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Closure of fruit and veg farm 'like a bereavement'

Alexander StevanovicSouth of England
ALEXANDER STEVANOVIC/BBC Peter is standing in the centre, with his wife to the left of him and his son to the right. They are all wearing green tops and in the background is their pick your own farm. The sky is a mix of blue and wispy thin cloud.ALEXANDER STEVANOVIC/BBC
Peter Gray (centre) says the family feel sad about the impending closure

The owner of a pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farm says it will be "like a bereavement" when the site eventually closes in October.

Gray's Farm in Wokingham has been open to retail customers since 1973 but the land is set to be developed after it was sold to Wokingham Borough Council in 2014.

Peter Gray, 74, said he has "mixed feelings" about its impending closure but running the farm with his wife was "getting harder" as they were both in their 70s.

Wokingham Borough Council previously announced it would develop the site into a sports hub.

ALEXANDER STEVANOVIC/BBC Danielle is sat on a bench. She is wearing shades and a cream coloured jumper and has dark hair. In the background is the fruit & veg farm.ALEXANDER STEVANOVIC/BBC
Danielle Harris says she is "gutted" the farm is closing

Gray has been renting the farm back from the council since then but last year the authority announced it would take full ownership of the site.

"It's sad but we knew it was coming," he said.

"It gives me and my wife the chance to do things we haven't been able to do for the last 40 years like go on more holidays."

Danielle Harris, 30, has been a customer since she was a child and said she was "really gutted" about the impending closure.

"I've really enjoyed taking my children here too - I am so disappointed it's closing," she said.

The farm will close permanently on 31 October.

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