Urban farm in Bucknall reopens despite fire setbacks

An urban farm has reopened to visitors for the first time in more than a decade after being forced to close due to council budget cuts.

The City Farm in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, closed in 2011 but volunteers grouped together last year to clear the site and reopen it.

But several suspicious fires causing more than £10,000 of damage hampered their plans.

The farm, a charity, is open at weekends.

An official re-opening is planned.

Organisers said more than 500 people visited last weekend and more volunteers were needed to enable it to open more often.

The farm is home to nine pygmy goats, two pigs, two sheep, 16 chickens, three cockerels, nine ducks and a goose called George.

Volunteers have created a sensory garden and a small, quiet woodland area, and hope to add improvements after further fundraising.

The farm's founder, Paul Cotterill, said: "We're building up slowly and we're letting people in to see the progress we're making really before any official reopening."

Volunteers started clearing the site in January 2023 with the aim of opening in July, but the suspected arson attacks halted plans, he said.

They want to get more animals at the site and "keep building up" by also turning a house on the land into a tea room.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]