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Young Farmer's club at Jeskyns Community Woodland, Gravesend, handed eviction notice over

A young farmers club has been given just two months to find a new home leaving its members "devastated".

Jeskyns Young Farmer's club has been based at Jeskyns Community Woodland, in Gravesend, for almost 10 years.

Jeskyns Young Farmer's club has been based at Jeskyns Community Woodland for almost 10 years
Jeskyns Young Farmer's club has been based at Jeskyns Community Woodland for almost 10 years

Most of the group members have special needs, and the ages range between 10 and 20.

And if they don't find a new home soon they could be forced to re-home some of their flock which includes 15 sheep and lambs.

Louisa Williams, one of four leaders at the club, told KentOnline: "For these kids they have no other social lives, some of them have learning difficulties and it's a small group, only about 12 to 14.

"We take children and teach them about animal welfare. The aim is to give them an outlet into work, as a lot of the children go into related jobs – there's a lot of education that takes place for them."

However, last week the group were told by Forestry England, who own the woodland, that they need to be gone by June 16.

If the group don't find a new home they could be forced to re-home some of their flock which includes 15 sheep and lambs
If the group don't find a new home they could be forced to re-home some of their flock which includes 15 sheep and lambs

The government agency says it is no longer able to accommodate the "level of access" required by the club due to "concerns about safety" and wished them luck in finding an alternative location.

Meanwhile the fate of the club remains uncertain and if they cannot find around six acres of land to home and graze their sheep on the club will be forced to close.

Louisa claims that problems started about a year ago when new management took over at Forestry England.

She explained: "We were told we needed to make loads of changes and everything we wanted to do got shut down.

"We were made to re-home all our small animals – we had ducks, rabbits geese and guinea pigs for the younger children to handle.

"We were told we could keep the sheep there but we got an email a couple of weeks ago to say that we no longer could.

"They've taken away everything we've got, we've got nothing and nowhere for the kids to go."

"They've taken away everything we've got, we've got nothing and nowhere for the kids to go..."

The timing couldn't be worse for the club who were planning to host their 10 year anniversary in the middle of June – the same time they need to be gone by.

The children have also not yet had an awards evening to collect their achievements from recent events such as the Kent County Show.

Louisa said they have never been given any reason as to why they are no longer able to stay by Forestry England.

"It's lambing season," she said. "We've got about 16 lambs at the moment and another 16 or so to come – and obviously 20 to 30 sheep already.

"We do always sell a few on for breeding, but that's still a lot of sheep to try and find space for.

She says the children have "really, really struggled" with the news.

"One child has had a complete breakdown and won't come out his room, he's not coping well at all," Louisa added.

The farm are desperately searching for a new home, and has urged anyone able to help to contact them via their Facebook page.

The fate of the club remains uncertain
The fate of the club remains uncertain
Member Thomas Boswell
Member Thomas Boswell

A spokesman for Forestry England said: “At Jeskyns Community Woodland we need to balance the needs and safety of all our visitors alongside requests for third party activities on our land.

"Activities involving animals always require permission.

"Jeskyns is a thriving, working community woodland and we confirm that we’re no longer able to accommodate the activities and level of access required by the Young Farmers Club due to concerns about safety.

Jeskyns Community Woodland, Gravesend. Picture: Google Maps
Jeskyns Community Woodland, Gravesend. Picture: Google Maps

Following discussions over the last nine months, it says the club have been notified their most recent application was not taken forward.

"We wish them the best and hope they find an alternative site more suited to their needs," they added.

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