New owners and name for Gorgie City Farm - and you'll love it

Charity which works with vulnerable children to takeover attraction and rename it LOVE Gorgie
Gorgie City Farm was closed in NovemberGorgie City Farm was closed in November
Gorgie City Farm was closed in November

NEW owners of Gorgie City Farm have been announced - saving the popular attraction after it went bust last year.

Social care and education charity LOVE Learning, which works with some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged children will takeover the site - and name it LOVE Gorgie.

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A fundraising campaign topped £100,000 for the much-loved attraction after it went under on November 1 with 18 jobs lost.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE learning said: “We are incredibly excited to be taking on such a treasured resource as Gorgie City Farm.

"At LOVE learning we seek to improve the education and life chances of vulnerable children, young people and adults, as well as their families.

“Not only will the farm remain open seven days a week and remain free, but we will provide a range of exciting education, environmental and social care programmes supporting vulnerable children and adults.

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“This will include learning programmes within a newly-established skills academy, social prescribing, animal therapy and employability projects.

“In addition, our educational centre will engage with local communities on environmental programmes around farming and food production and our intention is to have a food bank and social enterprise café. It will be a real community hub.

“We would like to commend the massive community support and fully recognise the love there clearly is for Gorgie City Farm. We cannot wait to get in and to work with the Council and other key stakeholders to get it up and running.”

Liquidator Shona Campbell of MHA Henderson Loggie led the search for a new operator for the farm on behalf of Edinburgh City Council.

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Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I’m delighted that there has been such a successful outcome for the future of this much-loved community asset.

"LOVE Learning’s proposal meets the community’s aspirations for what continues on the site – free for families to visit, open seven days a week and supporting and providing opportunities for vulnerable young people and adults.

"It buys into the values of volunteering, education, farming, supporting everyone in our communities as well as providing a sustainable and financially secure future for the site.

“When the farm closed in November, I know many people worried this would be the end of such a unique venue. However, I’ve been hugely grateful for the outpouring of support and for everyone who has rallied round to get the farm back for our city.

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“I would like to put on record my thanks for all the hard work Shona and her team have put in over the past few months to reaching this great outcome. We’re really looking forward to working with Love Learning in providing a fantastic facility for everyone to enjoy.”