Manager takes on rare breeds farm

The farm is a popular attraction for local children

The manager of Aberdeen rare breeds farm Doonies has been given the chance to save the visitor attraction.

Aberdeen councillors have agreed to lease the farm to Graham Lennox, pending the approval of Scottish ministers.

The farm's future had been in doubt when the council pulled its funding last year.

It prompted a campaign to save Doonies for future generations of city schoolchildren.

Jeanette Grant from campaign group, Friends of Doonies, said: "We're still in a little bit of a state of shock, but we're delighted.

"Fourteen months of trying to keep this little unique farm open for the people of Aberdeen - we're really really pleased.

"Now we can plan and try to bring some of the ideas to fruition. And we've got something positive so that we can go out now and apply for funding, but, long term, the farm has a future and it will be there for our children. It's fabulous."

The farm was originally earmarked for closure when the council withdrew its subsidy last year but was given a reprieve to allow campaigners to prove it could be run as a business.

The council again took over the running of the farm in February when the Friends of Doonies, run by volunteers, failed to attract enough interest.