E.coli scares hit farm visitor numbers

A DROP in visitors to Stonebridge City Farm has been attributed to national E.coli scares.

Staff want to reassure potential visitors that the farm has never been affected by the bug.

The farm has stopped the hand-feeding of animals as a precaution, but hand-washing troughs are being installed so it can resume.

Mark Barry, funding development worker at the farm in St Ann's, said: "We've been quite severely affected by E.coli scare stories, but luckily, the last week has been excellent.

"We're E.coli free, like most city farms, and that message needs getting across."

Mr Barry said visitor numbers had increased before the scares because families were looking for free activities during the recession.

"This time last year we were getting 50 to 100 people a day, but on average we are getting 15 or 20 now. On our worst day we had three people," he said.

Stopping the hand-feeding of animals has contributed to the drop in visitor numbers and means the weekend facilities available have been reduced.

School visits have also been affected.

Staff hope visitor numbers will pick up again naturally.

"Every time I see a visitor I say 'there isn't any E.coli' and it's true," said Mr Barry.

"School visits were affected, but they seem to be picking up. Half-term will tell us a lot more."

The recent scares relate to E.coli 0157, the most serious strain.

E.coli can be passed on through contact with animals, as well as through contaminated food or from the environment.

Only one in 50 of all cases are linked to petting farms.

White Post Farm, near Farnsfield, closed voluntarily for a week after an E.coli scare which saw three children and an adult with links to the farm fall ill.

It was the fourth farm to shut since an E.coli outbreak came to light at Godstone Farm in Surrey, where the earliest link to the infection was traced back to August 8.

The bacteria in humans usually causes diarrhoea, which settles without treatment within a week. Occasionally, serious kidney and blood complications can occur.

It usually takes three to four days for symptoms to develop, and they can last up to two weeks.

caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk