Plan to bring all-inclusive holidays teaching alcapaca care and more to Shropshire hamlet
All-inclusive holidays teaching people how to look after ducks, chickens and alpacas and grow fruits and vegetables could be brought to a north Shropshire hamlet.
Melanie King has applied to Shropshire Council for permission to build a 'hobbit house' annexe at Pool House Cottage in Ellerton, between Market Drayton and Newport.
It would be made of recycled plastic and prefabricated, so if permission is granted it could be installed within a week, according to a statement by Robert and Melanie King.
The statement said that as well as the farming education elements, there would be opportunities for "art and craft weekends, yoga retreats et cetera".
The statement said: "As a registered smallholding we wish to offer all-inclusive short 'farm breaks'.
"This would entail learning about the cultivation and harvesting of vegetables and fruit trees, keeping ducks and chickens, and looking after and interacting with alpacas.
"We also wish to use the alpacas as therapy animals and have found a breeder that has specific animals that are suitable for this purpose.
"We would envisage that once guests arrive they would largely remain on site as they would be here for a specific purpose.
"We would therefore provide a range of food supplies et cetera for them to use during their stay, utilising home-grown or locally-sourced foodstuffs where possible.
"We would also provide a service to collect visitors from the nearest mainline station if required, along with their bikes et cetera for them to use once they are here. We do not anticipate significant use of guest vehicles during their stay."
