Plans to open Midhurst farm to the public

Plans have been submitted to open up a deer farm to the public.

Sky Park Farm, in Durford Lane, West Harting, have proposed the opening of the existing deer farm to members of the public for ‘recreational and educational purposes’.

The application includes the conversion of farm buildings to provide a farm shop, butchery, café, and WC facilities.

Sky Park Farm - Picture: Google maps/ Google streetview

The butchery will sell venison related products and other local produce.

A children’s outdoor activity and picnic area with hand crafted play equipment has been put forward along side hard-surfaced pathways that should provide safe and accessable routes though the farm for visitors to see the deer up close and enjoy the setting of the farm.

Part of the application reads: “The over-riding intention of the applicants is to open up the deer farm so that members of the public can enjoy the beauty of the animals and the farm surroundings, whilst at the same time educating visitors as to how the farm works and teaching children where their meat comes from.”

It adds: “It is not the intention for Sky Park Farm to become a sanitised version of a farm.

“It will remain a working farm first and foremost. The farming operations will always come first.”

The areas of proposed public access amounts to 7 per cent of the total farm area.

In the proposal, the farm listed ways in which it would promote National Park values which include promoting tourism, promoting local produce, supporting farm diversification and providing access to the country side.

Sky Park Farm is over 75 acres and home to more than 200 deer.

The applicants are aiming to open the farm up to the public in spring 2019 and the ‘determination deadline’ is set for Thursday, November 1.

For more information on the application, see reference: SDNP/CHI/245NM.