Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Hundreds of animals face uncertain future as popular White Post Farm, Farnsfield, runs desperately short of money during coronavirus pandemic




Hundreds of animals are facing an uncertain future as the popular visitor attraction where they live runs desperately short of money.

It costs £5,000 a month just to feed the sheep, cows, goats, ponies, llamas, donkeys, reindeer, wallabies, meerkats and exotics at White Post Farm, Farnsfield let alone paying the utility bills such as for the heating of the exotics house or staff wages.

The park, which is popular with youngsters and as an educational tool for schoolchildren who would not ordinarily get to see a working farm, usually pays for itself.

Animals at White Post Farm. (34097348)
Animals at White Post Farm. (34097348)

However, its 32 years of existence is threatened because coronavirus lockdown meant it is closed to visitors and will remain so until the government decides it is safe enough for such attractions to re-open and how social-distancing guidelines are going to be maintained going forward.

“If nothing changes we won’t re-open and the consequences of that don’t bear thinking about,” said the farm’s Anthony Moore.

“It’s grim ­— grimmer than I thought. It’s difficult not to get emotional.”

Animals at White Post Farm. (34097344)
Animals at White Post Farm. (34097344)

Around 60 staff have been furloughed, leaving around six, including the owners, to feed and care for the animals.

This, said Mr Moore, was the bare bones and often led to long working hours.

“It’s very worrying for everyone,” said Mr Moore. “The furloughed staff don’t know if they’ll have a job to come back to.

“We knew this would be challenging, but I think naively we didn’t appreciate how much.

“I understand that everyone is in the same situation and facing great uncertainty but having so many of our family furloughed is very difficult.

“One of the best things about our farm is how well the visitors see us getting on and our genuine love for the animals ­— it adds to their experience.

Animals at White Post Farm. (34097350)
Animals at White Post Farm. (34097350)

“If coronavirus had come after Easter our situation would not have been so dire.

“It’s one of our busiest periods so we would have been able to feed the animals for a little longer, but it came in a quiet time, but there’s nothing that could have been done about that.

“Days before lockdown was announced we were granted a zoo licence and thought this would be our year. It offered so many opportunities for animals and enclosures.

Animals at White Post Farm. (34097346)
Animals at White Post Farm. (34097346)

“We are just finishing with the lambing season and have had 60 to 70 lambs born along with 20 to 30 goat kids.”

The farm has been trying to come up with means of raising money, ideally wanting to find solutions where donors could get something in return.

It has set up a GoFundMe page https://bit.ly/2zyWp7r

Animals at White Post Farm. (34097414)
Animals at White Post Farm. (34097414)

It also hit upon an idea whereby people can sponsor an animal through www.whitepostfarm.co.uk/animal-sponsorship/ and get a digital package during coronavirus as well as free entry into the park and an experience with their sponsored animal afterwards in return.

Donations can also be made through the White Post Facebook.

Staff have also set up a GoFundMe page ­— https://bit.ly/3bNssib ­— to raise money for animal feed and are walking the entire 874-mile length of Great Britain, whether round their gardens or on their daily walks in the hope of raising at least £1,000.

You may also like...

Fly-tipping is up 61%

Eight new confirmed coronavirus cases in Nottinghamshire

£47,000 games area to give village post-lockdown joy



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More