Olivia Oldham, Farming for the Future
This report investigates alternative models for the ownership of farmland. It has been co-produced by four organisations: Stir to Action, Shared Assets, The Ecological Land Co-op, and the Community Supported Agriculture Network UK. They have worked together to explore the strengths and weaknesses of available models and to begin mapping the alternatives.
It arose from an initial phase in which we examined how family farm succession - the process by which family farmers retire and contemplate selling - could be essential to preserving agricultural land and opening up new channels for democratic ownership. Report recommendations will be useful to those with an interest in, as well as finance and funding for, the development of agroecological farming using community and democratic ownership models.
The report also provides helpful information for organisations seeking to secure farmland through a community buyout and Community Land Trusts (CLTs) who wish to secure land for food production and/or for housing. The common thread that runs through the exploration is the role and idea of Land Trusts (formal or informal), and their potential for increasing the amount of farmland held, sustainably and in perpetuity, under democratic ownership in England.
The work is divided into four streams, each of which is covered in more detail within a separate Briefing Paper, each of which can be accessed via the relevant link below.
Dan Woolley and Dr Nicola Scott | Stir to Action
This paper explores how to increase the capacity and ensure the long-term sustainability of Agroecological Farmland Trusts. In common with other organisations and actors in the broader agroecology sector as the other briefing in this report discusses, access to finance and funding remains a critical challenge.
Dan Woolley | Stir to Action & Oli Rodker, Ecological Land Cooperative
This paper addresses issues of housing provision that are limiting the expansion of Agroecological Farmland Trusts, acting as a barrier to them taking on family farms as part of a retiring farmer’s succession plan, and acting as a barrier to new landworkers entering farming.
Mark Walton | Shared Assets
The term Enterprise Stacking has gained traction in the last few years and is commonly used to describe two different things. Firstly, a farm which has diversified and “stacked" different enterprises but all under one farm business. The second meaning of the term, and the one this briefing focuses on, is where a farmer or landowner “stacks” different enterprises on the land, but each enterprise is owned by a different person, hosting a number of different businesses which support each other and the host farm.
Suzy Russell | Community Supported Agriculture Network
This briefing plugs a research gap into the factors that support successful community farmland buyouts, facilitating an increase in buyouts and safeguarding land for all of us effectively as commons, now, and into the future. It links to the Finance briefing paper as providing one approach to finance the purchase of farmland.
Suzy Russell | Community Supported Agriculture Network
New Models for Farm Succession is new project from a consortium led by Stir to Action and Shared Assets working with family farm owners and community food initiatives to explore how family farmland can be part of long-term efforts to create more food security in the UK, through selling or transferring to local co-operatives. This new approach to succession planning focusses on the social, cultural, and financial considerations for both family farmers and community food initiatives through a series of workshops, options reports, and new financial models for land transfer. The project will:
The value of family farms is clear within our national economy and food supply, and this project will focus on ensuring financial security for retiring farmers and long-term access to farm land for community food initiatives. With a new rush to acquire land for non-farming initiatives – such as carbon offsetting and private rewilding – this pilot will support the farming community to secure a future for food production in the UK.
New Models for Farm Succession is a pilot programme to support family farm owners who are interested in retaining farmland in food production, open to a patient process of selling to a community buyer, and are ready to start succession planning over the next year*.If you’re a family farmer and interested in finding out more about our support offer, take a look at the information below and fill out our Expression of Interest form.
Are you prepared to sell farm land at a market value that allows it to remain in food production?
Are you open to a patient process that could involve a community buyer?
Are you looking to sell your farm in the next 2-7 years?
Are you ready to receive support on succession and commit further time to the planning process?
Can you be available for a series of short interviews, diagnostic sessions, and work with our team on an options report, which will outline your potential sale scenarios?
Do you have support and or interest from family and farm business members to engage in this work, and are you prepared to involve them in decisions and discussions about the sale or transfer of farm land?
A bespoke 'options' reports for family farms
We will work with you to create an options report for your future farm sale.
A participation budget
We can offer up to £500 stipend for participation in our sessions.
A diagnostic workshop
We will use a diagnostic session to focus on the particular financial and legal needs of your potential farm sale.
Residential workshop
We will host a residential session for five family farm owners to further work on your succession planning and to share experiences.
Joint workshop
We will host a residential workshop where you can engage potential community buyers and explore how to make the process work for both parties.
Financial Modelling
We’ll work with financial specialists to create a bespoke financial model for your farm. You’ll also receive training on how to use the model from our finance partner.
Roughly 12 days of time over 12 months/ or from May to October 2022
1 day a month on average
Some activities will require consecutive days of time (eg events)
This is a two-stage application process, starting with a simple Expression of Interest to register with our team. Fill out the form below , then we follow up with more information about the second stage.
Applications Closed
New Models for Farm Succession is a pilot programme to support linkages between family farm owners who are interested in retaining farmland in food production and community groups who are looking to buy land to produce food*.
We are also aware that there are some community groups who have already been through this process, and have valuable insights and experiences to offer. If you’re keen to find out more, or would like to express interest in joining the programme, please email farming@stirtoaction.com.
By the end of August 2022 (possibly sooner), we expect to have selected the community groups that will take part in the programme. All participating groups will receive a stipend, to cover the cost of your time in joining roundtable discussions, workshops and other research.
If you’re a community group and interested in finding out more about our support offer, take a look at the information below and fill out our Expression of Interest form.
*There is no obligation to buy land as part of this process.
Please note, this is an exploratory process and it is highly unlikely that it will end up with you actually purchasing land as we are unlikely to match potential buyers and sellers geographically. However, it will give you a viable model which you can share with local farmers who may be looking at their own succession plans.
This is a loose term designed to capture several different perspectives. We’re keen to work with you if you are part of a group or organistion that includes (but not limited to):
An interest group that is unincorporated (a community of interest, geography, practice or identity)
Community business
Democratic business
Co-operative
Social enterprise
Anyone looking for land for agroecological commercial farming who has an interest or is actively involved in a purpose driven venture.
Fordhall Organic Farm, in Market Drayton, north Shropshire, is England’s first community-owned farm following a high profile campaign in 2006. At the time over 8,000 people across the world supported siblings Charlotte and Ben Hollins to save their family home. Now owned by the community and farmed by Ben Hollins, Fordhall is a wonderful example of community spirit and real organic farming.
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Stockwood in Worcestershire includes 190 acres of land. The farm has a breeding flock of 200 Lleyn sheep, and a herd of 30 pure-bred traditional Hereford cattle. The animals are kept to the highest animal welfare standards and treated with homeopathy as a preventative measure. The farm also produces 30 acres of cereals.To secure this exceptional land free from pesticides and artificial fertilizers for future generations, the Parsons family came up with a unique solution. They have transformed the farm ownership from privately owned into the hands of the community and anybody that likes can now co-own a piece of a beautiful piece of farmland in Worcestershire.
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