Announcing a new farm for the community!

A Devon farm is gifted to the Community!

Fordhall Organic Farm, near Market Drayton became England’s first community owned farm back in 2006. The Fordhall Community Land Initiative as the Society that owns the farm It is set to double in size thanks to the generous gift of a second farm. The farm being gifted is not in Shropshire, but incredibly is 200 miles away in Devon. West Town Farm, near Exeter is a 170-acre organic beef and sheep enterprise. Like Fordhall, they share similar values prioritising Regenerative practices, healthy soil and wildlife habitats. They will continue to expand the heart of their rural community, with the plan for the farm’s ownership to pass to the Fordhall Community Land Initiative in the early part of 2027.

West Town Farm owner, Andy Bragg has been a Fordhall shareholder from the start and has watched it develop, making several visits. When planning for West Town Farm's future, Andy’s options naturally included Fordhall. The common ethos of the two farms makes the distance between them almost irrelevant. West Town owner Andy Bragg said “Farms should be at the heart of rural communities, which is why I’ve encouraged local people to make use of West Town Farm. As I approach retirement, I wanted to ensure these links continued, which is why I decided to gift my Farm to Fordhall Community Land Initiative.”

‍

‍

The History of West Town

West Town Farm has been owned by the Church of England for centuries. The Bragg family have been tenants since 1955, and Andy Bragg was offered the opportunity to buy it in 2022. Andy took over the tenancy in 1982 and farm turned organic in 1992. Meat produced is sold via a farm shop on site and online. Andy Bragg is the third generation of his family to farm West Town Farm as tenants, and it was under his guardianship that the farm became organic in 1992.

‍

The tenant farmers are Kate Sharp and Simon Higgins farm a herd of Hereford beef cattle, Devon Close wool and Exmoor Horn sheep who graze on 100% grass, hay and silage all year long. As well as species rich pasture, bordered by wild hedgerows, they also have orchards and a woodland. A benefit of community ownership can be to the tenant farmer. Modern tenancies are often short term (5 years or less) at Fordhall the tenant has a 100-yearagreement which allows investment for time, energy and money in the business and similar arrangements can be made at West Town to safeguard livelihoods on the land.

‍

West Town encourage visitors to the farm by walking the farm trail, where you can pass through many different habitats and see regenerative farming in action. The farm is very much part of the local community, with regular open days, barn dances, school visits and weddings, a permissive path. West Town host a number of community activities in arts, community gardening, camping, weddings and community events all sit alongside a farm shop. Andy is passionate about West Town Farm, its place in the local community and the land’s organic future. He doesn’t have children, and has been thinking about securing the farm’s long term future for some time. He has now decided to gift West Town Farm to an organisation that shares his values and that will protect it for generations to come.

‍

Fordhall Community Land Initiative

Fordhall sits on the edge of Market Drayton, Shropshire. Rooted in generations of tenant farmers, Fordhall Farm was founded by the Hollins family. Arthur Hollins was an organic pioneer, turning the farm organic in the 1940s. In 2005 the family was threatened with eviction by their distant landlord, with the farm disappearing under industrial development. A national campaign raised enough money to buy the 126 acres and in 2006 it became England’s first community owned farm thanks to 8000 non-profit shareholders. Since then it has thrived. Fordhall's history of resilience has shaped a powerful example for conversion and community-led farming in the K. Not only that, it has enriched communities by creating meaningful relationships and connections between people and the natural world.

‍

‍

Fordhall Organic Farm was saved from development in 2006 thanks to funds raised by 8000 shareholders, who together form the Community Benefit Society ‘Fordhall Community Land Initiative’.

‍

Tenant farmer, Ben Hollins (Arthur Hollins’ son), sells organic meat in a farm shop and runs a successful catering business. As the tenant at Fordhall Farm, his farming sits comfortably alongside other projects run by the Fordhall Community Land Initiative, including Care Farming, a youth project, educational visits, social prescribing, farm trails, glamping, weddings and a café for the numerous farm visitors. Charlotte Hollins (Arthur Hollins’ daughter) is General Manager of Fordhall Community Land Initiative. Her role also includes consultancy, supporting many other land-based organisations to become community-owned.  Charlotte is also one of seven community leaders leading the We’re Right Here Campaign for a Community Power Act.  

‍

‍

 Charlotte Hollins, General Manager at Fordhall Community Land Initiative

‍“The similarities between West Town Farm and Fordhall are striking. Both are organic, pasture-for-life livestock farms and have community at our heart. We both want to show a different direction for farming and understand the importance of retaining those connections to the land both within our communities as well as the soil. We have also both been described as slightly quirky, different and even crack-pot at times! Dad (late Arthur Hollins) and Andy are such similar characters.”

‍

“The charitable structure of Fordhall Community Land Initiative means that the amazing work begun by Andy in Devon can be continued and secured well into the future, alongside the work of Dad, at Fordhall. Both with local people fully involved in the process” explained Charlotte. Transfer of the farm won’t happen until 2027 to allow legal and governance structures to be finalised. Existing staff at West Town, including Andy will all remain to continue the wonderful work nurturing both the farm and local community.  The Fordhall Community Land Initiative will be on-hand to support and guide the team using nearly 20 years of experience in community farm ownership.  

‍

“I suppose some people will think it’s strange to give my farm away. I don’t want West Town to be gobbled up by some giant agri-business. What I care about is that the farm’s place in the community and locality. I want the farm to benefit everyone and I know that giving it to Fordhall Community Land Initiative will ensure this happens. Fordhall’s values are strongly aligned and gifting West Town to Fordhall will protect West Town’s mission and values. Although we are 200 miles apart, the synergy between us means are both on the same path. Learning together, supporting each other and playing a part in our local communities. Whether that is hosting school visits, art groups or barn dances etc, and the local community will always be welcome.” said Andy.

‍

‍

Join the journey!

Fordhall Community Land Initiative and West Town Farm may be 200 miles apart, but the links between the two farms are remarkable. The community-ownership approach that has allowed Fordhall to thrive for 20 years will be adopted at West Town, with tweaks to respect local conditions. The charitable Community Benefit Society status enjoyed by Fordhall Community Land Initiative can be extended to West Town Farm, allowing new opportunities to be pursued and even more openings for people to become involved in farm life.

Get involved in the journey, join Fordhall and West Town's mission to nurture land, community and a healthier future. Find out more on our website where you can hear from Andy himself, as well as exciting ways you can be part of their future. Please visit www.fordhallfarm.com/devon-farm

‍

Ashleigh Buick, Marketing and Communications Officer

‍

‍