Farm attraction to close after charity liquidation

Occombe Farm is set to close after the charity which runs it announced it was going into liquidation

A conservation charity has announced it is entering liquidation due to financial challenges.

Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) looks after nearly 80% of Torbay's landscapes including Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Cockington Country Park and more than 40 miles (64km) of coast paths and bridleways.

It also manages the Occombe Farm attraction, including its farm cafe, which the trust said would "close imminently".

Trustee chairwoman Barbara King said financial pressures had proven "too great" to handle despite the charity's best efforts.

Ms King said: "For more than two decades, our team of staff and volunteers have poured their hearts into caring for the places that make Torbay so special.

"While this chapter closes, the legacy of care, connection and conservation that the trust leaves behind will remain part of Torbay's landscape for generations to come."

Steve Darling, MP for Torbay, said the trust had been well-loved for decades but its liquidation "isn't a surprise".

"I know over recent years it has faced some financial challenges," he said.

"We need to make sure that the gems they look after that are in Torbay are protected for generations to come."

'Deeply felt impact'

Torbay Council said the trust had been instrumental in conserving more than 1,700 acres of natural spaces and its closure will have a "wide-reaching impact on the community".

Council leader David Thomas said the trust played a vital role in managing green spaces across Torbay and its closure would have a "significant and deeply felt impact".

"In the coming weeks, we will be taking time to understand the full implications of this news and what it means for the future of these important spaces and initiatives," he said.