farm to close
Gorgie farm in Edinburgh looks set to close, with operators saying the costs to run the site have become too much to afford
Last updated 30th Dec 2022
A beloved Edinburgh animal attraction is to close.
Gorgie Farm which is run by the charity 'Love Learning' hosts an array of barnyard animals, such as goats, pigs and even alpacas.
The farm was even visited by the late Queen back in 2019, when Her Majesty was famously interrupted by a very loud duck named Olive.
But now operators say the cost of keeping the site running is becoming too expensive, and they've been unable to convince the City of Edinburgh Council to step in.
They say that in recent months they've been seeking discussions with the local authority about funding - but have had no success.
Love CEO, Lynn Bell, said:
“We have tried everything to avoid this situation, however with Covid and now cost of living crisis we do not believe we are able to support the Farm alone moving forward.
“The support for Gorgie Farm from the public has been tremendous, and I would like to thank every single person who has supported the Farm over the last few years. Gorgie Farm is unique, and it has the potential to deliver so much for so many.
"We know that changes could be made to raise funds and support wider Council objectives around looked after children and tackling poverty, but we are not able to take this proposal forward unaided.
“A partnership approach has always been central to our plans, but this partnership has not materialised. While we have had many positive individual conversations ultimately there is a need for detailed discussions and agreements to allow the redesign of the Farms operations to meet wider needs.”
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “It’s really sad to hear Gorgie Farm is in financial difficulty. Sadly, they’re not alone in feeling the devastating effects of the pandemic, with many organisations struggling to cope with falling visitor numbers and rising costs.
“As a Council, we stepped in to support the venue three years ago – giving it a new lease of life and allowing Love Learning to take over – and have offered to work with them again. We’ve already discussed potential new operating models with them and are due to meet again early next month.
“The capital city of Edinburgh remains the lowest-funded local authority in Scotland. As a result, our city and the essential services we provide remain under immense pressure. This is exacerbated in our 2023/24 budgets that are looking at at least £70 million of cuts from the Scottish Government leaving us to face some extremely difficult decisions as we look to set budgets for the coming year.”