News / Yew Tree Farm
Farmer left ‘feeling vulnerable’ after arson attack
A spate of fires by Bristol’s last traditional working farm are thought to be deliberate arson attacks.
On Sunday afternoon, firefighters were called to the scene of a blaze near Yew Tree Farm when the owner noticed sheep had “become alert to something”.
“I looked out on the footpath if someone was walking their dog – but I couldn’t see anyone on the footpath and the sheep was still alert,” said Catherine Withers, farmer at the site on Bedminster Down.
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“As I was walking from the back to the front of the house, I heard this pop and some voices, or a voice. Then within about a minute, suddenly there were huge plumes of smoke blowing across the house.”
A video taken by Withers shows the grass land scorched and smouldering:
As crew from Bedminster Fire Station extinguished the fires using a high pressure hose reel, three aquapacks and grass beaters, Withers said she “bashed out” fires taking hold along the hedgerow with her jumper.
But she added: “Had it been any later, I wouldn’t have stood a chance of putting fires out.”
An Avon Fire & Rescue spokesperson confirmed that the cause of the fire is “thought to be deliberate”.
Withers first heard voices before finding six fires had been set on her neighbour’s field – photo: Catherine Withers
The 15-acre site sits at the centre of a drawn-out saga that could see it be developed to make way for housing. Bristol City Council’s emerging local plan was originally set to take away Yew Tree Farm’s Green Belt status – but last year the farm won an unexpected reprieve from mayor Marvin Rees.
Withers continues to campaign to save the farm, which produces a range of organic pork, beef, eggs, fruit and vegetables, seasonal jams and chutneys and honey, and protect its heritage.
She added: “I’m just hoping that by trying to protect the Green Belt and lifting up the profile of the farm, I haven’t actually put us at risk.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaLGpKpMvnB/
The incident that saw six fires sparked comes as one of the sheep was recently involved in a dog attack – triggering the farmer to become “hyper-vigilant”.
Withers said: “I feel that we’re becoming more vulnerable with something like this happening. Even though it was on our neighbour’s field, it easily could have spread to our land and our hedges. It would have affected our wildlife, and then potentially even the livestock and then the building.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Countryfile broadcasts from Yew Tree Farm as future remains uncertain
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