The owner of a Fancy's Farm on Portland 'doesn't see a future' for her much-loved attraction.

The farm, in Glacis on Portland, is a community interest company run by volunteers and is in a dire financial situation as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard.

As previously reported in the Echo, rising costs – particularly of food – have made running the farm unsustainable.

Money raised through a crowdfunder campaign will keep the farm going until the end of next month, but owner Su Illsley warns that she doesn't see a future for Fancy's Farm.

She said: "If we were a shop in this situation we would have walked away.

“We aren’t like a shop that can shut the door and walk away, because of the animals, but if we were a shop in this situation we would have shut by now and walked away.

“People just aren't spending money. This is a community interest company funded by the community, and if the community has no money…...

"We don’t begrudge people, we set up the aim to be a free place to take the kids and see animals, that’s our ethos.”

 

Dorset Echo:

The farm is free to enter and home to some unique animals such as Portland sheep, goats, donkeys and even wallabies.

Dorset Echo:

Thanks to donations and funds raised from a GoFundMe the farm - which may have had to shut in February - has been able to secure its future until the end of March.

But Ms Illsley is fearful for the farm's future, adding: “At the moment, I don’t see a future for the farm.

“We just can’t keep begging for money.”

Dorset Echo:

The farm has been a feature of Portland for 12 years and regular visitors say they would be devastated to see it go.

Diana Padfield, from Maiden Newton, has been visiting the farm with her grandkids since they were small. She said: “I would be devasted if it goes. I’ve brought my grandkids here since they were little; we come up regularly every few months.”

Dorset Echo:

Marie Wilson-Browne of Weymouth, who visits with her 5-year-old Isabella, said: “We have been coming since it first opened. We have come especially today to put a bit of money in the pot.

“More people need to come up because it’s amazing, the kids love it, and Isabella never wants to leave.”

Dorset Echo:

The farm also receives visitors from farther afield. Sue Molloy was visiting with her family from Cornwall, she said: “We brought along a 2, a 5 and 7-year-old and they have really enjoyed it.

"It's rare to find something like this that’s free for the kids, and they really enjoy feeding the animals.”

Donations to the farm can be made through PayPal via donations@fancysfarm.co.uk or visit www.fancysfarm.co.uk