"TO SEE it go under concrete would break my heart."

These are the words of Nigel Holliday, tenant farmer of Westridge Farm, whose livelihood and farm is under threat due to a planning application to build 475 homes on the land.

A plea from the farmering family and the community action group Save Westridge Farm has gone out to residents of the Isle of Wight following submission by developers Westridge Village Ltd.

The deadline for comments on the planning application is Friday, September 11.

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The planning application, known as West Acre Park, if passed, would mean the permanent loss of the farm and its ancient hedgerows and habitat.

MP Bob Seely and IW Council member, Cllr Michael Lilley, have both submitted objections, and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) are also against it.

Read more: Ryde homes scheme a bridge too far, say objectors

Campaigners say the loss of the farm and its green fields would merge Ryde with Nettlestone and Seaview to create one continuous urban sprawl.

Read more: 'Total disaster' fears if Ryde housing scheme goes ahead

They say the fields provide for many species including rare and red listed endangered species.

A spokesperson said: “Once this precious habitat and land is built on it will be gone forever, never again available to future generations as a natural resource for the Island and nature.”

The current tenant farmers, the Holliday family, have been at Westridge Farm for more than 50 years.

“I was brought up here, so I know this landscape, I can see it with my eyes shut and to see it all go, under concrete, breaks my heart” Nigel said.

Westridge Farm is one of the last of ten dairy farms left out of hundreds that once existed on the Isle of Wight.

In one 25 year period, the Island lost 85 per cent of its dairy farms.

Archie, age eight, wants to be a farmer like his dad, grandad and great grandad.

His video message can be seen here