Farm Diversity - Issue 10 - Winter Edition

FARMDIVERSITY

MAGAZINE

SUPPORTING FARM INNOVATION

IGNITING INNOVATION AND GROWTH: FARM BUSINESS INNOVATION 2023

VIEW DIGITAL VERSION:

ISSUE 10 WINTER 2023

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MAGAZINE

Photographed at Roby Mill Farm Pumpkin Patch

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EDITOR’S letter

Hello all and welcome to Farm Diversity magazine.

In this edition we’re building up to the Farm Business Innovation Show - a great event for rural entrepreneurs to offer their services and find new products.

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ALL INFORMATION CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING LIVE. PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL ADVERTISER’S WEBSITES FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. Farm Diversity - Supporting Farm Innovation 10 Ashfield Road, Chorley, PR7 1LJ Tel: 01257 267677 Fax: 01257 267711 MANAGING DIRECTOR Emma Hatherall EDITOR Nick Lavigueur: nick@euromediaal.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Elle Creamer SALES Nichola Newton PRODUCTION MANAGER Sheila Helm Farm Diversity magazine would like to thank the advertisers that appear in this publication for their support and wish them continued success.

Farm Diversity is an independent publication and has no affiliation with any other organisation.

The views expressed in Farm Diversity do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, Euromedia Associates Ltd and its employees.

Similarly the efficacy of any products and services featured are the sole responsibility of the supplier / manufacturer.

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e love partnering with such an inspirational event dedicated to empowering farmers, landowners and agricultural professionals with the knowledge and tools to drive innovation, diversification, and growth in their businesses. It brings together industry experts, suppliers and thought leaders to create a dynamic platform for learning, networking and discovering new opportunities.

There’s a chance you’re reading this already at the show, but if not you’ll find the trade event at the NEC on November 15/16. We’ll see you there - come and say hi to our sales team who’ll be happy to talk to you all about what we can do to assist your business.

As you’ll see in this tenth edition of our magazine, we can create great features about the ever-growing array of diversification ideas. Some of the highlights in this issue include our Real Farm feature which brings you the tragic tale of a widowed West Yorkshire farmer who had to diversify to avoid financial ruin and the prospect of losing a roof over her head for her and her four young children.

We also have mind-blowing news on how those pesky flies can actually help you save money, and even make money.

You can also read about the innovative process of anaerobic digestion, which can turn farm waste into power. It is explained by a new company looking for farmers to get involved.

And of course we have pages and pages of new products and services to help your diversification businesses from holiday park accommodation and attractions to agri-business ideas or vital legal and financial information.

If you have any feedback on the magazine you can talk to us at the show or email me - nick@euromediaal.com.

Have a good winter and we’ll see you in 2024!

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IN THIS ISSUE...

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The rise of on-farm AD: 7 benefits of biogas For today’s modern farmer, sustainability is at the heart of agricultural best practice.

But balancing a reduction in carbon emissions with the need for profit isn’t always easy.

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Five ways to make your event more sustainable: In today’s climate, you can’t afford not to be looking at ways of making your event more sustainable.

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Reconnecting with Nature: The Value of Natural Playgrounds: In our increasingly digital and urbanised world, farms have a remarkable opportunity to reignite our connection with nature.

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Diversification born from family tragedy leads to success: West Yorkshire farm widow reveals how she used her land to keep her farm afloat.

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REGULARS 6

Industry News

16

Product Showcase

18

Seasonal Events

22

Farm Attractions

26

The Farm Business Innovation Show

30

Setting Up a Holiday Park

36

Renewable Energy

38

Finance

40

Insurance

42

Minerals

43

Agricultural Buildings

44

Asbestos

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Storage

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Real Experiences

50

Legal Services

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Best pick your own farms shortlisted for national awards

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Surge in solar panel thefts prompts security warning

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Property investors clamour for farmyard land

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Farmers and landowners urged to exorcise the pumpkin-picking pitfalls of Halloween

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Nuffield Scholars to focus on farm diversification opportunities

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How insect tech can add value to a farming concern

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Farming Scandinavian Saunas

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Staycation desire fuelling demand for shepherd huts

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Farmers and landowners invited to unlock income opportunities through innovative wilder camping project

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Investing in Natural Capital - Akre diversifying into trees

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Avoid common pitfalls when reclaiming VAT on the purchase of double cab pick- ups

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Glamping gain for farmers after washout summer

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White asbestos on farms: how to spot, manage and dispose of it

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The benefits of diversifying into providing storage solutions

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Changes to Inheritance Tax rules on property assets within EEA, Isle of Man and Channel Islands

Front Cover Image courtesy of Tentipi Picture Credit: Katie Purling mycolourfulworld

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FEATURES

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Best pick your own farms shortlisted for national awards The first category finalists have been announced for next year’s Farm Retail Awards

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inalists in the pick your own (PYO) category of the Farm Retail Awards have been revealed, almost six months ahead of the big day.

The category has been judged earlier than others in the awards in order for the judging to take place at the height of the PYO season, allowing the visits to take place at the peak time of year for these businesses.

Two of the finalists hail from Yorkshire and one is from Worcestershire.

The shortlisted entrants are: • Bells Farm Shop, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire.

• Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

• Horsforth Pick Your Own, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

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Chairman of the Farm Retail Association, Emma Mosey said: “The standard of entries has been incredible. We look forward to seeing entrants from all remaining categories now, and celebrating the very best in the business at our awards ceremony next March. Good luck to all of our finalists!”

The remaining categories are now open and other finalists will be announced at the

end of the year. These include: • Large Farm Shop of the Year – sponsored by Cunninghams EPOS Group • Small Farm Shop of the Year – sponsored by The Cress Co. • Farm Cafe/Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Arrange Spaces • Farm Shop Butchery of the Year – sponsored by Angel Refrigeration • Rising Star Award – sponsored by Fieldfare • Farmers Market of the Year – sponsored by Dole • Associate Member of the Year • Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by CSY Retail Systems Finalists will be showcased at an Awards Gala Dinner held in March on a date and venue to be announced.

All members of the Farm Retail Association are eligible to enter the awards free of charge.

To find out more about joining the Farm Retail Association, contact FRA Manager, Laura Copeland on 01423 546214 or e-mail lauraj@farmretail.co.uk

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Innovative Leisure help Haven capitalise on guest experience trends for active family fun with the launch of 25 new adventure attractions over the last 3 years Leicester, UK – October 2023 – Innovative Leisure, the UK’s leading supplier of freeroaming high ropes courses, has extended their strategic partnership with Haven Holiday Parks, with the launch of 3 new projects and a new Service Contract in recent months.

ince installing their first adventure attraction in Spring 2019, the total number of Innovative Leisure attractions has grown to over 25 across 19 out of the 38 parks in the Haven estate. As well as representing a significant milestone, it reinforces the trend that both guests and operators are favouring active, shared experiences that can be enjoyed by young families and thrill seekers alike.

As one of the largest parks in the Haven estate and having recently received significant phased investment over recent years, Haven Cleethorpes Beach, near Cleethorpes, UK was an ideal candidate for an exciting expansion to their activities offering. In summer 2022, Haven opted to commission two new ropes courses at Cleethorpes Beach to challenge and delight their guests and caravan owners.

The Aerial Adventure Max high ropes course caters for guests over 1m in height accompanied and 1.2m in height unaccompanied. Towering at over 10m tall across two levels and featuring a variety of challenges, including zip lines, rope bridges, and suspended platforms.

Meanwhile, the Mini Aerial Adventure junior low ropes course offers a more family- friendly experience for younger guests to enjoy with their parents enabling Haven to cater for the full age range of their audience demographic.

Since the launch of the new ropes courses, Haven Cleethorpes Beach has seen more people on park than ever before and a significant uplift in a number of their

you’re a business that’s looking at trying something different, looking to expand, certainly in terms of the high ropes courses, I would recommend Innovative Leisure.”

Commenting on the partnership with Haven, Phil Pickersgill, Managing Director at Innovative Leisure, said: “We have worked hard to help Haven develop adventure attractions over recent years and it’s satisfying to see their customers enjoying these at so many locations this summer.

“With the cost-of-living pressure on families, it’s been interesting to see revenue on leisure activities perform well this season even if spending on other areas of their holiday has retreated slightly. We think this reinforces the importance of experiences and parent’s willingness to spend on outdoor activities.”

This project follows 27 other adventure attractions installed across the Haven Estate, including 9 climbing walls, 6 high ropes courses and 12 low ropes courses across 19 parks, including a first-of-itskind double zip line element at Haven Haggerston.

For more information, please visit our website or contact Phil Pickersgill at phil.p@innovativeleisure.co.uk.

Images courtesy of Innovative Leisure

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key performance metrics, including guest satisfaction, revenue and footfall. This is a strong indicator that active, collaborative activities that families can share and enjoy together are an ever-increasing priority for holidaymakers, despite a tough year economically, as Matt Batey, Head of Activities at Haven Cleethorpes Beach, elaborates: “One of the things we have seen is a huge increase in our NPS results since the investment of the Aerial Max course, so not only are we seeing a huge uptake in terms of our revenue in our sales on park, but we are also seeing a much better and improved satisfaction rate from our guest and our owners.”

As with all their clients and projects, the Innovative Leisure team looks after the whole process - from initial planning and scoping, through install to full staff training, annual inspections and ongoing maintenance.

“Innovative Leisure have been fantastic in terms of communication and the way in which they’ve held our relationship” said Matt Batey, Head of Activities at Haven Cleethorpes Beach. “They’ve always been at the end of the phone to support and talk through anything that they can help us with. But in addition to that, they’ve continued to provide the training and the support that we need to make sure we operate to the best that we can do. If

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Surge in solar panel thefts prompts security warning A rise in solar crime should act as a call to action for eco-conscious landowners to check their security and insurance, an expert has warned.

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eorge Pratt, of rural insurance broker, Lycetts, issued the advice after police figures revealed a 48 per cent rise in solar panel and cabling theft from 2021 to 2022.

“Thefts are not limited to large-scale and commercial

solar farms,” he said.

