A FARM which is home to the only flock of Portland sheep on the island could be under threat, it is claimed.

Protesters with placards will gather at Fancy’s Farm at Southwell tomorrow to show their support for the smallholding taken over by Su and Jon Illsley last year.

The Illsleys have pursued the farm as a hobby and do not live on the site but say it has grown into a popular community farm.

But it is claimed Fancy’s Farm may not be able to continue because of new tenancy arrangements which cover the land.

Albion Stone, which has mineral extraction rights for the area, has struck up a deal with Portland farmer Curtis Gould who plans to grow crops on the land. The Illsleys have been offered a parcel of land and access to part of the barn they currently use but claim it is not enough.They have been trying to negotiate conditions so they can stay on the land and say the new development has ‘come out of the blue.’ Mrs Illsley runs the farm with the help of volunteers as her husband has a full-time job.

She explained how she has tidied up the site and poured her own money into the farm as well as receiving grants.

Mrs Illsley said while the operation would never make a huge amount of money, it was not making a loss and benefited the community.

The farm, which has animals including the island’s only rare breed sheep, hosts regular open days.

It also provides voluntary work for adults with learning difficulties and young people.

Mrs Illsley said: “I presented a business plan to Albion Stone to show the business was viable.

“The firm never came back to me to say it wasn’t and suddenly they’re in negotiations with a third party.

“Now I have been left to negotiate with a new landlord who is giving me only half the land I’ve got now and use of a small part of the barn for storage. He also says I can’t have children on the site.

“Under the new conditions the project is in jeopardy.”

Friends and neighbours are rallying round Mrs Illsley and have organised the protest at the farm starting at noon tomorrow.

A campaigning page has been established on the social networking site Facebook.

Mr Gould said he had been reasonable in his discussions with Mrs Illsley and believes he is being portrayed in a bad light.

He said: “I’ve been farming for 35 years and what I’ve offered her is ample.

“I’ve been fair with her but I don’t think she’s been fair to me.

“I’ve downsized her a bit. I haven’t kicked her off.

“If she had stayed at the meeting we had for longer than 10 minutes and did not just get up and leave we could’ve sorted this out.”