A FARMER feels his unique way of life is under threat after a quarry was given planning permission to extend its operation.
Clive Fry, who lives at Langford Farm, near Kilkhampton, with wife Sandra, uses traditional farming methods – including what could be Cornwall's only pedal-powered threshing machine.
The Frys believe their fields have not changed much from those of 800 years ago when the land was a series of enclosures, but fear their rural idyll may be coming to an end because of the future extension of Pigsdon Quarry which adjoins them.
Mr Fry recently objected to the extension and told the Cornwall Strategic Planning Committee, sitting at County Hall in Truro, of the problems he is already suffering from dust created by the quarry works, which contain silica and blows over onto his fields and sheep.
However his concerns, which also include fears of losing his water supply when the quarry begins to extract sandstone for aggregate from deeper depths and closer to his farm, fell on deaf ears.
He is worried about how the dust, which has already meant he has had to keep sheep out of one of his fields, increases through greater exposure.
Mr Fry feels his methods are not only sustainable, but they also work.
His sheep, fed on whole oats cut with a 100-year-old horse-drawn binder and separated from the straw by a bicycle-powered threshing machine, have topped sales prices at Holsworthy market.
"This farm has everything we need. There are lime trees for making clogs, ash for horse-drawn vehicles, sycamore for kitchen utensils and for burning to keep us warm. The house is heated solely by wood I have chopped myself. We have electricity but it is used very sparingly.
"Five years ago I made a horse-drawn vehicle and every piece came from this farm. All our three horses, strong cross bred cobs, were born on the farm.
"After I injured my foot a few years ago a friend persuaded me to have a tractor so I went to a sale and bought one, but I use it very sparingly. The big problem with tractors is they can't reproduce themselves – horses can."
A charity walk on Sunday from Kilkhampton's Lamb Park from 2.30 to 3.30pm, will include a visit to Langford Farm. The organiser of the six-mile walk is Graham Jewell, who can provide information on 01288 321785.
