16.10.03
Cats and dogs live in luxury down on the farm

Close to Looe is the village of Pelynt where Alan Pendray farms 110 acres at Tregarrick Mill Farm. Mr Pendray realised that the farm business alone would not generate sufficient income and decided that he had to diversify from farming to survive. After undertaking a survey in the locality to assess the demand he concluded that there was a large gap in the market for boarding kennels and a cattery.

Up and running since August this year, Pelynt Boarding Kennels and Cattery can house up to 148 dogs and 70 cats in purpose built buildings. The dogs have large outdoor enclosed pens in which they are exercised and the kennel buildings are light and spacious. The cats are housed in a completely secluded area away from the dogs in a wooden U shaped building with individual pens and runs.

"Even though we only opened in August the boarding kennels have been full nearly every day,” said Alan Pendray. "I am delighted with the custom we have had.”

He stressed that the project could not have gone ahead without the help of the Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative which is managed by Business Link Devon and Cornwall and provided a 50% investment.

Marilyn Pryor, Business Link's Contract Manager for the Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative (RDCGI) said: "The Curry Report recognised that farms had to target efficiency, add value and diversify in order to remain competitive in the current and future market and Mr Pendray is certainly on the way to doing that.”

Pelynt Boarding Kennels and Cattery can be reached on 01503 220915.

For further information on the Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative, contact Business Link on 0845 600 9966.

While the RDCGI is managed by Business Link for Devon and Cornwall, the Objective One investment comes from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

For more information on other agricultural programmes run by Business Link Devon and Cornwall contact 0845 600 9966.

Editor's notes:

European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) is one of the four funds that make up the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which is making £314m available to support the local economy between 2000 and 2006.

EAGGF aims to:

Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk

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