Vegan activists slammed by farmer for 'childish' act
Vegan activists have attempted to ruin a family-run farm shop by bombarding them with fake negative reviews, one farmer claims.
The Gourmet Goat Farmer, a gourmet deli and cafe near Avebury in Wiltshire, had a five-star average for its meat and dairy products when a local vegan activist decided to take them down.
Ian Somerville posted about the farm on Facebook group Vegan Wiltshire, calling the collective to action. He said: “Can we have some negative reviews on this place, please? There’s no way an animal farm should be able to enjoy a five-star rating.”
A flood of negative reviews followed. The farm was described as “vile”, “a bunch of nasty little animal abusers” who send goats “to endure a barbaric death”.
One posted on the farm’s Facebook page: “Good people do not use, abuse, harm, exploit and kill innocent animals. I hope life treats the owner of this place, the same way they treat the animals.”
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Some of the farm's goats (Image: Gourmet Goat Farmer)
Farm owner Laura Corbett attempted to clear the air, inviting the activists to tour her farm and see how she worked. She waited 30 mins after the arranged time but no one came.
Speaking to the Express, Mrs Corbett said: “It’s the first time anything like this has happened. I ramped up my social media about eight weeks ago, posting in lots of local groups to try and build up the business a little. I suppose I was just more visible to them.
“I posted about the reviews because I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t want to give them attention and this could reignite it. It’s like swatting flies.
“But I’m not ashamed of anything we’re doing at the farm. I believe in the benefits and the good it does for the environment, for conservation, for the countryside. And I seem to have the general public's support, which really picks you up."
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The farm's goat milk (Image: Gourmet Goat Farmer)
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She told the Telegraph that the incident had caused some stress for her family. Her son went to bed worried the activists were going to turn up at the door and her husband was saying they would 'come after (her)’.
The presence of a front gate has provided the family some comfort, as has the thought that the activists would not harm their goats but would likely just let them out.
Since the barrage of abuse, Mrs Corbett has received huge support from her local community, who are posting their own positive reviews to counteract the bad ones.
“I’m trying to look at the positives and humour myself that, thank you vegans, I’ve had a lot of people who have purposefully come and supported me because they’ve seen that type of behaviour,” she said.
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Goat's milk ice cream from the farm (Image: Gourmet Goat Farmer)
“For every one bad review they send I get ten positive ones from real customers. And my door is open to those leaving bad reviews, I’d like for them to see how we do things and understand.”
She claims she is not the only farmer who has been targeted locally. Mrs Corbett fears young people are not educated on nutrition and are “very vulnerable” to veganism.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, a director at the Countryside Alliance, said: “Cases such as this show why soliciting targeted harassment of law-abiding business owners and employees through malicious fake reviews should be an offence.
“The Government must listen to the small businesses that are being victimised, and protect their wellbeing and livelihoods from these cranks.”
Vegan Wiltshire has been contacted for comment.
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