THE site of a farm park, dairy farm and shop could become a chic new destination for wedding receptions should planning permission be granted to them by the council.

Hawkshaw Farm in Clayton-le-Dale is best known for being the home of Mrs Dowson’s Farm Park, a family-attraction which brings people through the doors in their hundreds.

But should plans be approved to transform some of the 135 acres of farmland into a site suitable for weddings using teepees, the family-run business could have something new to add to its list of offerings.

In plans submitted to the Ribble Valley Borough Council, a spokesperson for the farm explained that the proposal to create a wedding reception destination would allow the business to grow and remain sustainable for the next generation.

He said: “The proposal is to create a small teepee wedding venue which will operate in the summer months only.

“This will add an additional income stream to this family dairy farming business to ensure that the business is sustainable for the next generation.

“Over the last three years the dairy industry has experienced a very turbulent market with many months of production resulting in trading losses.

“In the past the farmland has been used to host a marquee wedding and the event was a great success.

“Further research indicates that there is a growing market for outdoor weddings and so the idea of a venue for teepee weddings was born.”

The property is currently occupied by Mr and Mrs Dowson and their family, who also operate a visitor centre and cafe which is open to the public at the weekends and over the school holidays.

The proposal outlines the intention to create concrete pads for four interconnected teepees, a toilet facility and a catering facility.

The teepees would be erected for the beginning of May each year and dismantled at the end of September.

A cottage garden area would also be created to the east of the teepees adjacent to the car park.

This will enhance the entrance to the site for guests and provide an area for wedding photographs.

There are also plans to plant native species of trees in an arc shape around the edge of the site to provide screening and to enhance the appearance of the site for users of the teepees.