Rowde farmer Adrian White hopes his latest venture will whip up interest.

He is opening an ice cream parlour and café, called Rowdey Cow, at Lower Farm, Devizes Road. The milk from his 200 dairy cows will be used to make the ice cream.

Mr White’s daughter Sue Thompson has learned how to make gelato, Italian-style ice cream, by hand.

She is on maternity leave from her job in a bank in Swindon and has enjoyed learning a new skill.

Mrs Thompson, 34, said: “I have had training, including from Josef Boni, a master ice cream maker.

“It’s been really good fun, completely different to what I have done before.

“It’s been a steep learning curve and you have to get everything just right when you are making ice cream. This is a lot different to the ice cream you get in shops – it’s fresher.”

The idea for an ice cream parlour has caught on in Rowde and pupils at Rowde Primary School came up with imaginative suggestions for flavours.

Mrs Thompson has adopted three of them – doughnut surprise, Creme Egg and chocolate chip – among her 16 varieties.

Others include yoghurt, sorbets and raspberry pavlova.

Mr White, 61, is a tenant farmer at Lower Farm and also runs Iron Pear Tree Farm, Rowde, and Townsend Farm, Poulshot.

The farms have been in Mr White’s family since 1955. His milk goes to Cadbury and that will continue as well as supplying the ice cream parlour. The new venture has cost about £350,000 and will employ three staff initially.

Mrs Thompson said: “We were thinking of ways to diversify the farm business.

“Although the farm is doing well, it’s for the future more than anything.”

She will be making ice cream daily and hopes eventually to supply it to local pubs and restaurants who have expressed interest.

The café will feature local produce and serve snacks and main meals.

The glass-fronted cafe has spectacular views of Roundway Hill, plus there is a children’s outdoor play area, and miniature ponies, pygmy goats and chickens to see.

The ice cream parlour opens on Saturday with free tastings.

The café will open on Sunday and both it and the parlour will be open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.