“Increased energy prices, the ‘cost of living’ crisis, and the fact that properties with solar panels attract eco-conscious buyers, have contributed to a growth in residential solar panel installations.”

Image courtesy of iStock

Homeowners typically install between 10 and 15 panels, with a value of around £7,000. With more than 1.4 million solar panels already in domestic properties – a figure that is expected to rise – criminals have realised a lucrative opportunity.

Pratt said: “Although copper cabling in the stolen panels can make money for thieves, panels are often easier and quicker to steal, and can be easily advertised online and sold on the black market.”

He has recommended a number of measures that could help deter potential thieves.

These included CCTV cameras, security marking, alarms, security lighting, security

fencing, and anti-climb barriers.

Remote properties in rural areas are particularly vulnerable, especially to opportunistic thieves.

Domestic installations of solar panels are usually considered as ‘permanent home fixtures’ by insurance companies, provided they are located on roof tops, and not on the ground.

Pratt said: “Ensuring you have adequate cover on your existing home insurance policy to cover the cost of replacements should not result in any significant increases for premiums. However, it is important to seek expert advice from an experienced insurer.”

Executive Helen Browning, who hosted the event on her organic farm where she has been running an agroforestry project for seven years, said: “The extraordinary number of people here has shown there’s a real thirst for knowledge on agroforestry from both the traditional forestry and farming sectors. Farming with trees is clearly going to be a huge part of our futures, and never has that been more

evident than this week where we’ve experienced 30-degree heat in September. If our farms are going to be resilient to face the future with happy and healthy animals and crops that grow well then trees are going to be a big part of that, as well as being very useful for reaching our environmental goals. It’s a win win.”

British farms need more trees – consensus among a thousand farmers and foresters at UK’s first agroforestry show

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More than a thousand people backed a “win-win” future of farming with trees for climate and farm resilience at a groundbreaking event organised to boost uptake of agroforestry in the UK.

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eld amid unseasonably high temperatures, the UK’s first ever Agroforestry Show saw “the beginning of change” with consensus across between the 1,200 delegates that trees are key to ensuring food production while tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

The show, organised by the Soil Association and Woodland Trust charities, saw farmers, foresters, researchers,

environmentalists, and policy makers sharing insights and advice on how to help farm businesses benefit from trees.

Eastbrook Farm in Wiltshire hosted two days of workshops and talks covering how agroforestry – combining trees with livestock or crops – can help both arable and pastoral farms to protect livestock, crops, soils, rivers, biodiversity, and climate.

Soil Association Chief

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Property Investors clamour for farmyard land Developers are focusing their efforts on purchasing farms, as over half of farm land plots available in the current market have already been sold and put under offer - the highest demand levels seen across all land types.

Image courtesy of iStock

hat’s according to the latest Land Development Demand Index from Searchland, the development site sourcing specialists.

The research monitors appetites for land plots across England based on the number of available opportunities within the market that have already been snapped up by developers.

The latest index for Q3 shows that 42.7% of total land development opportunities listed in the current market have already been snapped up by developers.

The most in demand land development type in Q3 is farm plots, with 55.3% sold subject to contract or under offer, with interest surging by a substantial 12.4% between the second and third quarters.

Farms can be attractive to developers as they’re less polluted than other land types, while there’s less of a need to demolish buildings if you want to convert the land and in recent times, they have become a popular choice for large logistics warehouses, such as Amazon distribution warehouses.

Other investment opportunities Land only developments also remain popular, with demand at 43.7%, giving investors a clean slate to build what they

want.

After that comes industrial developments, as 37.4% have been purchased, followed by commercial developments, at 36.1%.

The least popular area for investors is residential developments, at 33.8%, which are generally considered safer but can be less lucrative investments.

North East, at 52.4%; the East of England, at 52.6%; and the East Midlands, at 45.5%.

Commercial demand falls Overall demand for development opportunities has fallen by 1.8% between the second and third quarters to stand at 42.7%.

This reduction is driven by falling interest in land only plots, falling by -2.3% quarteron-quarter. Meanwhile there was a -1.5% drop in residential development demand, and a -0.3% reduction for industrial development.

Commercial developments bucked the trend, where demand rose by 1.1% to reach 37.4% in the third quarter.

Co-founder and CEO of Searchland, Mitchell Fasanya, commented: “Farmyard developments are all the rage, and this high demand is being driven by the ability to convert these land plots into large logistical sites such as Amazon warehouses.

“However, growing interest in farms is something of an outlier, as broadly speaking investor demand has cooled since the summer.

“Some are likely put off by difficult market conditions, where high interest rates make it harder to turn a profit when securing finance.

“With demand being more balanced, at least it gives savvy developers more opportunities to haggle on price, potentially making a greater return in the process.”

Regional look While farms are broadly the most popular land type, this is only the case in around half of regions.

These are the South West, with demand at 65.0%; the North West, at 66.7%; the

Industrial developments meanwhile lead the way in the East Midlands, at 61.5%; London, at 38.5%; and Yorkshire and the Humber, at 100%, reflecting how those regions are awash with a plentiful supply of brownfield land ready to be developed.

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Image courtesy of iStock

Farmers and landowners urged to exorcise the pumpkinpicking pitfalls of Halloween The popularity of pick your own (PYO) pumpkin patches has prompted an insurance expert to warn against Halloween surprises of the unwelcome kind.

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n recent years, a growing number of landowners have diversified into PYO pumpkins to capitalise on the family Halloween market.

“It can be a money spinner, but if the requisite insurance cover is not in place, there can also be serious financial consequences,” said Anderson Fossett, of rural insurance broker, Lycetts.

“An abundance of potential hazards are hidden in plain sight, making Public Liability Insurance and thorough risk assessments a must.

“The ground may be uneven, muddy or slippy, and if opening times extend into the dark winter evenings, the risks of slips, trips and injuries intensify.

“If temporary staff are taken on, they too will need adequate protection. Don’t assume that existing Employers’ Liability Insurance Liability for permanent staff will automatically cover those who have been

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hired for a short period.”

In most cases, the public will be visiting working farms, where heavy machinery may be in operation, and where vehicles are visiting and leaving.

“Owners should therefore ensure there is appropriate and visible signage informing visitors of potential hazards, the areas they are permitted to enter, and the paths and routes to use,” said Fossett.

“Lighting should be effective, and it is also a good idea to have CCTV around the property – footage could act as valuable evidence should legal claims be lodged for accidents and injuries.

“Furthermore, PYO enterprises will often offer food and drink, such as hog roasts and barbecues, to enhance the visitor experience.

“Where produce has the potential to inadvertently cause illness amongst customers, liability cover is essential.

This can also offer protection from risks associated with food processing and production undertaken by staff.

“Health and safety standards should be rigorously observed. Operators should also provide allergen information, and ensure hygiene and food preparation regulations are met.”

In addition, Fossett recommends seeking fire safety advice from your local Fire Authority.

“Details of PYO ventures should be discussed with your insurer who will be able to explain all the insurance requirements and legal obligations.

“Pumpkin picking can be a great way for farmers to open up new revenue streams and, done correctly, it should provide a safe, sociable and enjoyable way for families to celebrate the spooky season.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Nuffield Scholars to focus on farm diversification opportunities The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust has announced the appointment of their largest cohort ever with 23 new Scholars for 2024, two of whom will focus on farm diversification for their studies. r Natalie Hepburn runs a smallholding near Cardiff, specialising in producing soaps, shaving products, and skin care products from goats’ milk. With many farms facing pressure to diversify in order to remain viable, Natalie would like to explore existing successful models. She aims to understand the key decisions and considerations required, while also exploring how the farm can maintain control of the supply chain. She will look at farms that have created a product or brand for diversification purposes, to learn about the advantages and disadvantages this has had on the original business.

She hopes to spend most of her time travelling within the UK looking at farm diversifications as well as the USA. David Tavernor runs his own business Fly2Feed, producing black soldier flies to create protein feed for chickens and fertiliser using food waste. Having started his business following a trip to Mexico, he is looking forward to travelling more during his Scholarship to expand his knowledge of insect farming. David hopes to understand how UK farmers could incorporate black soldier fly production into their existing operation to produce their own feed or fertiliser and add value to farm byproducts. He hopes to visit Africa, Europe, and North America.

Over the course of their Scholarships, they will travel internationally to gain an in-depth understanding of their study topic from global experts.

“Following a substantial number of exceptional applicants this year, we are delighted to announce our biggest ever cohort of Nuffield Farming Scholars,” says Mike Vacher, Director of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust.

“Our 2024 Scholars have already displayed a clear passion for their chosen topics, and I have no doubt that they have the potential to become leaders who shape the future of agriculture.

“We are looking forward to introducing our 2024 cohort to the Nuffield Farming family at this year’s ‘Super Conference’ in

Exeter. This will be the pinnacle of what is already set to be a fantastic event, with over 30 Scholars presenting their study findings.”

For a full list of the 2024 Nuffield Farming Scholars please visit their website.

Applications for 2025 Nuffield Farming Scholarships will open on Wednesday, 24th January 2024.

Tickets for the 2023 Nuffield Farming Conference in Exeter are now available to purchase. The conference is open to all and a connection to Nuffield Farming is not required. Ticketing and further details can be found at https:// www.nuffieldscholar.org/events/ annual-conference-2023.

Images courtesy of Nuffield Scholar

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INDUSTRY NEWS

The rise of on-farm AD: 7 benefits of biogas For today’s modern farmer, sustainability is at the heart of agricultural best practice. But balancing a reduction in carbon emissions with the need for profit isn’t always easy.

By Marc McElhinney, Managing Director, GFD

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arming and renewable energy have gone hand in hand for years, with popular technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines offering farmers a means of diversifying their business while helping the planet. However, another less well-known renewable technology has been quietly making an impact, too. Anaerobic digestion (AD) or biogas plants have grown in popularity in recent years and those accepting agricultural feedstocks (including manures, crop residues and/or bioenergy crops) are now the AD industry’s most common type of plant, with 369 such facilities across the UK.

