Sainsbury’s backs campaign to save Doonies farm

SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s has thrown its weight behind a campaign to help save a council-run rare-breed farm near Aberdeen from closure.

The firm’s Garthdee store has agreed to donate fruit and vegetables to Doonies farm, which is at the centre of the city council’s controversial £27million budget cuts.

Doonies is to receive four crates of unsold food a week which will be used to feed animals at the Cove farm which houses horses, sheep, ducks and pigs.

Friends of Doonies, the campaign group established to save the stricken facility, last night welcomed the news. It comes after two firms this week stepped in to offer legal and business advice to the campaign group free of charge.

Law firm Maclay Murray and Spens and chartered accountants Meston Reid pledged to provide legal and financial advice and support to the group.

They are preparing a business plan to take over the running of the farm after being granted a 60-day reprieve last month to turn the centre into a cultural tourist attraction. Group chairman John Sleigh said there has been confusion over Doonies opening times and insisted the farm remains open to the public from 10am daily.