'We wouldn’t recover': Treasured Leeds farm appeals for community support in wake of repeated vandalism
‘It’s so frustrating’: Leeds farm CEO calls for community support after recent damage
The boss of a much loved Leeds community farm has said she fears for its safety following a spate of attacks.
Adele Rae from Kirkstall Valley Farm has launched a fundraising appeal in a bid to step up security but she told the Yorkshire Evening Post that she’s worried what could happen next.
The visitor attraction has been providing the neighbourhood with freshly-grown produce for over five years, and employs a team of volunteers to oversee its patch.
The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise £10,000 to improve the security around the perimeter of the site, and extend the electricity supply to facilitate the installation of new CCTV cameras.
Adele Rae, CEO of the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, said she fears for the safety of the site and her staff following the recent spate of vandalism.
She said: “You’re frightened about what you’re going to find when you get here.
“We’ve had to cancel sessions which we never like to do. The arson has taken it to a whole different level.”
This is not the first time unwanted visitors have broken into the site, with fencing, glass tables, lighting, sheds, and the farm’s community firepit previously left in a dire condition.
Adele added: “It’s a testament to the skill of our volunteers that they manage to salvage something. We keep replacing things, but we just can’t afford to do that any more.
“We do know that the last incident we had, they did try and set fire to straw bales which is really worrying.”
Since setting up shop in 2021, Kirkstall Valley Farm has been providing 130 food boxes per week to those most in need in the area, including around 10,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The most recent incident involved a caravan being set alight, which was due to be converted into a mobile tea and coffee shop in the coming weeks.
Adele said that the burning of the caravan, affectionately known by the team as ‘Dolly’, has “taken the crime to a whole new level.”
An investigation is underway by West Yorkshire Police, who have urged anyone with information regarding suspects to contact the Leeds West Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, or online at http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat, referencing crime number 13260580937.
If you’d like to support Kirkstall Valley Farm to help them prevent further events of this nature, you can donate via this link - Help Protect Kirkstall Valley Farm.