Community farm in Bristol served with three week eviction notice by council
A community farm that has been at the heart of inner city Bristol life since 1979 has been told to pack up and leave by the end of February.
The volunteer team behind Hartcliffe Community Farm has received a legal notice to leave and hand back its keys to the council-owned land.
It is not just the animals who have to make way - the eviction notice also extends to the other groups and organisations which use their space.
Those include a playgroup, allotment holders, a bicycle repair workshop, a food producing group, and a carpenter’s workshop.
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The Community Farm has been in talks with HorseWorld about the Whitchurch animal sanctuary taking over the lease and rejuvenating the facility, which was denied further funding by the council in 2017.
Bristol City Council has extended the farm's lease several times.
Farm manager Rocky Pearce says he doesn't believe it should have come to this.
HorseWorld has confirmed that it has been "working in close collaboration" with the Community Farm and Bristol City Council to "help give the farm a long-term future."
It expects the council to arrange a public consultation within the next few weeks to establish what the local community wants and needs from the farm.
Bristol City Council provided the following statement: