Animals could go if councillors back farming changes in city

The popular visitor attraction, in Leeds, which has established a reputation for preserving some of the rarest bloodlines of British farm animals, could loose 150 cattle, sheep and goats.

Members of Leeds City Council will meet next week to discuss proposals to reduce the numbers of animals currently held and bred at the farm to save cash.

The proposals suggest cutting the numbers of cattle, sheep and goats from 372 to 210, with a focus on maintaining the most at-risk breeds and also some visitor-friendly breeds.

Changes would also see a reduction of approximately 30 per cent in the amount of land used for farming by the local authority at its four farming sites – Temple Newsam Estate, Lotherton Hall, Whinmoor Farm and Lineham Farm near Eccup – to bring about an annual saving of £100,000 at a time when the authority is grappling with budget cutbacks.

Members of the council’s executive board will meet on Wednesday to discuss the plans.

Home farm, which opened in 1979, is considered to be the largest Rare Breed Survival Trust-approved (RBST) farm in Europe, with visitors able to see some of the rarest British animals as part of the full working farm experience.

A report to members of the committee says: “As recognised by full council, the difficult financial position of the council means that cost saving measures should be proactively pursued at Home Farm.”

In terms of livestock numbers, each year the RBST publishes an updated watchlist of animal breeds it considers to be critical, endangered, vulnerable or at risk. From the 2010 list, 53 per cent of the cattle and 22 per cent of the sheep being farmed at Home Farm are breeds no longer deemed at risk.

Eighty five per cent of all sheep and 83 per cent of all cattle to remain on the farm will be those on the RBST endangered list.

Council bosses argue the changes will hit the wider farming activities which the public largely have no access to currently. They claim the changes will improve the “visitor experience” and allow them to focus on the rarest and visitor-friendly breeds at the popular attraction.

Others savings would be made from reduction in supplies and services needed for the upkeep of the working aspects of the farm, as well as the use of machinery. A staffing restructure would then also be carried out to meet the needs of the revised farm services.

Talks over possible changes began in 2010, with councillors from the former city development scrutiny board carrying out their own review and making recommendations as to the future of the council’s farming strategy. Extensive consultation has also taken place with staff, local councillors, residents groups, the Friends of Temple Newsam Estate and other key stakeholders including the RBST.

Coun Adam Ogilvie, the council’s executive member for leisure said: “The thing to make clear straight away with this proposal is that anyone visiting Home Farm at Temple Newsam will notice no negative impact whatsoever, and we are committed to making a visit to Home Farm and the Temple Newsam Estate even more of a great day out than it is now with visitors able to see a wide variety of animals and a working farm.

“This change is about looking at the need for the elements the public currently do not see, and whether they are an effective use of council funds given the extreme financial pressures the city is experiencing.

Coun Ogilvie added last night: “Extensive consultation has taken place on this matter, and from those discussions this is what we think offers the most common sense solution to making savings while protecting and enhancing the experience of people of all ages visiting Temple Newsam in the future.”

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