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With agriculture estimated to have been the source of 48% of the UK’s methane emissions in 2020 – an increase of 1.3% on 2019 – the trend towards on-farm AD is set to continue. Not least because, unlike other renewable energy technologies, biogas offers multiple additional benefits beyond simply green power. Here, we take a look at the seven main benefits of AD to farmers…

the absence of oxygen, generating biogas (mostly a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen). This biogascan then be used to produce heat and electrical power via a CHP engine or upgraded to biomethane and injected into the gas grid or used to power vehicles, including tractors. The AD process also produces an organic biofertiliser and soil conditioner, called digestate.

What is AD? Anaerobic digestion is a process whereby organic materials such as energy crops, agricultural residues, manures and food waste are broken down by bacteria in

What’s in it for farmers?

Benefit #1: Income diversification Anaerobic digestion provides numerous options for farmers to diversify their income through different streams, including lease payments for project land, long-term feedstock and digestate removal contracts, and free digestate for use on the farm. Innovative models, like those offered

by GFD, also offer different options for increased project equity or profit sharing.

Benefit #2: Income stability As well as diversifying income sources, the revenue generated through AD is regular and stable, helping to offset notoriously volatile incomes from traditional agricultural products. Leasing land for anaerobic digestion, as well as supplying feedstock and receiving energy production payments, can provide longterm, predictable income streams without affecting the overall farm business.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Images courtesy of HRS

Benefit #4: Crop rotation Biogas production can support new crops in the rotation, improving diversity and boosting crop health. Although livestock wastes are GFD’s preferred feedstocks, in many cases, there are also technical and agronomic advantages to using a proportion of energy crops in the feedstock mix for the digester.

Benefit #5: Soil health AD offers significant benefits in terms of soil health. Improving crop rotations and using sustainable biological fertiliser in the form of digestate can boost soil organic matter, improve soil and crop health, and increase the potential for soil carbon storage.

Benefit #6: The path to net zero On-farm AD plants can help reduce a farm’s carbon footprint by preventing emissions from agricultural wastes, slurries and by-products, while digestate can offset emissions from synthetic fertiliser.

In addition, using a proportion of the renewable energy produced on site can also help farmers to become net-zero carbon emitters.

Benefit #7: Home-grown heat and power As energy costs continue to rise, perhaps one of the most significant benefits from having an on-site AD plant is the potential for on-farm use of the renewable energy generated. Depending on configuration, biogas plants can provide farms, rural businesses andhouseholds with a reliable supply of electricity, heat or fuel for tractors and other vehicles (or any combination of the three).

Overcoming funding barriers Until now, most farms wanting to invest in AD technology have faced a stark choice: either invest millions of pounds (often using the farm as collateral) into a biogas plant or enter into a feedstock supply and/or digestate offtake contract.

This, together with the fact that most AD developers are looking for sites with good access to electricity or gas grids, has limited uptake of the technology by some farmers – until now.

GFD has partnered with leading European renewables investor SWEN Capital Partners to offer fully funded AD plants to progressive farmers. This means no capital investment from the farmer is required (although an opportunity to invest alongside us also exists for farmers that are interested). And thanks to our novel ‘hub and spoke’ model, being close to a grid connection point is not a requirement either.

Overcoming grid access issues The beauty of the hub and spoke model is that sites with limited or no viable gas grid connection point can still benefit from on-farm AD. A ‘hub’ is a central AD plant with good gas grid access. We’re currently building a biogas plant at Bangley

Quarry in East Lothian, Scotland, which will produce 1,100m3/hr biomethane – enough gas to supply a town the size of neighbouring Haddington, with more than 10,000 residents. We envisage that this will become our first hub.

Spokes are smaller on-farm sites with abundant feedstock and no gas grid access. Surplus biogas from these spokes will be upgraded to biomethane, compressed and transported using low carbon, biomethane-fuelled tankers to the main hub plant for injection into the gas grid.

Is my farm suitable for AD? With access to funding and grid connection no longer barriers to AD, many more progressive farmers are waking up to the benefits of biogas. If your farm meets the following criteria, then AD could be right for you, too: • Suitable building site with good access to road networks and no obvious planning concerns.

• Potential feedstock supply, either alone or in partnership with neighbouring farms.

• Potential energy use, either on-site or locally.

• Digestate biofertiliser demand, either alone or in partnership with neighbouring farms.

• Sufficient access to allow delivery of feedstock (if required) and collection of compressed biomethane.

GFD is keen to hear from Scottish farmers or those in the north of England who want to find out more about the low-carbon diversification options of an on-farm biogas plant. For an informal chat, please get in touch at info@gfdl.co.uk or visit www.gfdl.co.uk

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Benefit #3: Slurry and manure management Slurry and manure represent a significant management issue for livestock farmers as environmental rules become more stringent. Anaerobic digestion provides a unique tool to produce energy from manures and other agricultural wastes, while still providing sustainable biofertiliser in the form of digestate.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

How insect tech can add value to a farming concern

By Andrea Jagodic, Co-Founder & CEO of Flybox By any measure, farming is a challenging profession. Its practitioners must balance market fluctuations in vital resources such as animal feed and fertiliser with the costs of buying and maintaining equipment and the risks associated with extreme weather events.

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hat’s to say nothing of the spread of animal-borne diseases such as the avian flu pandemic that’s ravaged flocks around the world this year.

Even socio-political events can play a role. That much was brought starkly to light in 2022 when tens of millions of pounds of fresh produce was left to rot in fields as farmers continued to struggle to attract seasonal workers thanks to harsher immigration regimes in some regions. Taken together with the COVID-19

farmers in the UK dairy sector alone shrank 4.8%.

In the face of such challenges, it’s critical that farmers diversify their income streams as much as possible. Many already do so through things like on-site farm shops, guest houses, and even festivals.

But there’s another potential income generator farmers can add, more relevant to their practice in fact, which also has the potential to bring down costs and reduce waste and it comes in an unexpected form: fly larvae.

From fly to feed and fertiliser To be more specific, black soldier fly larvae. Endemic to large parts of the world, including most of Africa, South and North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe, this fly has a fascinating biology, including a body that mimics the appearance of various wasp species. What’s truly remarkable about them, however, is their growing utility in the agricultural sector.

One of the most important uses of this particular species of fly larvae is as animal feed. Because the larvae contain large amounts of protein, as well as vital macronutrients such as calcium, they make an ideal food source for various forms of livestock, including fish, fowl, and pigs.

But they’re also incredibly efficient composters, able to turn both animal and vegetable food waste into compost.

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pandemic tightening regulations, and increasing input costs (thanks in no small part to inflation and rising interest rates) this has resulted in massive pressure on UK farmers.

In fact, at the end of 2022, the National Farmers Union felt the situation was bad enough to issue a warning that the UK risked “sleepwalking” into a food supply crisis. Some parts of the sector have been hit particularly hard. In the 12 months leading up to July 2023, the number of

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INDUSTRY NEWS Importantly, for a country as constrained in land use as the UK, they can do so in a relatively small amount of space too.

Additionally, one of the byproducts of their composting is Frass fertiliser, which can be used to promote crop growth and natural pest resistance.

There are, then, clear and obvious benefits to incorporating black soldier fly larvae into the agricultural ecosystem, but how can individual farmers benefit from them?

means that operations can easily be scaled up as soon as the opportunity to do so arises.

Once set up, that means that farmers can realise savings by producing animal feed using little more than organic waste.

That waste could come from the farm itself or even from local hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. The fertiliser byproduct meanwhile can net savings if farmers don’t have to buy from external suppliers. Any excess feed and fertiliser, meanwhile, can be sold on, providing an additional income stream to the farm.

Additionally, farmers who utilise fly farms are forming part of a circular economy that is more sustainable for the planet and consumers. As the effects of climate change become increasingly visible, market leaders in the food and agri-food industries

have started suggesting and will eventually demand that the numerous players in their supply chain get on the level when it comes to ecologically sustainable production and products, and the farmers that this right will come out ahead in the long term.

An accessible, worthwhile investment Ultimately, as every farmer will tell you, there is no guarantee of success in the agricultural space. But if a farm is to be successful then its owners must always be on the lookout for opportunities to reduce costs and increase income. While insect tech might not be a cure-all for the financial stressors affecting the UK’s farmers —there is no cure-all – it can have a significantly positive impact on farming operations that are prepared to invest in it.

Supporting farm innovation

From commercial factories to individual farms That’s a valid question because historically fly farms have been the preserve of large-scale commercial operations. Setting one up could take up to a year and would require extensive capital layout (approximately a £500k-£5 million investment depending on scale required), planning permission and the expertise of specialist engineers, entomologists, specialist equipment, HVAC and climate control experts. These commercial-scale operations also require PhD-level expertise to ensure that the feed, water, and humidity levels remain balanced.

A combination of factors, including modular design and smart sensors that allow for many of those things to be automated, is changing that, however.

Today, ordinary farmers can start their own fly farming operations in something as small as a shipping container. And technological advances mean that operations are far less complex than they might once have been. Additionally, the modular nature of shipping containers

FARMDIVERSITY

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Farming Scandinavian Saunas

Supporting farm innovation

Growing up on Falster, Denmark’s southernmost island, Cecilie Wang never imagined she would be back one day and make a living by selling premium designed mobile saunas.

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“On the days when you can smell the fertiliser on the fields from the pig farms I wonder if I’ve made a mistake,” laughs Cecilie. “But compared to the high stress of London’s commercial design industry, we are so much happier living here and crafting beautiful saunas for our clients,” she observes.

Cecilie founded Scandinavian Sauna together with her husband, Swedish architect, Jakob Gate. Having grown up in Denmark and Sweden they are both very familiar with sauna and winter bathing culture, and have many fond childhood memories of doing this with their family and friends.

After a stint supporting NGOs in rural areas of the Philippines, the pair returned to Scandinavia in late 2018.

“That first winter back was brutal,” remembers Jakob. “We had become so

acclimatised to the tropics and had lost all of our body fat! So, it really felt like it was only saunas that allowed us to survive.”

This reliance on the sauna also sparked their creative minds and they started imagining what the perfect mobile sauna could look like. They wanted something that incorporated all the important features of a sauna, but that could fit on a trailer and be parked in people’s yards or gardens, taken to a summer cottage, or just taken to a local lake or river.

