BLOW FOR FARM AS ARSONISTS TORCH SHED
Charity volunteers vow to carry on
VOLUNTEERS hoping to reopen Stoke-on-trent’s City Farm have been dealt a major blow after arsonists struck.
They had been planning to relaunch the Bucknall Park attraction this Easter after a 12-year hiatus.
It once attracted 90,000 visitors a year but closed in 2011 due to council cuts. A charity, The City Farm Team, was set up to rebuild the farm and relaunch it to give children a place to learn about animals and where food comes from.
But they were dismayed to learn a newly-installed shed containing paperwork, tools and a tea and coffee maker had been torched in the middle of the night.
City Farm Team founder Paul Cotterill, aged 52, of Meir, said: “We didn’t know until around 9.25am on Saturday.
“The neighbours told us about it. I felt like such a setback although we have calmed down now, the losses were only material. We are glad that no one got hurt and we will carry on.
“The shed had only recently been erected. It was a useful starting point for us. There was a 19kg propane canister in there. If that had ignited, it could have shot through the windows in Westacre. We will rebuild it as a metal shed.”
Once up and running, the site which will house a range of animals, including a horse, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks and an aviary. There will also be an allotment and an area for growing pumpkins.
Since the blaze, the charity has received a series of donations. Paul, who works as as a seller for Holdcroft Honda, added: “Eden Holistic Pet Foods has donated a metal shed. Coastal Antiques over in Colwyn Bay have given us a cheque. Werrington Primary School are doing a non-school uniform day and Staffordshire Moorland Scooter Club are doing a Motown and Soul Night at the Bellringer on April 22.
“It has been really humbling to see people come and support us. We would like more donations to do a raffle.”
Paul added: “Our team is made up of volunteers, no-one has taken a penny. We have about 120 to 125 people on our books. We want to bring City Farm back to what it was. We would like for more people to join our marketing team, people who can spread the word.
“The whole thing about City Farm was there weren’t many places in Staffordshire where, free of charge, you could come and learn about where our food comes from. It was an inexpensive day out. It will always be free to enter.”
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews rom Hanley and Longton were sent to City Farm at 1.35am on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “We used an extended hose reel jet to extinguish the fire which involved a wooden shed – approximately 4m x 4m.”
Staffordshire Police are also investigating. A spokesman said: “At 10.30am on Saturday, March 18 we received a report of a fire at City Farm in Bucknall Park. A shed had been set alight overnight and the fire was extinguished by fire crews.
“Officers have carried out CCTV and house-to-house inquiries.”
Any witnesses can contact 101, or report online.