Sets from the new Beatles films will be used to make animal shelters at Rice Lane City Farm

Sets from the new Beatles films by Sam Mendes will be used to make animal shelters at the trouble-hit Rice Lane City Farm.

Around 10 truck loads of wood, doors and windows from the movies’ backdrops have been donated to the popular outdoor community space in Walton.

And chair of the farm’s trustees and director of Rice Lane Community Association which runs it, Jamie Dowling, says:

“It’s something we wouldn’t have expected in a million years but it’s just incredible, and we are so grateful.

“It’s a lot of wood that we just couldn’t have afforded to buy, and it will mean we can put a new animal shelter on each field, so that’s six new shelters.”

Vans from Bootle-based Film Solutions Bros started arriving at the farm on Wednesday.

Each contained sets from the four Beatles movies that were recently filmed in the city ready for their April release, starring Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

There were also huge boxes of shredded paper which can be used as bedding for Rice Lane’s small animals, and containers filled with fruit and veg.

Jamie said:

“It was a huge surprise to see the vans arriving. They just turned up at the farm after we put out social posts asking for wood and asking if it was okay.

“Then they turned up about 10 times with different loads.

“There are doors, windows, plywood, thick wood, all different kinds, and means we don’t have to buy it – well, we can’t afford it!

“We’ll be able to put one shelter on each field. They had a fruit a veg stall so they brought loads of fruit and veg, and the unused shredded paper that can be used as bedding has saved us a lot of money because that’s not cheap.

“It’s just amazing, and they have said they’ll put out a message to other film companies to see if they’ve got anything else we could use.”

Rice Lane City Farm has been a favourite fixture in the area since it was opened in 1979, with a range of animals that people can visit and organising a host of community activities including youth groups, playschemes and arts workshops.

But it announced earlier this year that it was in trouble, facing bankruptcy and permanent closure.

The farm, which needs £6,000 a month to keep going, set up a GoFundMe page that had so far raised around £13,350 of an initial £16,000 target.

On Friday, March 13, the farm released the news that it has been the victim of fraud.

It said on its Facebook post:

“A (now former) member of staff in a position of trust and authority used the farm’s account to make payments for a number of purchases and bills that benefited themselves and others.

“There were a number of transactions over several months, and these were almost invariably concealed by being part of a larger completely legitimate transaction.

“Once the fraud had been spotted the matter was reported to the police and remains under investigation. We have cooperated fully with the police and provided all the records requested.”

The post went on:

“It is important for us to point out that the trustees of the charity, the current volunteers or any of the current staff were not responsible for making any of these payments.”

Although the GFM page is helping to raise much-needed funds and the support has been overwhelming, Jamie says Rice Lane City Farm is not out of the woods yet: “We have got the GoFundMe but we’ve still got to pay wages and vets’ bills and other things and it’s early days.

“We’re still struggling, and to be in this position is heartbreaking.

“It’s hard, but we’ve put in for funding from different sources and we will fight all the way to keep the farm open.

“Everyone likes to come here and it’s good for the community, to see the animals and get out and about in the forest, there’s a lot to do on the site itself.

“It means a lot to the community, and we try to keep the community happy with everything we do,

“The donations by the Film Solutions Bros will help us to do that.”

Bob Chadwick, director of Film Solutions Bros, says:

“My wife used to visit the farm when she was younger and spent her teen years working there voluntarily.

“It’s close to home. It’s a great farm and a good cause.

“There’s a lot of waste generated in the film industry and this is a great way of recycling it. It’s a no-brainer: the film companies have got lots of wood they want to get rid of and the farm can make good use of it. It’s nice to play our part for people in need and do some good.”

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