Fresh hope for Ouseburn farm after closure threat

Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle has received a huge financial boost towards securing its future.

After hearing that the farm may no longer be able to keep its doors open, a local communications company has stepped in and agreed to help fund it.

The future of the popular inner-city farm, which is located in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, Byker, was in doubt after its major contributor, Tyne Housing Association announced it was unable to continue to fund the farms £100,000 per year deficit.

The news is encouraging for the farm, its staff and the 50,000 visitors it attracts year-on-year.

The company, Drummond Central, has agreed to part-fund some of the farms deficit over the next three years and to help raise the farm's profile to secure future funding.

Andrea Haynes, Farm Manager, said:

About Ouseburn Farm:

• The farm, which is free to enter and open 363 days a year (closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day), is a registered charity and includes an array of animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks and other livestock.

• It also contains gardens, an orchard, coffee shop and educational classrooms.

• The Ouseburn Farm shop on Heaton Park Road in Byker also sells upcycled furniture and homemade cakes, pastries and preserves that have been produced at the farm.

• The farm is run by six full-time staff, two part-time staff and up to 20 volunteers. During term-time, the farm provides heritage, farm-based and environmental education for over 4,000 school children and students.