Cottage Field Update
September 16, 2025
The fight to regain Cottage Field remains live and active!
We have been made aware that the Healey family who own Cottage Field at Fordhall Farm wish to sell – and possibly soon!
With the new push for housing from central government, we understand that the owners wish to realise the development potential of this land, and as such are seeking buyers off-market, and outside of the agricultural sector. But, we are not giving up!
This field has been part of the Fordhall Farmstead for centuries. In 2006, when 128-acres were placed into community-ownership, the12-acres of Cottage Field was not included in the sale.
It has remained a priority of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative - and our 8,000 members - to regain this land ever-since. We want to preserve its organic heritage and support our tenant farmer, by providing enough land to support his livelihood on the land and the Foggage farming system that the late Arthur Hollins created.
Moreover, by placing Cottage Field into community-ownership we will be able to expand the delivery of our community, social and conservation projects onsite, that together support thousands of local people within our community. Fordhall is nothing without its partnership between, soil, people and planet.
As an agricultural field the land could be valued in the region of £200,000+, but if it had potential for housing or industrial use, then you can easily add an additional zero – taking us up to a mammoth £2m!
We are relieved that at present, no planning application has been accepted on the land and it currently sits outside of the Shropshire Local Development Plan. With access issues and an oil pipeline running through the centre of it, any development will be severely compromised.
We continue to put ourselves on the radar of the land owners and remind them that we are here and we wish to purchase the field. We will continue to pursue this and, in the meantime, we hold all the funds donated by our members ring-fenced to support this journey.
If anyone thinks they can help us on this quest, please do let us know. Regaining Cottage Field and safeguarding its future, is an absolute priority for us.
If you would like to donate or sign our petition of support to regain this field, then please go to
www.fordhallfarm.com/cottage-field
