England's first community-owned farm
Visit Fordhall Organic Farm
In Market Drayton, north Shropshire, we are England’s first community-owned farm
1 farmer, 8,000 landlords
Over 8,000 people already own Fordhall Organic Farm.
They are ordinary people who care about community, nature and the future of farming in our country.
To celebrate 20 years in community-ownership, we are launching a new share offer so you can join them too!
We want to grow a movement of Citizens, Farmers and Landowners all with equal voice and power, supporting agroecological farming systems across the country.
The Fordhall Community Land Initiative is looking to welcome 1,000 new community shareholders to help shape the future of land-ownership - and you could be one of them! Read on...
Community-owned, Family-run
In 2006, over 8,000 people worldwide supported siblings Charlotte and Ben Hollins to save their tenanted farm and family home from industrial development.
Led by the Hollins' and a team of dedicated volunteers, the Fight for Fordhall Farm gathered momentum. Sting, HRH Prince Charles (at the time) and others all lent support. The Telegraph, Guardian, Observer, Country Living Magazine and BBC covered the story.
2026 marks an incredible 20 years in community-ownership. We are still here, still successful, still having fun and still with 8,000 community shareholders leading the way.
Our members wish us to influence the movement further, using our learning and experience to support more farms into community-ownership, and connecting an even wider community to food, farms and our natural landscapes.
The Tenant Farmer, Ben Hollins
Following the dedication and passion of the late, Arthur Hollins, Fordhall Farm has been chemical free since the 1940s.
Arthur's son, Ben, grew up at Fordhall Organic Farm with sister, Charlotte, they (but mostly Ben) are now tenant farmers to the community, following in the footsteps of their late father.
Ben has a 100-year tenancy from the Fordhall Community Land Initiative (and its 8,000+ members). He manages Fordhall's livestock, farm shop, pastures (Foggage Farming) and a fleet of catering trailers, with a wonderful staff team behind him. He runs his own business and pays rent to the Fordhall Community Land Initiative - two independent enterprises sharing the land and working in partnership with each other. Simple!
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