Doonies Farm... The Real Story...

The true story of why Aberdeen City council wants to close Doonies farm is starting to emerge. I cannot disclose all of Aberdeen Firsts sources, needless to say the true picture of what is really happening leaves a really bitter taste in the mouth.

We have been repeatedly told by the council that Doonies has to close to save £100,000, and that the animals will not be slaughtered, we have also been told that the 210 acre site that Doonies occupies will remain greenbelt.

I can categorically state that the public are being lied to on all accounts.

1. Doonies may well save £100,000 when closed, but when you take into consideration that the admission price has remained the same for over 7 years, this figure could be drastically reduced, most people I have spoken too would happily pay double to visit this attraction.

Also Aberdeen City Council actively (and rightly so) promote and publicise every other attraction in the North of Scotland, but you will be hard pushed to find anything highlighting Doonies farm. Why? is this a deliberate attempt to keep visitor numbers low. This added to the lack of road signs giving directions to Doonies really adds weight to the theory that the council do not want Doonies to be a success. Why has the council refused to provide classroom's with an exhibit area for school visits. This would have a knock on effect of publicising Doonies, as most children would want to visit again with parents.

2.We are told that the animals will not be slaughtered. This is a lie, I have contacted various people in the know. Their has only been a couple of enquiries from rare breeders in England. There is no market for rare breeds in the North East of Scotland.

This means that the vast majority of animals will be taken to auction, where the various bidders will know that the animals up for auction are non returnable. This means that they will offer low prices and the animals will end up slaughtered on a meat hook. It is common practise for none returnable lots to be divided up between bidders so that they face no competition, thus resulting in the animals being sold off cheap as their is no reserve price.

Their are over 350 animals at Doonies and the first, Lambs, Calves, and piglets have been born. All now face being culled. This is particularly galling when you consider that most of these animals are tame and are more like pets. I know the farmers at Doonies are really upset and distraught at seeing animals they have cared for and hand reared being prepared for slaughter. These animals trust human beings and the sheer wickedness that will result in their slaughter will long lasting effect on many a child.

Please help save us from the abattoir, Mum with new born Calf

3, We are told that the 210 acres that Doonies occupies will remain green belt. This is also a lie. All the land surrounding Doonies was originally green belt, this has all been sold off for industrial use. It is well known to council, planners and resource staff that there is a lack of industrial sites within the boundaries of Aberdeen. Although not public, Doonies land will be sold off to the highest bidder in the hope of raking in some of the money that has been mismanaged by Aberdeen City Council.

All in all the residents of Aberdeen have been lied to. We stand to lose a valuable resource that gets used by disabled centres, community groups, the young, the old and visitors to the north of Scotland. This is in despite of what looks like deliberate council policy to run down the farm through lack of investment and publicity over the years.

Aberdeen first would like to see Aberdeen Council put the effort in to make this wonderful farm viable, and to treat this wonderful resource with the respect it deserves. Farms such as Doonies are revered in places such as London, and other built up areas, for giving children the chance to see, experience, and touch animals that otherwise they would never come into contact with.

Do we really want our children growing up wondering where milk and eggs come from, or do we want them to experience the cultural and farming heritage of the North of Scotland, whilst gaining insight and knowledge about the welfare and treatment of animals.

Doonies first Lambs of 2008 (already hand tame), will they be slaughtered

Please sign the online petition here. Help save Doonies from the BUTCHERS at Aberdeen City Council.