A FARMER from Thornbury is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his first book by giving 10 copies to schools in and around the town.


Richard Cornock, 42, wrote ‘A Year on a Dairy Farm’ five years ago, a diverse collection of photographs capturing the day-to-day workings of his family’s farm, New House Farm in Duck Street, Tytherington.


To mark its success over the past five years, he has re-issued a new edition of the book and decided to donate 10 copies to primary schools in the area.


The author said he wanted to give something back to the community after the huge amount of support he has received over the years.


“I’ve had a lot of luck over the years – I never intended to be a writer, I’ve been described as the ‘accidental author’, but people have been very supportive of the book and I want to thank them,” he said.


“I thought giving local schools a copy of the book would be a good way to get kids engaged and interested in farming.”


The book depicts the small dairy farm, which he runs with his dad Bill and brother Tom, and has been in the family since 1822.


Photographs include milking and calving cows, planting trees, laying hedges, ploughing fields, planting maize, making hay and picking fruit.


Mr Cornock, who lives in Thornbury with his wife Sam, 39, and sons Harry, four and Jack, seven, donated a book to Oldbury-on-Severn Primary School last week to celebrate his book’s fifth anniversary.


Headteacher Debbie Dix said: “It was a kind surprise donation. Most of our pupils come from a farming background so we were all delighted to receive the book.”


Mr Cornock added: “The book has been very successful, which is great, and resulted in me being given so many opportunities I never would have been given, such as radio interviews and being taken on to write a column called ‘Cornocks Corner’ in the British Farmer and Grower, which is distributed to all 60,000 National Farmers Union members.


“The book has allowed me to go on and do some great things I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. Now I hope pupils at the schools enjoy the book too.”