Former Gorgie City Farm appeals for volunteers ahead of it reopening as LOVE Gorgie Farm

As the former Gorgie City Farm prepares to reopen as LOVE Gorgie Farm at the end of the month, volunteers are being looked for to assist in bringing the farm back to life.

LOVE Learning, an education and social care charity that supports vulnerable individuals by using innovative ways to engage them in learning, announced it was taking over the city farm in January after the farm went into liquidation in 2019.

The new LOVE Gorgie Farm is set to open on 29 February 2020.

Activities for the volunteers will consist of organising and tidying up the site to make it presentable and safe for both the public and the animals.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning commented: “We are delighted to have taken responsibility for Gorgie City Farm.

“LOVE Learning know how treasured and important the site is for the community and we want to bring this back to the people of Edinburgh as soon as possible.

“We are asking anyone that might have been involved with Gorgie City Farm in the past, may have a fond childhood memory of the farm or that simply wants to come and give us a hand to contact us ahead of the opening.

“There is a lot of work to get done prior to opening the farm doors on the 29 February and the local community, businesses and volunteers will be key for the farm to thrive and achieve its full potential.

“After we get the farm up and running on the 29th we will put in place volunteer activities for those looking to continue to be involved with our LOVE Gorgie Farm project going forward.”

Volunteer days will take place from 10am until 3:30pm over the course of the next two weekends on 15, 16, 22, and 23 February.

Volunteers are not required to stay for the entire day, and LOVE have said that ‘even an hour’ is a big help.

After the site opens its doors to the public it will remain open seven days a week and will be free for visitors.

LOVE Learning intends to keep using the site as a city farm as part of their portfolio of environmental projects.

In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm will procure educational services to vulnerable children through animal and forest therapy.

It will also provide a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as organise social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS.

Volunteers on the days are advised to bring lunch and wear old clothes and mud resistant boots.

Anyone looking to volunteer should contact LOVE Learning at [email protected]