How the Hollins Family fought to save Fordhall and developed a unique community method of community involvement to secure its future.

1990's - 2003

Development Pressures

As a result of development pressures, in the early 1990s the Hollins family were faced with numerous legal battles to stay at the farm. Fifteen years of continuous struggle took its toll on Arthur and his second wife, Connie, both financially and physically. Although Arthur’s eyes always lit up when talking about his passions, he became exhausted by the constant fight to stay at the family home and the farm became dilapidated.

In the sumer of 2003 court battles came to an end and the family started to accept that Fordhall could not be saved and their small family farm would be lost to development.

By a stroke of luck they met Mike Kay, a visiting entrpreneur who convinced them that all was not lost and that Fordhall could be saved. After talking through the families visions for Fordhall he developed a project that would see Fordhall Farm open as an educational and social resource.

However, the family were still facing eviction and the land was still ear marked for development.

The first hurdle to overcome was a forthcoming Public Enquiry investigating the future development of Muller Dairy UK across the land at Fordhall.

Arthur, Connie, Charlotte and Ben Hollins, along with Mike Kay began to gather support for the public enquiry. Letters were sent out to organisations across the country in request that they write a letter of support to the district council, pertitioning against the development of Fordhall Farm based on its organic heritage, and Arthurs national reputation in organic farming.

2004

Security of Tenure

This was amazingly successful but the next hurdle was to gain some form of security of tenure at Fordhall. The current tenancy was due to expire in march 2004, and there was no money left to pay court fees.

After months of negotiating and only two days before the family were due to be evicted Arthur’s youngest children, Charlotte and Ben, were granted a new short-term lease (18 months) for the farm in March 2004, despite being only 21 and 19 years of age at the time.

This was an unbelieveable break through after all the years of fighting to hold on to Fordhall by the family. However, it was still not safe. The tenancy was only for 18 months and the landowners still had the intention of selling.

New Business

The fragile situation didn’t daunt the brother and sister team and they concentrated all their efforts on repairing the farm and making it viable once more. They understood the importance of their fathers work and were adamant that the decades of research and compassionate management at Fordhall would not be lost to development.

They began with a vision to open Fordhall as an educational and social resource promoting all the ideas Arthur Hollins had spent his life working towards. Mike Kay emigrated to Germany and the two were left to find their way and to develop a method or structure that would allow this project to succeed.

They began with very few livestock, very little capital but a huge amount of determination and enthusiasm. A small farm shop in a lean to on the side of the Farmhouse selling their own frozen meats from a small chest freezer was the first stage of opening Fordhall.

Involving People

This business slowly grew as did their stock levels. From the outset there was a core group of supporters, many of whom were old school and university friends. They gave up time to assist the new tenant farmers in both practical and professional ways. It was clear to all that Fordhall Farm was an essential asset and to lose it would be devastating to many.

The business was later able to move into an old farm building with the help of many volunteers and a lot of sweat and energy. This building was full to the brim with rotten wood and rusty metal. It was emptied, cleaned, repointed, re-roofed, had windows fitted, a door made, electrics fitted, painted and furnished, all with the amazing assistance of dedicated volunteers - Fordhall was alread beginning to be a community activity and people were already travelling from all over the country to help.

The first open day was held in October 2004, it was a family art day as part of the National Big Draw fortnight. The next event was a Christmas Food and Gift Fair. Both events brought the community to Fordhall and help to revive the energy the farm had lost over the years of delapidation.

Charlotte and Ben knew where they wanted to get to, but they did not know how to get there. They tried to involve as many people as possible from the outset in the hope that a solution would come their way...

2005

Creating a Structure

After much personal campaigning and sheer stubbornness by Charlotte and Ben not to accept defeat, the effort to make a serious attempt at purchasing the farm evolved into a key community group meeting in February 2005. This was attended by 26 skilled lcoal people who all shared an interest in the future of Fordhall Farm, from conserving the natural landscape and organic heritage, to realising the educational potential. The meeting was incredibly inspiring and a unanimous decision was made to save Fordhall Farm and turn it back into the buzzing environment that it once was. This was the kind of committed involvement the Hollins Family needed to move forward.

Months of intense work followed, supported by many individuals and organisations who offered invaluable advice for free. The volunteer group expanded rapidly and regular Working Weekends were organised to bring the farm back into an attractive state. Smaller events had been hosted in 2004 but the first large-scale event was a Family Fun Day in May 2005, which attracted over 2000 visitors.

The results from the community meeting in February, were collated and organised into a structure that could allow the project to progress. It was evident from the start that neither Charlotte or Ben would be able to raise a mortgage on the freehold. Together with the inflated land price associated with its hope value, the pair were facing the same problem as many tenant family farmers. They were fortunate enough to meet Greg Pilley and Martin Large who run the Community Farm Land Trust Project from Stroud, Gloucestershire. They were trying to find solutions for just this problem and offered to help save Fordhall Farm. It was with their expert help and support that the legal structure for the Fordhall Community Land Initiative was created. The first of its kind in the UK it married the interests of the community, the farmer and the environment. It was the perfect solution for Fordhall.

Tenancy and security

The initial tenancy was due to expire in September 2005, but during that summer the land owners offered a one year extension to Charlotte and Ben. They also voiced their intention to sell Fordhall by the end of this extension in September 2006.

As a result of the commitment shown and the progress made by all at Fordhall, first refusal was offered.

First refusal now lies with the Fordhall Community Land Initiative if it can raise £800,000 by JULY 1ST 2006.

The Fordhall Community Land Initiative structure (as an Industrial and Provident Society and exempt charity) was officially launched in September 2005. Things have continued to move along at an exhilarating pace, there are now hundreds of volunteers and shareholders (non profit making) from all over the country. It is hoped that by selling shares in the Initiative, the project will grow, more people and organisations will become involved and Fordhall will be secured and owned by the community; allowing it to be opened as an educational and social resource helping to reconnect people to nature, food and the land.

This is the unique vehicle that people are buying into, which has saved the Hollins' family farm, and which has allowed their vision and yours to be realised.

 

More info on Fordhalls History 1929-1990

 

Fordhall Community Land Initiative Home Page