A MUCH-loved community attraction has revealed it is on the brink of closure after almost 50 years.
Lamont Farm Project in Erskine, Renfrewshire said that "without help" the "future of the farm is in serious jeopardy" and they "won't be able to stay open for much longer".
In a Facebook post, the beloved facility said its "footfall is down" which has led to a "dramatic decrease in donations".
They also revealed "costs are higher" than "ever" at the farm, claiming it costs around £50,000 to keep the venue "afloat" each year.
Due to the issues, the popular community farm has issued an urgent plea for help.
In the social media post, they have asked visitors to "rally around" them and support them wherever they can.
It comes after the farm faced closure in 2023 due to "astronomical bills", however, a fundraiser helped raise vital funds to keep it open.
Lamont Farm Project was founded 48 years ago in 1977 by a group of individuals with a "strong desire to establish a local education and community facility".
"Last year you all rallied around and helped to save the farm, we really couldn’t believe it and we’re hoping that we still have that support. Without help, the future of the farm is in serious jeopardy and we won’t be able to stay open for much longer.
"The footfall is down just now, leading to a dramatic decrease in donations. We are applying for grants wherever we can and running fundraisers but unfortunately, it’s not bringing in anything near what we need to keep the farm up and running.
"Costs are high, higher than they’ve ever been, and donations are low. It costs around £50,000 per year to keep the farm afloat and that’s with everyone being volunteers, we don’t have any wages to cover but the cost of animal feeds, bedding, vet bills, insurance, electricity, and gas - well you can imagine it all mounts up quickly.
"We have so many elderly animals here now and we worry about how they would cope if we had to close.
"Jack is now 34, the donkeys are in their late 20s, Gizmo is in her teens, and the llamas are now wee old ladies. For these and the rest of the animals, the farm is their safe place, and it would be heartbreaking for it to be ripped away from them.
"So please help if you can, we don’t want this spring to be the last of Lamont Farm.
"Any donations large or small can make a massive difference and will be so gratefully received. We hope that the community hasn’t outgrown the farm and that we are still able to be a valuable part of it.
"We have a GoFundMe set up on this link https://gofund.me/0686acad and we have PayPal on lamontfarmproject@gmail.com, we can also provide bank details if anyone would like to donate that way.
"Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us in the past!"