The design of the Scandinavian Sauna

blends the best of the design principles that Scandinavia is famous for the world over with the adventurous outward bound nature of the two founders.

Their first client was a collective of winter bathing enthusiasts. Through many discussions with these bathers and after two years of rigorous daily use, Jakob’s architect mind felt that the sauna design they got was functional, robust and also beautiful.

They have now sold their saunas in the UK and Ireland, across Europe and also in Japan, one of the most exacting design markets in the world. According to the couple, some clients say they love the convenience of being able to move their sauna to different spots, like a good piece of furniture. Others have bought the sauna as a way of setting up a new business at their farm accommodation or wellness resort.

But, the entrepreneurial founders aren’t stopping anytime soon. They also hope to make access to saunas and the health benefits more ubiquitous.

“Our farmer neighbours have recently been looking over the fence and asking more and more questions about the sauna. They see us using it every day. So I really hope we see more in our local Falster landscape in the near future,” remarks Cecilie.

Images courtesy of Scandinavian Sauna

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

farmermobil® are the leading manufacturer of mobile barns for laying hen husbandry and chicken rearing in Europe

he model range of farmermobil® now includes nine mobile barns, which are fully automatic in every size and suitable for both conventional free-range and organic management. We have now been involved in the manufacture of mobile barns for many years and have extensive experience and expertise in this field. Our

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Supporting farm innovation

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goal is to provide farmers with the opportunity to practice high quality laying hen husbandry with minimal effort. In this way, we enable our customers to practice an innovative and sustainable form of animal husbandry with a particularly high standard of animal welfare. Through our expertise, we have been able to continuously develop the materials used in the construction of our barns over the years. This has enabled us to achieve a long service life for our barns.

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SEASONAL EVENTS

Five ways to make your event more sustainable

In today’s climate, you can’t afford not to be looking at ways of making your event more sustainable. Below are 5 easy ways to start.

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Supporting farm innovation

n a world that’s becoming increasingly conscious of its carbon footprint, the question on every event planner’s mind should be: “How can we make our events more sustainable?” In fact, sustainable events should be the new norm, and here are five effective ways to achieve this.

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Alternative Power Sources One of the most impactful ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your event is by leveraging renewable energy sources.

Consider using solar or wind power for lighting, sound systems, and even food preparation. Mobile solar generators such as SolCell or wind turbines can be an efficient solution, reducing reliance on the grid and demonstrating your commitment to the environment.

Images courtesy of Pytch

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

Sustainable Venues Opt for venues that prioritise ecofriendly practices. Look for facilities with energy-efficient lighting, waste reduction programs, and established recycling initiatives. Partnering with venues that share your sustainability goals elevates the sustainable status of your event.

No Single-use Print Creating single-use printed materials is one of the biggest contributors to waste at an event. Digital ticketing is becoming the norm, but you should also consider using digital signage instead of print graphics to create branding opportunities around the venue. If you have to print, consider making the branding non-specific to the year or theme, so you can re-use it later.

Responsible Food and Beverage Choices Choose caterers that use locally-sourced, organic, and seasonal produce. This not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food but also supports local businesses and farming communities. Also, make sure to minimise single-use plastics by offering reusable plates and cutlery. Many guests in the UK

are now opting for vegetarian and vegan food options, which is a great way to further reduce your carbon impact.

Effective Waste Management Implement a robust recycling and waste reduction programme. Use clearly labelled recycling stations and educate attendees on proper disposal. Post-event, consider donating any leftover food and materials to local charities or composting sites.

Creating sustainable events doesn’t have to be complicated. By taking a few small steps, such as using alternative power sources and reducing waste, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your event. Remember, every sustainable choice you make contributes to a healthier planet, and these actions are valued by an increasingly eco-conscious public. Make your next event a testament to your commitment to sustainability, and watch as attendees become advocates for your cause.

If you’d like further advice on sustainable event production, PYTCH are the experts.

Give us a call. hello@pytch.co.uk 0333 022 0171

SEASONAL EVENTS

Looking to create a bit of festive winter magic this year?

KJE supply innovative technical solutions and snow effects to festive events and experiences across UK for several sectors providing multiple options from bespoke design and management to a simple hire of equipment

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e will always work with every client to ensure that we are able to offer the best solution to create the unique experience to impress guests and audiences alike.

One of the firm favourites of our winter arsenal is our range of snow machines, with the ability to produce falling snow and also cover surfaces with our snow flocking.

We can create festive magic across many different aspects of Christmas experiences from shopping villages and Christmas grottos to ice rinks and festive lights trails. Our advanced falling snow machines offer the ability to manage the intensity and intervals of snow fall. Our

snow flocking can be applied to so many different surfaces creating the fresh snow look for set pieces, window displays, signs and structures. We happen to think that everything can look better with a nice fresh layer of snow.

We also provide audio solutions to bring the festive cheer using a range of speaker enclosures from the compact to full range outdoor systems for stages including Christmas lights ceremonies. We can integrate into existing systems to extend and expand them for larger audiences.

Why not let our technical elves help take the stress out of creating wonderful festive memories for your guests this year?

y | Design & Engineering

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s and snow effects to festive events and rs providing multiple options from simple hire of equipment. We will always are able to offer the best solution to create s and audiences alike. www.kjetech.com

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info@kjetech.com

arsenal is our range of snow machines, and also cover surfaces with our snow

FARMDIVERSITY

Supporting farm innovation

magic this year?

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SEASONAL EVENTS

Theories Landscapes Expands Portfolio with Theories Golf: Your Premier Destination for Adventure Golf Renowned for designing and constructing natural playgrounds and play spaces across schools, parks, public areas, camp sites, and holiday parks, Theories Landscapes is thrilled to introduce their latest venture: Theories Golf.

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his innovative entity promises to be the go-to for all Adventure Golf enthusiasts.

At Theories Golf, we don’t just craft courses; we create experiences. Backed by years of expertise, our team specialises in designing and building tailored Adventure Golf, Crazy Golf, and Mini Golf courses that cater to individual tastes and needs.

About Theories Landscapes Theories Landscapes stands as a vanguard in the design and construction of natural

playgrounds and play spaces, catering to diverse venues including schools, parks, and holiday resorts.

With Theories Golf, they further their commitment to innovation and excellence, offering unparalleled recreational experiences.

Discover The World of Theories Golf To learn more about our Adventure Golf offerings and more, visit our website: www. theoriesgolf.co.uk

Image courtesy of Theories Golf

Delivering Innovative Events

Supporting farm innovation

ENGINEERED SOUND AND LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS FOR EVENTS & OCCASIONS WITH A PERSONAL APPROACH

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Tel:

07769 837066

Email: info@rswsound.co.uk Web: www.rswsound.co.uk

From one speaker and a microphone to a large scale system, we are fully equipped to tailor every aspect of your event.

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

Whether you are looking to host your next event in a field on a farm or at a bespoke event site, RSWSound Ltd have a proven track record of delivering innovative events to well-known businesses where needed.

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e bring our event management skills, portable power solutions and professional audio-visual equipment to take your event to that next level.

RSWSound Ltd has become one of the ‘go to’ companies for high-quality technical production and event management since 2012.

Our clients have included local authorities, professional Football and Cricket Clubs, ‘household’ name businesses, and national charities.

We have delivered technical production for firework displays, large outdoor parties, weddings, live music events, and multi-

room corporate exhibitions.

Whatever the event you are looking to produce, RSWSound Ltd can support from the initial concept right through to completion.

Get in touch with us today: www.rswsound.co.uk 07769 837066 info@rswsound.co.uk

Image courtesy of RSWSound Ltd

SEASONAL EVENTS

Charlotte Winship has over 20 years experience transforming good wedding and events venues into great venues.

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orking at renowned venues including The Dorchester Hotel, Kensington Palace and Government House Sydney; she has developed some extraordinary venue businesses and planned events for the World’s most discerning clientele. Learning from the best in the business and collaborating on some truly remarkable events she has gained a unique insight into venues and events and has become an expert in helping venues reach their ideal customers, maximise sales opportunities, increase

profitability, establish effective teams and streamline venue operations.

She now shares her knowledge, skills and experience in venue management and event planning with venue owners at all stages of their business journey to help empower you and your team to achieve success, win business for your venue and deliver outstanding events. https://charlottewinship.com/ Tel: 07493 350303 Email: charlotte@charlottewinship. com

Photography by Steph Stevens Photography

sales@popdev.co.uk | 0118 976 0445 www.expandasign.co.uk

Choose from...

Supporting farm innovation

Whatever your event we can tailor the products & design to promote it!

Picnic Blankets Inflatables POP-Ups Wing Flags A Frames Teardrop Flags Gazebos Feather Flags Parasols Directional Signs + much more

FARMDIVERSITY

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FARM ATTRACTIONS

Reconnecting with Nature: The Value of Natural Playgrounds In our increasingly digital and urbanised world, farms have a remarkable opportunity to reignite our connection with nature.

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ne powerful way to achieve this is by creating natural playgrounds that not only inspire and engage children, but also transform farms into vibrant destinations that families will return to time and again.

Supporting farm innovation

Increasing farm revenues and visitor numbers For farms, these playgrounds can be a source of revenue in changing economic climates. They attract more visitors, enhance the overall visitor experience, and encourage people to stay longer. Moreover, these spaces offer a unique platform for educating the public about farm operations. They can blend entertainment with education, offering tours, workshops, and hands-on experiences that reveal the intricacies of agriculture, boosting income and fostering a greater appreciation for the work of farmers.

Furthermore, natural playgrounds allow farms to incorporate sustainable practices into their design and maintenance, setting an example for responsible living by showcasing the use of sustainable materials, rainwater harvesting, and organic gardening.

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Improving the visitor experience For visiting families, natural playgrounds are a bridge back to nature, especially for children growing up in a digital and urban environment. These spaces encourage exploration and connection with the outdoors. They also promote physical activity and unstructured play, contributing to improved physical fitness and mental health.

