THOSE much-loved cows which have roamed on the Salvation Army farmland for decades are set to go.

The cows on Hadleigh Farm, owned by the Salvation Army, are to be sold off due to “financial reasons”.

Bosses have said the investment involved in maintaining the farmland for the herd of cattle is “significant” and they, unfortunately, don’t have the money.

Residents are bitterly disappointed by the imminent departure - and have been sharing fond memories of the cows over the years.

Melanie Cotgrove, 47, from Ashingdon Road, Rochford said: “The cows have been there for such a long time. My parents used to take me there when I was a child and I take my little boy there now – it’s lovely as you are walking to the castle.

“It is such a shame they are going to be taken away, it is not just a local loss but much more – people come from all over to enjoy the cows.

“It is a shame from every point of view – for us and for the cows. I have started a petition to keep the cows from getting sold.”

People as far as Berkshire have so far signed the petition, which has almost 300 supporters. Abi Cox, from Earley, in Berkshire signed the petition. She said: “I like cows and I love going to see them when I go to visit my family.”

In 1891 The Salvation Army bought 900 acres of farmland in Hadleigh and developed a pioneering social programme to empower people living in poverty and experiencing long-term unemployment.

A spokesperson on behalf of The Salvation Army’s Hadleigh Farm Estate said:

“As a church and charity we take our role of stewards of this land for the community very seriously and we’d like to reassure the community that we do not intend to sell or build on the land.

“It came to our attention that significant and pressing investment was needed to maintain and upgrade the facilities for the herd of cattle that live on our farmland; at this moment we do not have access to the funds to implement these necessary measures.

“Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of the people and animals while they are in our care, so after seeking expert advice it was with difficulty but necessity that we have had to make a decision to sell the herd. We are exploring options for the herd which include sale to private buyer or livestock market and in the meantime the cattle are being housed in temporary accommodation on site.”