Farm plea after vandals’ attack leaves hens dead
❝ We’re trying to raise £400 to pay for a new fence and a more secure gate to deter vandals. Alison Howell
Three hens have died after vandals broke into a farm in Bath and destroyed a gate.
The incident happened at Bath City Farm at around 2.30am on Monday, August 2, leaving the community facility fundraising for a new gate.
Alison Howell, who works at the farm, said it was “very frustrating” that the incident had happened as it wasn’t the first time the farm had been vandalised.
Ms Howell said: “Three young people broke into the Feathered Friends enclosure.
“They broke the padlock and part of the enclosure. Three of the hens got out and died.
“We think a fox or a cat got to them. We came in early the next morning and there was feathers everywhere. It really wasn’t nice.
“The chickens have been used as therapy for the elderly with dementia.”
She continued: “It’s really frustrating this has happened, we do have CCTV footage and we’re working with police.
“We’re trying to raise £400 to pay for a new fence and a more secure gate to deter vandals.”
A fundraiser has been set up to help the charity cover the costs of works.
Ms Howell said: “We’d be so grateful to anyone who can help us reach our total, if they put ‘Feathered Friends’ in the message we know it’s for that.”
It is not the first time that the farm has been victim to vandalism.
Ms Howell said: “Sadly we have had a number of incidents over the years. We’ve had our play area set on fire in the past.
“There seemed to be an increase in anti-social behaviour when Covid started. At the moment we’re working on a designated youth garden in an effort to get more engagement from them.”
Bath City Farm has recently secured half a million pounds in funding to build a new community cafe at the site after a 26 year wait.