Perhaps most importantly, natural playgrounds instil in children a deep understanding of the environment and a sense of responsibility for its conservation.

Interaction with ecosystems, wildlife, and sustainable practices in a fun and

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

interactive manner sets the stage for environmentally responsible citizens of the future.

Doubling visitors at Churchfields Farm For farms looking to become true destinations for families and visitors, TouchWood Play offers the ultimate solution. We design, create and install high-quality, bespoke natural playgrounds to provide children with creative and engaging play, and keep families coming back again and again.

In 2023, Churchfields Farm in Worcestershire worked with TouchWood to create a bespoke adventure playground for their site. Owner Will said, ‘We were looking for a key focal point for the farm, a knockout piece that would make people say “Wow!” and make them want to come back. We wanted something made with natural timber to blend with our rural backdrop.’

We worked closely with Will and wife

Gillian to create a unique playground, including the centre piece Churchfields tractor to create the ‘wow factor’ for visitors, along with swing sets, tunnels, slides, balance beams and a 40 metre zip wire.

The playground at Churchfields Farm has had a profound impact, doubling visitor numbers and significantly increasing return visitors. Will said, ‘Everyone’s been really pleased, it’s such a great attraction.

We’d definitely work with TouchWood again.’

If you’re looking to create something unique, exciting and sustainable on your farm, we’d love to work with you. We provide a complimentary initial design and consultation service so get in touch with our team today to make your plans a reality. enquiries@touchwoodplay.co.uk 0117 963 8222

Images courtesy of Touchwood Play

FARM ATTRACTIONS

New Farm Attraction Websites, Faster Than Ever Before Creating or growing a farm attraction is a great way to diversify your income, but getting started is a lot of work. From planning out the attraction, creating your brand and building the infrastructure and marketing - there’s a lot to do to stand out in this busy sector. t’s no wonder that sometimes your website can be low down on the list.

This is a false economy though, because your website is like your shop window. It’s the first thing your potential customers see - if they’re new to your brand then they’ll be comparing you to other nearby competition. If they’re familiar with the area, they’ll be looking at which attractions give the best value, align with their requirements and fit their budget. Your website should help solve all of these problems for your customers, and more.

When done well, a website should be able to engage with customers, bring your farm attraction to life and help grow

revenue.

Historically, the choice for farm attraction websites has been to invest a chunk of budget in creating a new site from scratch, or to make do with a low-cost website from a friend or off-the-shelf.

Fortunately there’s now a third choice - LOOP - an optimised web platform for attractions. It’s been built by Semantic, an agency with over 25 years of experience in the sector. You can get a new site in weeks rather than months, with a simple monthly subscription.

‘We recommend LOOP to any attraction in need of an easy to maintain, easy to update and user experience optimised

website.’

•Archie Wilde, Cotswold Farm Park Take a look at https://loop.semantic. co.uk/farm-attractions-offers for more...

Image courtesy of Semantic Ltd

Supporting farm innovation

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FARMDIVERSITY

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FARM ATTRACTIONS

Farm Diversification Success: Ticket Tailor Helps The UK’s Oldest Strawberry Farm Sell Out 8,000 Tickets To Their Events In Under An Hour

Images courtesy of Ticket Tailor

Supporting farm innovation

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unning events at your farm might not be at the top of your priority list. But this inspirational story from Stonepitts Farm in Sevenoaks might just change your mind about farm diversification. Keep reading to find out how they sold 8,000 tickets to their popular folk festival in under an hour.

In the mid 1960s Stonepitts launched one of the first pick-your-own strawberry farms in the UK. In 1989 the farm was purchased by Martin and Jackie Clews, who continued to offer pick-your-own, as well as growing strawberries and raspberries by traditional methods. They’ve also expanded into growing Norway Spruce and Nordmann Fir Christmas trees, becoming a key supplier to the region.

‘Folking in the Strawberries’, their folk festival, began back in 2008 during a latenight strawberry-picking session, when the Clews’ son Dan entertained a handful of pickers with live music. Fast forward to this summer and their events attracted over 1,000 people to each of its eight dates in June and July.

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

The festival has gained quite the reputation among families, and has grown with momentum over the 15 year period, onboarding Ticket Tailor during lockdown to help manage the ticketing side of things. This year, they sold all 8,000 tickets on Ticket Tailor within an hour of their release, setting a new record for Dan who manages the festival (and performs at them!)

Clews says: “It’s really easy to embed Ticket Tailor into your website, it looks great, it’s a very easy interface, and it can handle a lot of traffic – like I say we sell these events out in one hour. That’s 8,000 tickets selling in one hour. And it handles that!”

He continues, “the waitlist feature is brilliant, if you sell out quickly like we often do, we can set up a waitlist. So then when we have a second sale we can communicate with those people on the

waitlist. It gives us an idea of how many people are really interested in the event, which allows us to forecast and manage the size of the event in the future.”

Whether you’re just starting out on your farm diversification journey, or you’re a seasoned-pro, Ticket Tailor is here to help you start selling tickets and products online for all your farm events, from daily admissions to exciting one-off experiences.

But that’s not all – they offer a range of extensive features designed to support you in managing footfall effectively, upselling merchandise, and so much more.

Create your farm events page for free at tickettailor.com

FARM ATTRACTIONS

Farm ticketing done right.

Ready to supercharge your farm diversification?

Our powerful features and tools will boost ticket sales, streamline footfall management, and maximise merchandise upselling like never before.

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Over 40 million tickets sold worldwide

Create your farm events page for free at tickettailor.com or scan this QR code to book a demo.

Follow us @tickettailor

FARMDIVERSITY

MAGAZINE

LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY YOUR FARM? FARM DIVESRITY MAGAZINE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START At Farm Diversity magazine, we offer those in the industry informative articles and case studies of how farmers have used innovative methods to make more

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FARM INN

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MAGAZIN

IGNITIN G AND GR INNOVATION

WHY YO OWTH: ATTEND U NEED TO INNOV FARM BUSINES ATION S 2023

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ISSUE 9

GROW

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: SUCCES HOW FARM ERS SFULLY THEIR BU DIVERSIFY SIN GARDEN ESS WITH CENTRE S

money from their land. We also feature the products and services they need to make farm diversification a success.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY! • To submit press releases or news contact our editor: nick@euromediaal.com • To advertise contact our publication manager: nicholafnewton@gmail.com

FIND OUT MORE BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT:

OR CONTACT US ON:

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

01257 267677

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAAL MEDIA:

/ Farm Diversity @FarmDiversity_Mag

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Supporting farm innovation

WANT TO FEATURE IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF FARM DIVERSITY MAGAZINE?

VIEW DIG ITAL VERSIO N:

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FARM BUSINESS INNOVATION SHOW

Farms: Increase Footfall and Revenue With Brit Stops

Brit Stops is a network of farm shops, pubs, attractions, and other fantastic locations that invite motorhomers to stay for one night — free of charge! In exchange, Britstoppers are encouraged to patronise the local business.

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Supporting farm innovation

rit Stops is mutually beneficial to motorhomers and business owners alike.

A Brit Stops membership costs motorhomers about as much as a night or two at a campsite and includes free stopovers at 1,100+ locations in the UK and Ireland for a year.

Becoming a Brit Stops location is equally beneficial for businesses because it’s a

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simple and completely free way to increase footfall and earn more revenue.

On average, Britstoppers spend £30-40 when they stay at Brit Stops locations.

Catherine Gerrod, the owner of Algy’s Farm Shop near Norwich, has seen tremendous benefits from hosting Britstoppers.

In the 5 years since Algy’s Farm Shop first became a Brit Stops location,

Images courtesy of Catherine Gerrod of Algy’s Farm Shop.

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

approximately 300-400 motorhomers have stayed in their farm shop’s car park.

Last summer, Algy’s had at least one motorhomer stopover each week, usually on Fridays for their famous Friday pizza night.

To sum up their experience hosting Britstoppers, Catherine says, “Over the years we’ve had many wonderful, appreciative, and honest Britstoppers at our location. They’re a very friendly bunch, and many of the 400 or so motorhomers that have stayed here have actually come to us by word of mouth from other Britstoppers!”

Catherine recommends other farm shops and local businesses check out the scheme, She says, “For anyone considering becoming a host, we would 100% recommend Brit Stops. We think it’s a brilliant idea, we like having the opportunity to bring in visitors to our farm shop, and we also quite like the fact that it means there is someone here overnight!”

Brit Stops locations are so much more than tourist stops, they showcase the authentic side of the UK and Ireland.

Instead of the overrated tourist traps, Britstoppers get to experience charming farm shops, a pint at the neighbourhood pub, or a nice cup of tea from a local cafe.

With a motorhome, you could go anywhere and have travel experiences that not everyone else can. Brit Stops is perfect to help motorhomers find the places they’d like to go and the experiences they’d like to have on holiday– and that very might well be Algy’s Friday pizza night or a pub’s karaoke night.

It’s not just Britstoppers who have great experiences being a part of the scheme.

In addition to the financial benefits, Brit Stops hosts often share that one of their favourite parts of hosting is getting to meet Britstoppers and hearing their travel stories.

To learn more about becoming a Brit Stops Host, visit: www.britstops.com/hosts.

WHY YOU SHOULD WELCOME MOTORHOMERS TO YOUR BUSINESS

Supporting farm innovation

Hosting Britstoppers is a free and simple way to bring more visitors to your farm and earn more revenue. All you have to do is offer Brit Stops members a free one-night stopover in your car park. In exchange, Britstoppers are encouraged to buy something from your shop.

Scan this QR code to learn more:

www.britstops.com

www.britstops.com

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THE FARM BUSINESS INNOVATION SHOW

ICE Trikes – A new accessible exciting cycling experience T A NEW CYCLING EXPERIENCE ICE Trikes are one of the most comfortable ways to cycle. Safe, stable and accessible cycling.

Enjoy a relaxed countryside ride or the thrill of a sporty cycle through forest trails.

Off-road, trail and road trikes available for your business.

Email: philz@icetrikes.co

www.icetrikes.co

Simple Beautiful Durable Whether you’re looking for a dream home in the country, or a rental unit for the rapidly growing outdoor holiday market - our range of pods & lodges provide an ideal solution for rural accommodation.

