RBST issues plea to save Bill Quay Community Farm (From Smallholder)

RBST issues plea to save Bill Quay Community Farm

11:00am Tuesday 21st February 2012 in News

RBST, the UK’s charity for the survival of rare breed farm livestock, has issued a plea to Gateshead Council to re-think its plans to review the future of Bill Quay Community Farm. In an announced Review of Options for the community farm, one possibility is the closure of the farm.

For 25 years Bill Quay Community Farm has been run in partnership with Bill Quay Community Association and Gateshead Council to provide a range of traditional crafts and a unique urban farm experience on the bank of the River Tyne. The Farm Association received the unexpected news in December 2011 that the council plans to withdraw its share of the funding, transferring all running costs to the Association.

As an RBST Approved Conservation Farm Park, Bill Quay provides vital support to some of the rarest breeds of native farmed livestock and has a recognised track record of genetic conservation. Its breeding programmes include Bagot goats, Castlemilk Moorit sheep and Tamworth pigs, all of which appear on the RBST Watchlist as breeds in need of active conservation measures. As well as hosting visits for local schools and families, Bill Quay sustains and ‘Arts and Wellbeing’ project and volunteer placements which provide a safe haven for people with learning difficulties. It also attracts over 140 volunteers each year, many of whom use this as a stepping stone into a long-term career.

If the Council does withdraw funding at short notice, the closure of the Community Farm would appear to be inevitable. RBST is asking that the Council extends the farm’s funding to give the Community Farm Association time to develop new funding streams and put in place new structures for the management and operation of the farm park. The Association has already identified about £100,000 of savings that can be made, but needs more time to put measures in place to protect the farm’s future.

RBST President, Peter Titley, has written to the Council in support of Bill Quay Community Association’s efforts. He says: “Bill Quay is one of only 16 RBST Approved Conservation Farm Parks in the country and the announcement of the Review of Options by the Council has caused great concern, not least because of the short timescale it gives the Association to get alternative funding in place. RBST is urging the Council to ensure that sufficient time is allowed for arrangements to be put in place that will safeguard Bill Quay Community Farm into the future.” Describing the standing of the farm in the community, Mr Titley adds: “We fully understand the financial constraints that the Council has to work under but would urge members to consider the valuable role that Bill Quay plays in the local community. As well as RBST accreditation, it is also recognised by Green Flag, Access to Farms (DEFRA), Learning Outside the Classroom (DFCS) and is a Natural England Accredited Country Park. It has the overwhelming support of local residents and of farmers and conservationists throughout the country. For the people of East Gateshead, the farm provides a safe and easily accessible outdoor experience and for many thousands of urban visitors it is the only tangible link between the food on their plates and the people and animals that produce it.”

Although RBST and the Bill Quay Community Farm Association is in a constructive dialogue with Gateshead Council to find a solution, current plans mean that Council funding will cease on April 1 this year. The main concern is the impact that this will have on the farm’s rare-breed livestock, including its collection of sheep which will be in the middle of lambing at this time.

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