Work starts on site that will house Sark’s new dairy

Local contractors are doing the work, which will be a sizeable portion of the £480,000 budget.

Fundraising efforts have been steered by the Sark Community Dairy Charitable Trust behind the scenes for two years.

Trustees hope it will be up and running in June to help Sark become self-sufficient and preserve its endangered environment.

‘It’s a green, sustainable project and an investment in rural enterprises, education and tourism,’ said executive officer Dr Richard Axon and trust secretary Caragh Couldridge.

‘Fundraising is challenging in the current economic climate. We have raised over 30% of the total £480k locally, with so many islanders giving as much as they can to help.’

For a small community it is an ambitious project, so help is needed from Sark’s sister islands.

‘Getting the host building up and a roof on it is the first priority. Fitting out can then be done under cover.’

Dairy property will be held by the trust for Sark’s community and leased to tenant farmers.

First tenants Katharine and Jason Salisbury have more than 20 years’ experience with Guernsey cows.

‘In Suffolk, they already produce a brie, a blue and a farmhouse golden Guernsey milk. They need at least one full-time farmhand and are very interested in training young apprentices.’

Moving depends on pandemic restrictions, aiming to arrive in spring or early summer.

‘This is going to be a huge economic and social boost to the island.’

Herd cattle will include 16 in-calf Guernsey cows to calve around mid-spring, selected digitally from the Watts' farm.

Crop growing and beef calf-rearing will be stimulated by the dairy herd.

‘We are developing a future where we will be producing local meat, dairy, crops, honey, seaweed products, fish, preserves etc.

‘Milk and cream are the first essentials, and then with surplus milk after the season the focus will be on cheese as that is their speciality.’

Maintaining the 1560s pastoral landscape is an essential purpose of the trust.

‘It’s a national treasure and we want to keep it that way.

‘People come to Sark to experience an ancient rhythm of life, wonderful wildflowers and hedge-banks. They expect locally grown food too. Sark could well become a foodie heaven.’

Donations and publicity will help make the dream a reality.

‘Self-sufficiency and preserving the beauty and diversity of our island are entwined; they are both necessary to keep Sark as an attractive holiday destination in such a competitive world.

‘In a way Sark is an endangered species – a very small island community that retains its independence and is still astonishingly and refreshingly unspoiled.’

n visit: sarkdairytrust.com for more information or to donate.