Supporting farm innovation

New Eco Lodge

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CHECK OUT THE FULL RANGE

rikes are one of the most comfortable ways to cycle.

Built in Cornwall, they are safe, stable and very accessible.

Ideal for your guests or visitors who cannot ride a traditional bike. Enjoy a relaxed countryside ride or the thrill of a sporty cycle through forest trails. Comfortable accessible seats, easy to use controls, great looks with rugged ride capabilities make ICE Trikes a great addition to your farm business.

Offer your guests a unique cycling experience that they will simply love. ICE Trikes are easy to ride with simple controls and setting up the trike to different rider heights only takes a few seconds.

The comfortable seating position provides the rider with

Image courtesy of ICE Trikes

With three decades of experience, Wigwam Cabins have built glamping Pods and Lodges as durable as they are beautiful

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ver the years the range has developed and become more and more opulent, now with a full range of glamping pods and holiday lodges.

The new Wigwam® Lodge is the ultimate in sustainable environmentally friendly glamping and self catering accommodation. The lodge is built to provide spacious, cosy and 4 season accommodation to suit the most rugged of UK climates. Constructed from sustainably sourced timber

0131 450 7126 sales@wigwamcabins.com wigwamcabins.com

Image courtesy of Wigwam Cabins

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

stability, support and none of the discomfort associated with riding a traditional bike. Trikes are perfect for people with no cycling experience, or balance issues or a physical disability that would prevent them from riding a traditional bike or people who simply want a comfortable ride.

Contact Phil at ICE for more details.

Email: philz@icetrikes.co or call 01326 378848 or visit www. icetrikes.co

and clad in untreated Larch, to give a durable modern low energy cabin suitable for the most extreme conditions of a UK winter.

The Lodge provides the ideal solution for either permanent or leisure use and can be customised to individual requirements. With a combination of off grid technology it combines the heritage of a hand crafted cabin with the most up to date renewable technology to offer the ultimate solution to rural accommodation.

Find out more about the full Wigwam range www. wigwamcabins.com tel: 0131 450 7126

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FARMDIVERSITY

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Built to BS3632 with 70mm thick slow grown spruce logs, triple tongue and groove, insulation in roof, floor and walls, pre stained premium windows and doors available in any colour, metal tile effect roof covering, fitted kitchen and appliances, bathroom, electric sockets and LED lights, plumbing, groundscrew foundations, electrical heating system, beds and mattresses, basic furniture and installed on site.

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SETTING UP A HOLIDAY PARK

Design, manufacture and installation of the complete electrical solution!

Staycations continue to be in demand resulting in landowners looking for ways to diversify.

Image courtesy of CPES Ltd

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hether your budget allows for a small 5 pitch camping site or a larger holiday home development, Caravan Park Electrical Services offer a complete turnkey solution regarding your electrical infrastructure requirements.

Throughout our 40 years of trading

we’ve been at the forefront of innovations, designing and developing products for the UK and European leisure industry.

Our skilled team are dedicated to making your needs our priority and are on hand to discuss your development opportunities.

Manufacturing all of our electrical connection units, multi-service bollards, EV chargers, distribution units and mains panels allows us the control to incorporate additional components. Our ‘in house’ engineering and design capability gives us the flexibility to develop new products meeting the demands of an ever-changing industry.

Following your planning application we’ll arrange a site visit with our sales engineer to run through the best electrical solution we’re able to offer and lead the project, putting together a design package

including technical site drawings, product manufacturing drawings and cable calculations. Subsequently our electricians will attend site to install your chosen CPES products along with NICEIC certification. If it’s supply-only you’re looking for, we have a knowledgeable team who are happy to give advice and liaise with your electrician.

If farm diversification is of interest to you call us on 01790 753153 or email sales@ cpes.co.uk and a member of our team would be happy to discuss how we can help. To view our product portfolio or find out more about CPES visit our website www.cpes.co.uk Caravan Park Electrical Services Ltd Vale Industrial Estate Spilsby Lincolnshire PE23 5HE

SPECIALIST ELECTRICAL SUPPLIER to the Leisure Industry since 1982

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Market leaders in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of electrical distribution systems for holiday, park home, touring parks and glamping sites throughout the UK and Europe.

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Connection Units

Multi-Service Bollards

Lighting

EV Charging

Contact our expert team +44 (0)1790 753153

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

sales@cpes.co.uk

www.cpes.co.uk

Mains Panels

FARMDIVERSITY

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Supporting farm innovation

SETTING UP A HOLIDAY PARK

Luxury buildings to enhance or expand your site...

Setting up a new campsite? Our campsite buildings come in a variety of shapes and sizes to attract couples, families and large groups to your campsite.

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hether you want to offer a quirky, unique experience in a Scandinavian inspired cabin, or an upgraded glamping experience in our luxury Studio Lodges we can assure you our range of buildings will help you stand out in the glamping industry!

Looking to generate some extra

revenue? We work with existing campsites to add a unique experience for their guests. Our BBQ Huts are the perfect addition for your guests to hire for the night, whether that be for a party or just a cosy night around the fire. With a range of sizes available, seating between 15 and 25 people, there are plenty of options to choose from. The other great thing? As our BBQ Cabins can be used all year round, your guests will be able to enjoy a BBQ or a night around the fire, no matter the weather!

Our buildings are manufactured by us in our Derbyshire factories, and we are so confident in the quality of our craftsmanship that we offer a comprehensive 10 year manufacturers guarantee.

Get in touch with our team today to see how Camping Cabins can help you create memorable experiences. Visit our website at www.campingcabins.co.uk or call us on 0800 0448 418 and a member of our team will be on hand to answer any questions, and talk you through our wonderful range of products.

Images courtesy of Arctic Cabins

Staycation Desire Fuelling Demand For Shepherd Huts

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Image courtesy of Greendown Shepherd Huts

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t the turn of 2023, it was predicted by many in the tourism sector that people would continue to choose the UK as the destination of choice as habits formed during the Covid crisis continued postpandemic.

Jordan Franklin, director of Greendown Shepherd Huts said: “Circumstances have changed consumer behaviour resulting in a much-needed boost to our sector and we’re very grateful for that. We’re also finding that holiday rentals seem to be more popular than hotels in some circumstances, as people can still have the benefit of luxury living yet can do their own

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

A continuing commitment by holidaymakers to stay in the UK is fuelling demand for shepherd hut accommodation in the glamping and ‘outdoor’ holiday market. thing and connect directly with nature and the outdoors. They are not bound by the conventions of ‘time’ and that seems to be increasingly appealing.”

A rise in demand for bespoke, handcrafted shepherd huts has already led to the expansion of Greendown Shepherd Huts which has its manufacturing base at Keynsham, near Bristol in Somerset. The team of 15 - led by directors Harry Long and his brother-in-law, Jordan Franklin – is expanding with production set to double over the next few years.

The company makes shepherd huts mainly for the business-to-business market

such as boutique hotels, holiday lets, glamping sites, farmers looking to diversify or other tourism enterprises. As each hut is handmade, prices start from £58,012 per hut, but there is also a leasing option for established operators, with monthly payments starting at £800 per month (subject to T&Cs – full illustration upon request). On average, shepherds’ hut accommodation can rent out from £200 plus per night.

For more information visit https://www. greendownshepherdhuts.co.uk

SETTING UP A HOLIDAY PARK

Discover the Power of Play: Proludic’s Research Reveals Key Insights for Leisure and Hospitality Sector In an era where outdoor experiences reign supreme, Proludic, a leading provider of outdoor play equipment and sports area solutions, is excited to share groundbreaking research that sheds light on the transformative role of playground equipment in leisure and holiday park success. ur recent independently commissioned study unveils compelling insights, reinforcing the undeniable impact of welldesigned play areas on visitor engagement and satisfaction.

Enhancing Family-Friendly Appeal Proludic’s latest research reveals that an astounding 93% of respondents consider play areas a pivotal factor when choosing holiday parks, leisure destinations, or visitor attractions. This surge in demand aligns with the rise of ‘Staycations’ and reflects the changing preferences of the British public.

Boosting Visitor Retention Proludic’s research further highlights that playgrounds significantly contribute

Nature inspired play

to visitor retention. A staggering one in two (47%) of respondents expressed a willingness to extend their stay when highquality play provision is available.

Creating Memorable Experiences Playgrounds add an element of fun and adventure to leisure, hospitality, and holiday parks. Proludic’s research reveals that visitors cherish the memorable family experiences created through play, from conquering challenging climbing structures to sharing laughs on swing sets.

Proludic is no stranger to the leisure market with various installs at holiday farm parks and campsites nationally. A recent play installation using bespoke play equipment undertaken by Proludic at

Wooda Farm Holiday Park in Bude; stands as a testament to the transformative power of playgrounds in boosting visitor satisfaction and ensuring families return time after time.

For more information, please contact Proludic at www.proludic.co.uk

Image courtesy of Proludic

Eco friendly products

By Proludic

Get in touch for free consultation, design & expert advice tel: 0115 982 3980 | www.proludic.co.uk /proludic |

/company/proludic-ltd

Bestwood Country Park,

playground manufacturer | outdoor gym equipment | sports area specialist FARMDIVERSITY

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SETTING UP A HOLIDAY PARK

Farmers and landowners invited to unlock income opportunities through innovative wilder camping project CampWild, which is a project that inspires and enables wilder camping experiences, is offering landowners and farmers the opportunity to transform under-utilised corners of their estates or holdings, in return for a unique and hassle-free source of passive income, while promoting sustainable access to the great outdoors.

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Supporting farm innovation

ounded by Tom Backhouse, CampWild makes it easier to find unique locations to camp and enjoy the natural world – from wilder established campsites to exclusive permitted wild camping spots, known as Wild Spaces™.

These incredible, remote spots are hidden across the UK for members to discover, enjoy and protect, and have been unlocked by CampWild, in partnership with landowners, custodians and trusts.

With a mission to expand the CampWild network to all corners of the UK, Tom Backhouse confirms: “We are on the hunt to unlock a network of Wild Spaces that people can responsibly access for wilder camping experiences.

