In May 2026, villagers in Wragby, Lincolnshire, UK, warned that a proposed intensive chicken factory farm could threaten their health, their land, and the free‑living animals who still cling to this corner of the countryside. Lincolnshire Poultry has applied to build six large sheds on land west of Barn Farm on Torrington Lane, a development that would confine up to 240,000 birds on one site.
The plans have triggered a wave of objections from residents who see both their own well-being and the local ecosystems as collateral damage in yet another industrial animal exploitation scheme. Ivor and Pam Davey, who run an organic vegetable farm directly next to the proposed complex, have sounded one of the clearest alarms, highlighting the vulnerability of their land and its non‑human inhabitants. Ivor Davey, 82, also points to the age and ecological value of their orchard, a rare refuge in a county increasingly dominated by agribusiness.
Ivor and Pam’s 150‑year‑old orchard shelters rare varieties of fruit trees and a wildflower meadow that supports wildlife already squeezed by intensive farming. Davey said to the BBC, “We fear for our health, our wellbeing and the likely impact on delicate ecosystems…Everything about our life and work is put in jeopardy by this proposal, as any pollutants from the units would be carried on the prevailing winds directly to our property.”
Other neighbours have echoed those concerns, particularly around pollution from such a large flock of birds, the constant traffic of heavy vehicles, and the persistent stench associated with factory farms.
Local group Communities Against Factory Farming has joined forces with residents, denouncing the proposal as inherently abusive to the birds while committing to resist the application alongside the community.
