A HAMPSHIRE charity starved of income since the start of the lockdown has issued a "Feed our Farmyard" plea.

The Countryside Education Trust CET), which teaches children about the importance of the countryside, fears it may be many months before it can fully reopen.

Now the Beaulieu-based charity has launched a £3,000 Crowdfunding campaign to help it raise the money it needs to feed its animals.

A statement on its Crowdfunding page says: "Fundraising events, residential school visits, weddings, outdoor playgroups and rural skills courses are all sadly on hold.

"Even though lockdown measures are easing we won’t be able to fully re-open for many months, but we need to carry on caring for our animals and our wonderful wildlife habitats."

Launched in 1975 the CET normally attracts up to 10,000 visitors a year to its sites, which include a farm, a productive garden and tree-houses in ancient woodland.

The chief executive, Jane Cooper, said: "To protect our visitors, staff and volunteers we took the decision to close in March.

"Of course life on a farm can never stand still. A skeleton team has done a brilliant job of looking after our animals, lambing, shearing and haymaking, with help from some of our volunteers."

Ms Cooper listed the charity's sources of income before the lockdown was imposed almost four months ago and added: "All of this literally stopped overnight.

"Even with some measures starting to ease, it will be months before we can resume all our work. In the meantime, we need to feed and care for our animals.

"We know times are hard for everyone at the moment, but even the price of a cup of coffee will help. If we reach our target we have the exciting possibility of 50% match funding, so every pound will go even further."

Several of the charity's supporters have left goodwill messages of its Crowdfunding page.

Samantha Brown said: "This is a fantastic farm which offers so much support to youngsters from towns and cities whose eyes are opened to nature and the countryside."

Nicola Reynolds added: "This is a wonderful charity run by wonderful people."

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