Meet the siblings
Ben and Charlotte Hollins are currently the tenant farmers of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative (FCLI). They have a 100-year tenancy agreement which started in September 2006, following the farms pioneering move into community ownership.
The siblings grew up at Fordhall as did their father, Arthur Hollins, and many generations before them.
Taking on the tenancy
When the siblings reached the end of their time in education and wondering what they were going to do with the rest of their lives, regenerating Fordhall and continuing Arthur's organic legacy, was the perfect job.
Together, they took over the tenancy at Fordhall in 2004 from their father, Arthur. A tenancy granted to them only 24-hours before the family were due to be evicted! Due to the legal battles and eviction notices the family had faced in the 14-years previous, Ben and Charlotte inherited a mere 11 cows, 6 pigs and 6 sheep and a very neglected and run down farm.
Ben's story
They began to rebuild the farm business by selling their produce direct to consumers and 12-months later, with the help of friend Sophie, they instigated the campaign to save the farm from development forever, with the support and involvement of the community. Arthur sadly passed away in 2005, but supported by mum, Connie, the siblings, together with Sophie and a willing band of volunteers carried on with passion and vigour.
In 2006, 8,000 members of the community purchased Fordhall, forming the FCLI and earning Fordhall the title of England’s first community-owned farm!
As an agricultural graduate from Harper Adams University, Ben's dream had always been to farm the land at Fordhall as Arthur, his father, had done. Thanks to the efforts of the wider community, Ben now leases Fordhall Organic Farm, some buildings and the farmhouse from the FCLI, residing on-site with his family (Marie-Anne, Jamie, Izzy and Lily). Ben, as the working tenant farmer, manages the livestock, farm shop, hog roasts and his growing event catering business, with a wonderful staff team behind him.
These businesses are managed commercially, and the takings allow him to pay rent to the FCLI, the charitable and community organisation that owns the land.
Ben and Charlotte have a 100-year farm business tenancy agreement with succession rights for Ben's or Charlotte's children if they would like to carry on the tenancy.
In the event that their children decide not to inherit the tenancy (or don't prove themselves to be good tenants), the FCLI will provide another long-term tenancy to other young people entering the agricultural industry, with the condition that the land remain organic and continues to have community access. Thereby securing Fordhall's future as a working organic farm for generations to come.
Charlotte’s story
Charlotte, along with Ben, firmly believed that Fordhall had an atmosphere and history that could not be lost and a huge potential that was just waiting to be unlocked.
Having fought hard to save their family home from development, Charlotte settled into her dream job managing the FCLI as their General Manager.
This structure provides accessible land to new and young farmers entering the industry, like Ben and Charlotte.
Long-term tenancies are becoming more difficult to come by as landowners become wary of tying up their land for long periods of time, thus removing the potential to sell it for future development.
When placing the farm into community ownership, the tenants are given complete security of tenure and know that the work they put into the land will help future generations of farmers after them. Simultaneously, the community know that this farm will be there for future generations to enjoy, visit, learn and buy fresh local produce from.
Charlotte is passionate about communities connecting with nature, our landscape and the nutritious food it provides. Her work guiding the Fordhall Community Land Initiative as the General Manager, supports this journey for us all.
In-line with the FCLI's commitment to inspire others, Charlotte offers consultancy to other land-based community groups across the country who want to learn from Fordhall and follow in our footsteps.
With this in mind, Charlotte and Ben published a book in 2007, The Fight for Fordhall Farm, which charts their lives at Fordhall from childhood to community-ownership. The book was sold in bookstores across the country and there was even a musical based on it, which toured Shropshire in 2008.
Charlotte is also one of the Community Leaders driving forward the campaign for a Community Power Act.