Nearly £100,000 has been raised
Gorgie City Farm could be saved from the brink thanks to a mystery benefactor who has donated £20,000.
The popular petting zoo in Edinburgh called in a liquidator earlier this month after it failed to secure funding.
Since then it has embarked on a fundraising drive which now sits at more than £92,000 after the anonymous donation.
On its Edinburgh Community Farm Facebook page, the farm posted: "Dear Edinburgh & beyond. The GoFundMe page is now at an incredible £92,665.
"This morning an anonymous person donated £20,000. Who knew 18 days ago that we could be so strong together?
"We can now add 92,665 more reasons to our list of why this farm is so important to the community."
Previously the organisation received funding from City of Edinburgh and generated income from its cafe and animal boarding service also generated income.
It chairman George Elles blamed falling revenues due to a decline in external funding and rising costs.
Liquidator Shona Campbell, of MHA Henderson Loggie, said it could take many weeks before they would be able to submit proposals and secure the funding that is required to take over the running of the farm.
The bid to save the farm received a further boost on Thursday (21 November) when City of Edinburgh Council agreed to allocate £27,000 to aid the process of securing the long term future of the farm.
Council leader Adam McVey committed £27,303 the farm was due in January as part of its annual £109,214 grant funding to be handed over now.
Councillor McVey said: “This gives us the time, the space and the resources to help create that front-runner bid.
“What is going to be clear is that the operator of the future Gorgie City Farm will have broader shoulders and hopefully be able to take the farm forward with more certainty.”
Campaigners welcomed boost, taking to Twitter to label it “fantastic news” and said it’s “great to see this progress form the council and supporters”.
Gorgie City Farm gave volunteering opportunities and support to disadvantaged young people and adults.
It welcomed about 200,000 visitors a year since it was saved from closure in 2016 after a crowdfunding appeal raised in excess of £100,000.
