Students at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) have created a petition to save Harnhill Manor Farm from being sold.
Some of the 622 acres of farm and land, which were acquired by the RAU back in 2009, are managed using organic methods as part of an integrated livestock and cropping system.
There’s also an outdoor herd of organic pigs which are managed by the university as a joint venture with a local business partner.
Students are concerned that the sale would deprive future students of first hand practical experience and would have a negative impact on the future of the British farming industry.
[Photo courtesy of Save Harnhill petition.]
Mike Gooding, head of school for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at the university has apparently said that the university has reviewed the role of its farming operations in the delivery of teaching, research and knowledge exchange. He also claims that only a small proportion of land at Harnhill is currently used for teaching and research and the farm is not easily accessible from the main university campus.
You can make up your own mind about this issue by going to the Save Harnhill petition page to find out more.
