Our FIRST EVER
Annual General Meeting

 

YOUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR FCLI

Tom Oliver

Head of Rural Policy, Campaign to Protect Rural England. London.

I consider that my knowledge of the national context of farming and wider rural policy could be a useful support for the Fordhall Community Land Initiative. In particular, I would bring familiarity with how the public benefits of traditional farming are regarded by policy and decision-makers and how best to secure these benefits at Fordhall.

As a former estate manager working for the National Trust in Worcestershire and as a landscape architect, I have experience of the process of reconciling good farming practice with the protection of landscape character, archaeological interest and healthy biodiversity. I am familiar with the planning and design policy surrounding rural diversification.

Drawing on experience in my previous career in advertising, I could bring useful skills to bear on the communication of the work at Fordhall Farm to a range of audiences from the local to the international. I am happy to use my media experience to draw attention to the work of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative and to help the example of Fordhall Farm to be a catalyst for other similar projects.

Graham Sedgley

Manager, Peplow Recruitment, Shropshire

I work in Human resources and am proud to have been the first ever Fordhall Shareholder. I take a keen interest in the local community and as a result I sit on many parish and school boards. My passion for local food and young enterprise got me hooked into Fordhall and I am happy to help wherever I can. (current board member).

Christopher Lunt

Retired Business Owner. Wirral, Cheshire.

I am recently retired after running a family company for nearly 40 years. I am familiar with HR issues as well as compliance with legislation applied to commercial enterprises.

The company was connected with agriculture as a supplier and manufacturer of equipment for over fifty years.

In my youth I was a member of the Young Farmers Organisation. I have been school governor for 14 years. I have been a magistrate for nearly 30 years. I am a member of Merionedd Vintage Tractor Club and have been fascinated by the interesting developments at Fordhall farm since the summer of 2006.

Wendy Davies

Retired Lawyer. Market Drayton.

Lawyer specialising in Corporate Commercial law working in industry for the majority of my career. I have recently given up my practising certificate but my name remains on the role of Solicitors.

I have worked as the Chair of Audit at the Hanley Building Society until 2006 and I am currently secretary of a number of charitable trusts.

I first visited Fordhall in 1982 and enjoyed the wonderful cooking of Arthur Hollins. I recall being intrigued by his philosophy and bought his book. I am currently studying a course on Rural and Environmental Studies and am keen to do something locally to help “re-connect farming with the community”.

I am an ex-farmers daughter and it would be an honour and a privilege to serve the local community in such a worthwhile and exciting project.

Janet Milnes

Independent Management Consultant. Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

I have over 25 years experience in the area of management development consulting, working with and advising blue chip multinationals, SMEs and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and in different countries across Europe. My expertise covers internal consulting, business development (in particular start-up and growth situations), executive development, leadership consulting and coaching, change management, career management, training and development, executive recruitment, outplacement, performance evaluation, design and implementation of new quality and productivity initiatives.

I have set up and successfully run my own companies. I introduced the first contract executive research recruitment company into Europe, building up the company from scratch to a 30-man strong outfit and leading it to achieve market leader position worldwide. Other companies I set up and managed during my career include an executive search and human resources development consultancy and an international translation agency. The size of companies I have managed range from 4 to 75 employees. I have also helped to establish two management offices in the Middle East.

Most recently I have acted as advisor for 3 years to a leading career services company working on their leadership consulting and coaching offering in the UK and Continental Europe as well a having my own coaching/mentoring clients.

I hold a degree in modern languages from the university of Durham (UK) and a qualification in business administration from the university of Boston.

I have lived and worked in several countries in Western and Eastern Europe and speak English, Dutch, French and German.

I am a certified business and life coach and NLP practitioner and am certified to administer various leadership development and coaching instruments. I hold a range of diplomas in management and facilitation, psychology, interviewing and assessment and communication.

Michael Whithouse

Wasteless Society. Bishops Castle

Michael Whithouse is a chartered accountant with a degree in rural land management from the Royal Agricultural College. I’m involved in the management of a number of organisations and projects concerned with organic agriculture, landscape, nature conservation, sustainability and climate change. These roles include:

• Management consultant to the Institute of Organic Training and Advice
• Steering group member - Organic Action Plan for the West Midlands
• Development adviser to the Wasteless Society and a director 2002-2005
• Member of the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership Advisory Board, Farming Working Group and Sustainable Development Fund Grant Advisory Panel
• Trustee of Caring for God’s Acre and steering group member - National Network for Churchyard Conservation Project Management board member of Localise West Midlands, an organisation seeking local economic solutions for sustainability

In connection with the Wasteless Society, I’ve been closely involved in helping to develop practical initiatives for local action to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Based in Bishop’s Castle Shropshire, the Wasteless Society organised in 2004 the first community carbon footprint calculation to be carried out in the UK. I was a speaker on these issues at the recent Soil Association “One Planet Agriculture” Conference in Cardiff.

I strongly support the objectives of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative and participated in the launch event of the project. More recently, I contributed to an article on climate change and energy use which was published in the Winter 2006 edition of the Friends of Fordhall Newsletter.

In summary, I’d like to get more involved by becoming a member of the Board. I have knowledge, skills and experience which should be useful to the continuing success and future development of this important project.

Helen Howes

Forest Schools coordinator. Leebotwood, Shropshire.