“We are already working with a brilliant and diverse group of hosts and are now looking to take the next step to scale this

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Images courtesy of CampWild

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

network into all corners of the UK.” Wild Spaces can be located anywhere and, in every shape, size and terrain.

CampWild is working with landowners to unlock spaces ranging from lush plantations to regenerative farms with rotating pasture, from untouched pockets of land near urban centres to remote meadows, woodland or coastal locations that transport you to another world.

Wild Spaces hosts would benefit from: • Earn Passive Income: Convert under-used corners of land into a loweffort revenue stream. With no need for additional facilities or complex planning, only personal permission of the landowner is required. With CampWild, they retain full control over availability, terms, and pricing.

• Empower Sustainable Access: CampWild is all about forging connections and creating a hyper-local positive feedback loop between landowners, campers, and nature enthusiasts.

Tom Backhouse added: “We are building a community and the tools needed to scale our network of Wild Spaces responsibly, safely, and sustainably.

“Our CampWild Code guides behaviour and puts landowners in control of how,

when, and who is able to access the space.

“Our bespoke and secure booking platform ensures that only CampWild members can access the space and are fully accountable for ensuring no trace is left following their visit.

“From smallholdings to large-scale estates, if you own, manage, or live on land, or if you know someone who might be interested in diversifying and joining our exciting project as a host, now is the time to get involved with CampWild and open up your land to a world of possibilities.”

For more information or to become a part of the CampWild community, please visit https://www.campwild.uk/become-awild-space-host or email info@campwild.uk

SETTING UP A HOLIDAY PARK

Reimagining Farm Life: The Confluence of Tiny Homes and Agricultural Support Farm life, though rewarding, comes with its set of challenges with many farmers having grappled with labour shortages, leading to crops left unpicked or harvested too late, resulting in diminished profits. If you’re a landowner facing such challenges, there’s an innovative solution awaiting you. ntroducing Eco Villages, an ingenious collaboration brought to you by The Tiny Housing Co. • Landowner’s Incentive: With just a spare acre, you could offer a vibrant community of 6-8 eco-friendly tiny homes providing you with an additional source of income through plot rentals but also promises dedicated hands to assist with farm tasks.

• Our Commitment: We’ll introduce these plots to our dedicated community, individuals ready to purchase their tiny home. They commit to a 3-5 year rental, ensuring stable income for landowners.

• Farm Support: In return for affordable rent, the community can offer support on your working farm, potentially gaining 40

free hours a week to pick fruits, vegetables and caring for livestock.

Why our homes? We choose to build high performing, energy efficient homes, designed to last a lifetime and at an affordable price for our customers to be able to break free of a mortgage and into a life matched closely with nature.

Imagine this: a close-knit community, not only boosting your income but also contributing actively to the farm’s success.

And the best part? Each tiny house is a beacon of sustainability, designed with the planet in mind.

To delve deeper and receive an info pack, contact Leanne at leanne@ thetinyhousing.co. Visit our website at www.thetinyhousing.co to view our eco-

friendly homes. Join us in redefining farm diversity, one tiny house at a time!

Image courtesy of The Tiny Housing Company

BETULA CABIN OFFGRID FAST-SITING ECO-FRIENDLY SUPER-ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN LOW RUNNING COSTS HIGH-YIELD CABIN

INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE? INFO@THETINYHOUSING.CO 01260 545348 www.thetinyhousing.co

FARMDIVERSITY

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

ABO Wind: Sustainable Energy Generation Powered by Partnerships If the UK’s shift to net zero is driven by innovation, at ABO Wind we believe it is powered by partnerships.

Images courtesy of ABO Wind

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stablished in 1996, for almost thirty years we have successfully designed, delivered, and operated leading renewable electricity projects across the world.

Although this involves many factors, our long-term relationships with landowners is at the heart of everything we do.

As a company, through our renewable energy projects, we are committed to supporting the decarbonisation of the UK economy, whilst creating investment and diversifying income for farmers and landowners across the country.

As our UK presence continues to grow, we now have full time offices in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Our specialist teams in each location bring local knowledge which is backed by global expertise, with over 1000 colleagues operating across 16 countries.

Our main areas of focus are developing wind farms, solar farms and battery energy storage projects. At the early stages, this

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

involves identifying suitable lands and assessing things like relevant planning policy and the possibility of achieving a connection to the electricity grid.

If a site passes initial feasibility studies, it is at that point that we enter discussions with the landowner with a view to agreeing a rental contract, before progressing with a full planning application. With leases usually running for a period of 40 years, these are long-term partnerships which create secure and reliable index-linked income for farmers over a long period of time.

At ABO Wind, we manage the entire consenting process. When planning permission is in place, we finance, build and operate the project, whether it be a wind farm, solar farm or energy storage facility. This means there is no outlay or time commitment for the landowner, who enjoys the rental benefit when the project is live. We often see this additional income used to grow other areas of the farm business, buy plant and machinery, and even provide an option to retire and sustain the farm for the next generation.

Renewable energy developments also bring broader benefits. Wind farms and solar farms provide community funds, which help to support and sustain local groups and organisations, mostly in rural areas; and all ABO Wind projects contribute to national energy security and decarbonisation targets. We are also passionate about increasing biodiversity through initiatives like additional hedgerow planting, the use of meadow flower seed mixes and the creation of more suitable habitats for animals.

We are actively seeking suitable lands for new projects throughout the UK. Generally speaking, to facilitate a project we require at least 70 acres falling within approximately four miles of a substation, or with overhead electricity lines running across the land.

If you have land that you believe may be suitable for a wind farm, solar farm or battery energy storage project, please feel free to contact us via email at UK@abowind.com or via telephone on 0208 1875 480 and we would be delighted to have an initial, no-strings-attached conversation about how we can work together.

For further information, please visit www. abo-wind.com/uk

Are you looking to diversify your land use?

At ABO Wind, we are creating additional income for farmers and landowners across the UK, with indexlinked rents paid for up to 40 years for hosting Solar Photovoltaics and Battery Storage projects.

If you have at least 70+ acres of flat land within four miles of a substation or with overhead lines running across it, we would love to talk to you.

If you feel your land might be suitable, please feel free to contact us today for an initial discussion about how we can work together.

Solar farm Leutershausen, Germany, 2023

Supporting farm innovation

uk@abo-wind.com or call 0208 187 5480

FARMDIVERSITY

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FINANCE

Investing in Natural Capital - Akre diversifying into trees Virgin Money Supports The World’s First Carbon Negative Tree Nursery

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n 2018, Renwick Drysdale came home to the family farm in Fife, Scotland, after ten years of working abroad and completing his Masters in Ecological Economics. He carried with him the memory of planting trees on the farm as a young boy, and the seeds of a vision which, with a £2.5m loan from Virgin Money’s Agri E-Fund, is rapidly growing into a stunningly successful and pioneering eco-business called Akre.

At the heart of the business is a remarkable one-acre greenhouse nursery that gives the company its name, and allows 32-year-old Renwick and his team to grow millions of new trees each year with an efficiency that makes it the first verified carbon negative facility of its kind in the world. Built on a reclaimed slag heap, the Akre nursery will produce 2.3 million tree seedlings in 2023 and over 6.4 million next year, grown from seeds gathered from the land where they will ultimately be planted. Compared with using conventional methods, the highly efficient nursery saves the equivalent of around 80,000 miles travelled by car each year.

The cutting-edge glasshouse that provides the Akre seedlings with perfect growing conditions has been designed on the principles of sustainable intensification and the circular economy, maximising the output of seedlings on the smallest possible footprint of land. Seeds are grown in a state-of-the-art passive propagation system that promotes healthier and faster root development and higher yield per plant, and the whole nursery is waste-free and operates entirely off grid on solar generated energy and recycled harvested rainwater.

Impressive as their supersustainable nursery is, growing trees is just one branch of a wider vision that Renwick Drysdale has developed with the support of Virgin Money.

The venture began as a ‘natural capital consultancy’ enabling businesses, investment funds, communities, landowners, and private investors to develop and deliver ecological restoration plans.

A small but growing third arm of Akre helps customers to identify and manage opportunities for biodiversity and carbon credit trading.

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

“Our mission is to empower businesses and communities to help the planet,” says Renwick.

“We offer the knowledge, networks and tools that allow clients to understand the full potential of natural capital and make the transition from an extractive to a regenerative business model. Our whole approach is geared to making it as easy and productive as possible for clients to enhance habitats, purify air, mitigate climate change, and dramatically reduce their environmental impact.”

For Virgin Money Head of Agriculture, Brian Richardson, Renwick Drysdale and his family represent the perfect combination of traditional values, entrepreneurial vision, and environmental passion the bank is keen to encourage.

“We have been involved with the Drysdale family for many years, supporting their investment in their farm and other business enterprises, so we were delighted to be able to support Renwick when he needed to repay the original investors in this fascinating venture. My colleague, Colin Milne, was visiting the Akre site post build and recognised that

this was a perfect candidate for our Agri E-Fund, which meant that we could provide a loan without the cost of an arrangement fee.”

For Renwick Drysdale, working with a familiar bank made the financial complexities of investing in and growing a new business straightforward.

“We needed to raise a substantial loan and invest in new technology to take us to the next level, and dealing with Colin Milne and his team at Virgin Money made it so much easier. We needed a bank which understood investment in rural businesses but also understood the enormous potential of the environmental opportunities we are tapping into at Akre.

“They have been extremely helpful in steering us through the unexpected strains of rising inflation and interest rates over the past year or so. We have developed a great relationship with Virgin Money, we know they understand farming and rural business, and the bank is deeply committed to supporting the drive to carbon reduction and biodiversity. They are the ideal partner.”

Images courtesy of Virgin Money

FINANCE

There is sometimes a fine line between a vehicle being considered as a car for VAT purposes and one which is accepted by HMRC as a commercial vehicle.

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he implication from a VAT recovery perspective is that the opportunity to reclaim VAT on the purchase of a car is extremely limited when compared to the position with commercial vehicles.

