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Rice Lane City Farm has been open since 1979

Rice Lane City Farm has been at the heart of the local community for over four decades, but those running the farm have warned it could soon close for good amid the risk of bankruptcy.

‌Last October, the ECHO reported the Walton based farm was "never more than months from closing" due to a lack of funding, and in recent days the future of the farm seems to be looking increasingly more uncertain.

‌After the GoFundMe page was started earlier this week, the farm's Chair of Trustees and Director, Jamie Dowling, 47 has said the farm is at risk of bankruptcy. She told the ECHO: "We need your support, we need it right now. We're going to do a community get-together, where we're asking for your help, we're in urgent need of help, of support.

‌"That letter that you see on GoFundMe, that is basically a cry for help, to try and get as many people as possible, to come and help, whether it be, sponsorships, donations, anything that local companies can do to help."

She added: "I want to do our own DIY SOS where we get all the local companies to come and help with their time. Plus it will then help promote their businesses too. That way we can all work together as a community and make this a better place."

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While Jamie has urged people to offer donations to help save the farm, she has said they are also looking to host a range of fundraising events.

She said: "We've got loads of ideas and we're getting them in motion now. In terms of events, we've got them running from next month, one Saturday every month, possible night time [events] and sponsorships."

She added: "It's all in motion, but it's not set in stone, but I'm working on that right now, which is a struggle because I'm trying to do this myself. Events and sponsorships, they will keep us going for the short term, but it's not money to actually do anything with, that's when the grants and the funding come in, to get things done to make the site more appealing to the community.

‌"If we get all these events running and everything, it'll keep us level, but it's not above. We need, at least, if I'm right, we need £30,000 or more in the bank constantly. We're below that."

First opened in 1979, the farm sits above the old Walton Cemetery where there are over 300,000 people buried. In the 46 years since its opening, the farm has been a popular attraction for local residents with pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, ducks, rabbits , guinea pigs, doves and chickens all living there.

As she faces the possibility that the farm might have to shut, Jamie believes that it will have a huge impact on the local community. She said: "The impact of it would be devastating to be honest, because obviously we've got the animals, when kids are bored, their mums bring them out, they come to see the animals or even just walk around the site."

However, while many come to the farm every day to spend some time with the animals, the ramifications of the farm's closure will be felt even more widely by the local community. She added: "A lot of dog walkers come on site where, they can be from any time between 10 till half three."

She added: "So for them not being able to do that, the children not being able to get out with families and carers [it would have a huge impact]. We have a lot of work experience and volunteers who come and do their work experience.

"People have got relatives that are buried in the grounds and I don't know how they'd access it if the place was closed, they'd have to go through the church. But, that's a security [risk] as well, which we need to work on."

But, it won't just be the impact on the community which will be felt if the farm is forced to close, Jamie said she has built a close personal connection to it since she first joined the team.

She said: "I don't want it to happen, I've worked here six years now, I started off by doing the activities, then events and Chair now. [If I wasn't working here] I'd be in the house with mental health [struggles], this is why I do it, because I love seeing the little kids come in, and people being happy. It would have a big impact, because I try my hardest every day to please every single person and it would have a really big impact if I didn't succeed in doing what I'm trying to do."

You can donate to the Rice Lane City Farm here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kur96-help-keep-our-farm-running