Throughout my career I have had much experience of developing and delivering Education for Sustainable Development, in a variety of different contexts. I have twenty years teaching experience with the age range 3 years to adult. I held a Senior Management position in my last full time post and, since taking a career break for a family, am now part-time Forest School Co-ordinator for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Education Consultant for various organisations, including Shropshire County Council.

Whilst I live in the south of Shropshire I have maintained a keen interest in the successes of Fordhall Farm, since knowing the family whilst I lived and worked close by in North Staffordshire in the late 80’s.

As a long time supporter, and recent shareholder, I have always held an interest in Fordhall Farm as an education and conservation resource. I strongly feel that community involvement and education are the key to understanding food production, farming principals and conservation of the countryside. Throughout my teaching career I have actively promoted the “outdoor classroom” and I feel that Fordhall is ideally suited to this cause.

With this in mind I am happy to put myself forward as a board member in order that I might share my enthusiasm and skills with others, to promote and develop this worthwhile cause and to establish a much needed, quality, pioneering, educational resource in North Shropshire.

Alec Nunn

Retired Lecturer and organic gardener. Stafford, Staffordshire.

A retired lecturer and construction manager, I have had a lifelong involvement with agriculture, being raised on a smallholding and poultry farm.

Organic gardener & vegetable producer for over 25 years, I am chairman and secretary of ‘Action Organic’ The Soil Association local group and I work with Stafford Borough Councils Eco-Schools Network in schools promoting healthy eating and caring for our environment, and as SBC allotment mentor to promote and encourage greater allotment use.

I am a passionate supporter of Fordhall, and of community land ownership. Having been involved with Fordhall almost from the start and having, a desire to see young people assisted to stay in farming. I feel I can offer the benefits of my management and lecturing background and my vision for the future to help carry Fordhall forward towards its bold and exciting objectives.

Tim Hobbs

Princes Trust, Shrewsbury.

I have lived in and around Shropshire for 40 years. I first became aware of Fordhall Farm when living near Market Drayton in the mid 1980s. Through my work as the Business support Manager of The Prince's Trust in Shropshire, I was approached by Charlotte and Ben in early 2004 for help from The Trust to re-stock the farm. I was immediately impressed by their determination and when asked to sit on the intermediate Board, I was happy to do so. I have 30 years experience of working in the finance industry and would be happy to sit on the new Board, if elected.

Bryan Hunt

Having gained professional qualifications in building early in my career in the construction industry in my home town of Bristol, in my late twenties I completed full-time teacher training and became a lecturer in building subjects at Twickenham College of Technology. A few years later I became head of the Construction Department at South Devon College where I ended my career as Executive Director of Estate Management.

As a member of the Soil Association and an enthusiastic organic gardener, I have a strong determination to see Fordhall Farm become established as a pioneering organic farm once again, with Charlotte and Ben following their father’s example. I am pleased to have been able to help the Fordhall Community Land Initiative as an Interim Board member and behind the scenes on different practical projects.

As we are all now becoming increasingly aware, the long-term healthy survival of mankind and our planet depends in large part on the way we manage our farming and food production. I firmly believe that Fordhall Farm as a re-established, thriving organic farm under the leadership of Ben and Charlotte, together with the introduction of the proposed education and information centre, will become a shining example not only for the local community, but for the wider community throughout the UK and beyond.

I am very keen to continue to support the Initiative for another year as a Board Member, and to use my experience and knowledge for the benefit of the farm, and in accordance with the wishes of the shareholders.

Jack Tavernor

Land Agent. Nantwich, Cheshire.

I am a qualified chartered surveyor have been a Land agent for nearly 5 years since graduation, working locally for the national firm Strutt and Parker (Land Agents/Surveyors/Property Consultants). I am keen to see a sustainable agricultural industry on a local basis whereby local farms provide a variety of produce, whist promoting rural environmental regeneration and conservation, to match the needs of local people. All of this has to be achievable on a profitable basis to support new entrants and provide more socially acceptable work conditions for farmers.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust

A representative: currently the Development Manager, John Hughes. Shropshire Wildlife Trust hold a number of reserves in the county and do a huge amount of work in education and promoting the value of green space. They are particularly interested in creating examples of farming in partnership with wildlife and biodiversity.

Market Drayton Taste of the Town

A representative: currently their Secretary, Philippa Atkey. The Taste of the Town company is a not-for-profit company based in Market Drayton aiming to reconnect people to their food and the people behind that food.

Fordhall Farm

A representative from the tenant farmer: currently Ben Hollins, he manages the land and livestock at Fordhall Farm and is keen to promote the business as sustainable and educational.

 

-----------------------

A huge thank you must go to everyone who helped ensure that 2006 was such a successful year. We all are looking forward to another exciting year of farming, events and meeting more friends.

We realy hope you are able to visit Fordhall Farm in the near future and see what you have helped to save for everyone to enjoy.

_________

Fordhall Community Land Initiative
is registered in England and Wales as an Industrial and Provident Society. Reg No. 30030R.
It is registered with Inland Revenue as a Charity Ref no. XR1119
Our Society Rules can be downloaded HERE

Fordhall Farm, Tern Hill Road,
Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3PS
T: 01630 638696 E: project@fordhallfarm.com

Supported By:

The administration for this project is part-funded by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) of the EU, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) through the Northern Marches - England Leader + Programme.