A woman who set up a fundraiser to feed her sheep during the drought in Wales has faced accusations of scamming and criticism for enjoying a "coffee and croissant" at a cafe.
Farmer's situation
Zina lives on a smallholding in Llechwedd, near Conwy, with her partner Dale and one-year-old daughter Victoria. She keeps nearly 100 Icelandic sheep as a "fibre flock," with their fleece used to produce yarn, rugs, and other items sold locally and shipped worldwide.
Zina has been established in the area for around six years, having previously worked in banking before an accident. This has enabled her and her partner to earn a modest income while caring for their baby daughter. However, like hundreds of farmers throughout Wales, they have been severely affected by prolonged dry and hot conditions.
Impact of drought
The pasture land the sheep graze has "turned to dust," leaving them needing to buy hay to feed the flock, costing £50 daily—approximately £1,500 a month. This has eliminated any profit they can generate and means they are finding it difficult to cover basic living expenses.
The circumstances prompted the 38-year-old to seek help through a GoFundMe page, publicised via her social media presence on Welsh Cottage by Zina. She has already raised around £2,000 with backing from within Wales and internationally, particularly from devoted customers.
Criticism and response
However, the campaign has also drawn criticism. Certain individuals have accused her of "scamming" and "ripping people off." One person took issue after she shared a photograph from a Conwy café showing her enjoying a coffee and croissant, questioning why people should support her while she is "indulging" herself.
Zina said: "I am one of so many farmers in Wales affected by this weather. We have a fibre flock of Icelandics - just shy of 100 and everything was good up to June."
"We don't produce our own hay and most the year the sheep are grazing and we buy in hay for winter. But because the grass has basically turned to dust we are now paying £50 a week to feed our animals."
"They have the freedom to go into the pastures but they are mainly in the shed where the hay is because it is like dust out there."
"Without the animals I have no business. It is getting very stressful and we have had to put some sheep up for sale. I want to sell them into a fibre flock rather than into the meat chain. I know there are lots of farmers in the same situation. I decided to use GoFundMe to try to help."
Defending her actions
She added: "We have had a lot of support but I'm being criticised by some on social media, saying we are 'robbing people'. It makes me feel like I am committing a crime."
"I don't understand it, I am not scamming people like some claim. I am very open with our circumstances and it is people's choice if they want to support us. A majority of those who have supported are customers who know me well."
"Someone accused me of 'indulging in coffee and croissants'. This is after I posted a picture of a coffee and croissant I had in a cafe in Conwy while I was waiting for a prescription from the pharmacy."
"I only posted it to support a local business. This is not something I do everyday and there have been no holidays and I don't sit on benefits."
"After having my baby I went straight back to work because I am self employed. I always work hard, I am only struggling because no one could predict or control what would happen with the weather."
"This is Wales, no one could predict no rain for weeks on end. It is not like we own this land, we lease it from a landlord, who has been very supportive."
"We are trying to do our part by selling livestock. I am not forcing anyone to support me, if they don't that is fine."
"This is my living, I am just doing what we can to get through this difficult time, which is why I turned to GoFundMe because the costs are so much higher than they normally are. I'm hoping to raise enough to get us through the next few weeks."
