17.01.03      
Holiday home for horses?

A farm at Redmoor, near Bodmin, will soon be able to cater for visitors and their horses thanks to an Objective One grant of almost £79,000 to convert redundant farm buildings into a stable block and accommodation for able bodied and disabled guests.

Work on converting the first barn at Chark Farm, a former granary, into one-bedroom and two-bedroom self-catering holiday accommodation has already started and the buildings will be ready to receive the farm's first guests by July this year.

Meeting guidelines set out by the National Accessible Standards for mobility impairment, the building work to convert the second disused farm building will start next autumn and will transform the former cow house into a single storey, self-contained three-bedroom unit that can accommodate up to two disabled guests.

With a range of disabled-friendly features like wider doorframes, ramps and specially designed bathing facilities, the cottage will be able to accommodate comfortably and safely both able bodied guests and those with a range of physical impairments.

Due to Chark Farm's picturesque location in mid Cornwall, the business is hoping to attract visitors who are drawn to the area's rugged landscape. There is good on and off road riding in the unspoilt countryside around Chark Farm, and with a local riding stable offering year round competitions and clinics, from the autumn guests who don't want to leave their equine companions at home will be able to bring their horses to stay on the farm as the holiday cottage site will include a new stable block to accommodate up to four horses.

For visitors wishing to make the most of the great outdoors, a clay pigeon shoot operating on the farm, which caters for complete beginners to the more experienced, offers the opportunity for Chark Farm's guests to really immerse themselves in the pleasure of outdoor pursuits.

Jenny Littleton, owner of Chark Farm, said: "Before moving to Chark I enjoyed providing Farmhouse B&B, but our present cottage is too small to take in guests, so we were delighted to receive Objective One funding to turn our dream of converting the redundant farm barns for holiday accommodation into a reality. The two disused farm buildings have stood empty since we took over the farm ten years ago and without the help of Objective One funding they would have eventually deteriorated beyond repair.

"Converting our old granite barns into holiday accommodation seemed like the ideal use of our resources and we hope that our facilities and beautiful location will attract visitors from all over the country, and beyond, to enjoy the beautiful location and amenities.”

The £315,820 project has been granted £78,955 from the Objective One European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) with £78,955 of the match funding coming from DEFRA and the additional £157,910 from the private sector.

Editor's notes:

European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)

EAGGF is one of the four funds that make up the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which is making £314 million available to support the local economy between 2000 and 2006.
EAGGF aims to:

For further information contact:
Jenny Littleton
Chark Farm
01208 871118

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388

jason@dclark.co.uk

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