A POPULAR Wirral farm will NOT be closing this month despite rumours suggesting it will.

Staff at Tam O’Shanter Farm have responded to rumours which claim the farm will close to the public at the end of August and move elsewhere.

Ranger Mark Robertson told the Globe he has been inundated with calls from people who have heard the news but he says it is a simple misunderstanding.

“We have a group on the farm Monday to Friday called Woodworkout Ltd – they are leaving the farm to set up at Carr Farm Garden Centre but it’s been interpreted that it’s Tam O’Shanter that’s closing and moving but that’s not the case.

“I am being inundated with calls and people coming in asking if we are closing as they have heard we are – we had the same thing last year when the council were withdrawing funding due to cuts.

“It took us a long time to get back to normal and we don’t want it happening again.”

Woodworkout Ltd provides supervised and supported work placements for adults with learning difficulties.

Mark added: “The farm will still be here and open as normal and run by a new group of volunteers. Woodworkout leaving the farm will have no impact on the farm and we wish them all the best in their venture at Carr Farm.

“In the meantime, every effort will be made to ensure that the handover of Monday to Friday animal care on the farm is as smooth as possible. We would like to reassure people that the welfare of the animals is our top priority through this process.”

The Tam O' Shanter Urban Farm is open every day from 9.30am to 4.30pm at Boundary Road, Bidston and is home to horses, goats, chicken, sheep, bees, turkeys, guinea fowl, geese, pigs, rabbits, ducks and cattle.