Bath City Farm launches fundraising appeal

Bath City Farm is launching a new film and a fundraising appeal to raise £30,000 to help care for its animals, maintain the site's free entry, and grow in future. 

Individuals are being encouraged to help Bath City Farm on its journey to grow new services for the community. The organisation has announced that it needs to raise £30,000 to:

• Pay for animal care costs such as bedding, food, shelter and vet bills. 
• Increase the amount of food the Farm grows for its cafe and community projects. 
• Provide more free public events. 
• Cover rising energy, food and material costs. 
• Add a new farm shop and grow the number of farm made products. 
• Fund staff who make the farm possible and make the site a great base for the organisation's mental health projects, children and youth activities. 
• Maintain the farm as a free to access site for local communities.

The money raised will pay for core costs such as staff to manage the farm site, rising energy costs, animal care costs such as bedding, food and vet bills, and maintaining the site for the 42,000 people who visit the farm each year.

The animals play a vital role in the targeted therapeutic work with participants of the Farm’s health and wellbeing programmes. For many, the Farm is a place to recover from acute mental distress and build a healthier lifestyle, connecting with nature and each other.

The Farm is a free resource for many families on a low income to spend a day out with children, meet farm animals, and relax in the vital green space. Visitors can also enjoy nature trails around the 37-acre site, ponds, and children’s play areas.

All of the above costs a great deal to maintain, including the upkeep of safe pathways and gardening the grounds and flower beds.

Farm Director Brendan Tate Wistreich said: “It is vital that we raise this £30,000 to care for our animals and maintain the Farm site over the next year. The money will cover vet bills, animal food, bedding and shelter as well as rising energy costs and funding the staff who make this place possible. Our beautiful site attracts around 42,000 people each year and they can visit the Farm free of charge with no admission fee, your support makes this possible."

"This is a tough time for charities and many others, but we ask for those that can, to reach into your pockets and support us through this challenging time so that we can continue to be able to support those most affected by the current crises and keep this beautiful place open for those from Bath and beyond."

To make a donation, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bathcityfarm.