A FARMER wants to turn a derelict barn on his property near South Molton into a cookery school and "shooting room" as part of his tourism and farming business.
Andrew Blowers and his wife are turning their 500-acre farm in Mornacott into a source of income as well as a home, and they hope visitors will take part in a local shoot.
Mr Blowers said: "We bought the farm a couple of years ago, like many people, escaping from suburbia. The barn is a nice old building which has fallen into disrepair. We would like, in time, to be able to put up shoot guests.
"We have just started stocking Ruby Red cattle and have nine heifers and one bull. We also have 400 ewes. Our plans are focused around keeping things local."
According to their planning application, which has just been lodged with North Devon Council, Colonel Blowers is "committed to developing an integrated and sustainable business that will make a genuine contribution to the local economy".
Mornacott Farm, which was a traditional North Devon dairy farm, is five miles east of South Molton and includes a seven-bedroom grade two listed farmhouse as well as a range of traditional and modern farm buildings.The Blowers plan to sell meat they have reared and want to turn the old barn into rooms which can be used for cookery demonstrations as well as a meeting and resting place for the pheasant shooting parties during the season, between October and February.
The new building, if given planning permission, would have a dining area on the ground floor with a log store and boiler room and a seating area with open fire on the first floor.