Nick Hart, Director at accountancy firm Saffery and a member of the firm’s Land and Rural Practice Group, explains: “Particular issues can arise with vehicles such as double cab pick-ups which are extremely popular with rural, farming and estate businesses due to their versatility and suitability for the rural setting.

“Such vehicles typically are designed to carry passengers, having covered seats behind the driver and front passenger seats. This would be enough for the vehicles to be considered cars for VAT purposes. However, for those models which are designed to carry a payload of 1 tonne or more, HMRC accept they are commercial vehicles and not cars from a VAT perspective “In the case of double cab pick-ups, not all models are designed to carry 1 tonne or more payloads, and HMRC

applies the threshold strictly.

“Care should therefore be taken to determine what the payload capacity is of these types of vehicle before VAT is reported as recoverable.

HMRC will disallow VAT recovery on the purchase of a car, where the business is not able to demonstrate it is not available for private use.

Corporate branding on the vehicle does not sway their view in this respect.There is more opportunity to reclaim VAT on the purchase of commercial vehicles including double cab pick-ups which have a payload of 1 tonne or more and HMRC accept that minimal or incidental private use does not prevent all of the VAT paid to be reclaimed, subject to the other normal VAT recovery conditions.

Businesses should however expect scrutiny on whether the vehicle is a car rather than a commercial vehicle, and also whether the business use can be evidence for either a car or a van.

“Advice should be taken when considering a purchase.”

All the benefits of an in-house Accounts department with the flexibility outsourcing offers.

The Effective Way to Outsource Bookkeeping and Payroll • No surprises • Open communication • Knowledge sharing • Known experts • Value for money • Exceeding expectations

Connect with us We’d love to hear how we can best help you.

T: 01926 217900 E: info@tandmthebookkeepers.co.uk W: www.tandmthebookkeepers.co.uk

Finance

for Farmers & Landowners Rates from 5.9% annual flat Business loans & asset finance £10k to £2 million From 3 months - 7 years In as little as 24 hours

Helping farmers and landowners expand and diversify since 2007 01604 669 359

portmanfinancegroup.co.uk

FARMDIVERSITY

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Avoid common pitfalls when reclaiming VAT on the purchase of double cab pick-ups

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INSURANCE

Farm diversifications: beyond farm shops and glamping Enterprising farmers have long found new ways to evolve their farming practices and supplement their income streams.

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Supporting farm innovation

nd, as they seek to secure the future of their farms, it’s becoming increasingly common for farmers to launch enterprises that take their businesses off in new directions; sometimes one that has little or nothing to do with agriculture.

In fact, NFU Mutual research* from 2023, showed over one third (34%) of UK farmers had diversified their farms. The same survey showed that income from diversified activities increased by nearly 13% in 2023 compared to last year, bouncing back from a reduction during the Covid pandemic.

Popular diversifications include holiday accommodation, such as campsites and B&Bs, to attract holidaymakers who want to enjoy rural life.

Other farms are looking to take advantage of the space they have by

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Images courtesy of NFU Mutual

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

turning to renewable energy to help secure their future. Plenty of farmers have invested in the likes of anaerobic digesters and solar energy to complement their farming activities.

Of course, the farm shop is also a popular way for farmers to increase their revenue, by selling what they make directly to the public. The Rhug Estate, (rhug. co.uk/our-story), an organic farm near Llangollen in North Wales, has taken this a step further and even has a drive-through eatery.

We’ve showcased other successful diversifications on our Diversification Hub (nfumutual.co.uk/farming-diversification), including the opening of a premier ice cream shop, a crisp manufacturer, a cookery school, the production of toy farm activity sets for children, and even an online shop, selling a variety of different products such as ostrich eggs and venison. Conversely, other farmers have sought to capitalise on seasonal events, offering Easter Egg hunts, Halloween trails or a Santa’s grotto at Christmas.

But some farmers have launched into something different altogether. One such farm is Honeydale Farm in the Cotswolds, which is home to FarmED. (farm-ed.co.uk)

They’re a not-for-profit organisation which provides learning spaces and events to help people on the path to sustainable farming and food systems.

It’s about making the most of what you have, and what interests you and your family. Whether that’s running tank paintball battles - as one Leicestershire livestock farm is doing - or cultivating truffles, as a growing number of farmers are attempting.

Taking the leap While these different ways of diversifying may provide inspiration, you’ll know that it doesn’t come easy. Taking the leap beyond farming is a big move and is not without its risks.

However, you’re not alone. If you’re not sure where to start, a great first step is to speak to your local NFU Mutual agency office about what covers are needed for your diversification.

After all, the right insurance and robust risk management plan are essential for all farm diversifications.

So, whether you’re just starting to expand beyond your normal farming activities, or have already ventured into new business lines, come, and talk to our experts.

To find out more, scan the QR code, contact your local agency office or visit nfumutual.co.uk

*Voice of Farmer Research – 20th March to 25th May 2023

INSURANCE

Glamping gain for farmers after washout summer The season for pop-up camping has more than doubled, offering farmers a vital lifeline for their diversification ambitions. efore the summer began there was a 28-day limit on operating temporary sites for glamping, campervans and motorhomes. Now, however, the permitted development rights last 60 days.

But with more farmers now set to take advantage of the commercial opportunities, a rural insurance broker is urging them to be aware of the risks.

“Glamping will inevitably involve members of the public setting foot on farmland,” said William Nicholl, of Lycetts.

“Health and safety risk assessments, along with measures and procedures to ensure a safe environment, are therefore essential. Public liability is also a must, and insurers may request site inspections to ensure quality standards and requirements are being met.

“Furthermore, a longer glamping season may see farmers taking on staff, so Employers’ Liability cover must be in place.”

Fire risk is also a serious consideration for those offering barbecues and fire pits as part of the glamping experience.

The new regulations, which apply to England only, are conditional on there being no more than 50 pitches, and having toilets and waste disposal systems in place.

Farmers who already operate pop-up camping sites are not required to seek extra planning permission, but they must notify councils of the opening dates in advance.

Nicholl said: “As the ‘cost-of-business’ crisis continues, farmers and landowners are increasingly turning to diversification as a way of boosting revenue.

“Extending glamping opportunities could help them recoup some of the losses caused by cancellations during the bad weather last summer.

“However, a failure to protect against

the risks can have devastating financial consequences.

“It is therefore important to seek advice from experts who are experienced in the field.”

The Lycetts Group was founded in 1961 and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading independently operated insurance brokers.

• Lycetts specialises in farm and estate insurance and also provides bespoke financial services, household, commercial and bloodstock insurance advice. It has 16 offices in the UK, with its headquarters based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

• Lycetts UK Risk Management Services provide a comprehensive range of health and safety services to the agricultural sector, including health and safety policies, risk assessments, fire risk assessments, asbestos management services and general health and safety training.

• All available profits from Lycetts are passed onto the company’s ultimate owner, the charity Benefact Trust, which in turn invests them back into the community.

This structure offers security and business stability for Lycetts while fostering an ethical and long-term approach and a high-level of client trust.

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MINERALS

Mineral extraction for the construction, energy and industrial sectors For over 150 years, estate owners, farmers and mineral companies across Britain and Ireland have realised land assets with the guidance of Fennell Green & Bates. FGB specialises in mineral extraction for the construction, energy and industrial sectors; with products such as hard rock, sand and gravel, coal, fireclay, special clays, silica sand, industrial lime and brickearth.

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he expert team can advise you on a feasibility study, including your land’s mineral ownership and rights to work it.

When ownership is determined FGB analyses and surveys minerals resources, providing a desk top report followed by a staged site investigation to prove those resources to a reserve. Once the reserve is proven our team can design the quarry or mine, consider constraints and mitigate those with landscaping and a direction of works.

When the design has been finalised FGB will work with Mineral Planning Authority on the proposal whilst a preapplication document is submitted for public consultation before submitting a planning application.

FGB’s experienced team can project manage your mineral project from resource estimation, to rent and royalties, lease agreements, quarry design, and finally beneficial restoration.

Photography by / Images courtesy of John Carlon

1. Soil strip

Chartered Environmental and Resources Surveyors.

Consultants to the Rural, Minerals, Environment Agricultural and Construction Sectors.

Consultants to the Waste Management Industry.

Experts in Planning for Mineral Working, Resource

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Assessment, Mineral Estates, Valuation, Planning,

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Permitting, Leases and Licences to Work.

Independent advice to Land and Minerals Owners.

2. Mineral Excavation

UK, Ireland & EU. Old Joiner’s Shop, 59 Oakenshaw Lane Walton Wakefield West Yorkshire WF2 6NJ

Email : fennellgreenandbates@gmail.com Tel Office : 01924255666 Mobile Number : 07483164372

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

2. Restoration

AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS

Introducing Nordbarn Barns and former agricultural buildings are an important part of our landscape heir unique form offer opportunities to create spectacular residential or commercial properties in sought-after rural locations. Whether it’s the old stone structures or double-height spaces modern steel-framed buildings, Nordbarn are your go to experts to help you identify and realise the potential of your unloved and underutilised agricultural buildings. Our experts can help you achieve planning permission and create innovative designs – unlocking significant gains and maximising the value of your rural property.

Our team of specialists have the skills, knowledge, and experience to help you realise your dream barn conversion project, with a wealth of experience working with homeowners, landowners, developers and farmers.

Our design team includes RIBA (Royal

Institute of British Architects) and ARB (Architects Registration Board) accredited Architects whilst our RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Chartered Planners have worked in the public and private sectors, and have excellent working relations with Local Planning Authorities nationwide. We have worked on numerous schemes affecting Listed Buildings, and within Conservation areas; our team includes a Full Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation and a registered Specialist Conservation Architect.

The path to achieving planning permission can appear overwhelming and off-putting, Nordbarn can guide you through the process, help you make sense of the jargon and help you achieve your dream home in the open countryside.

Image courtesy of Nordbarn

To find out how we can help you achieve planning permission, unlock significant gains, and maximise the value of your existing barn please contact us: 0114 278 8548 admin@nordbarn.co.uk Michael Bamford, BA (Hons) MPlan MRTPI, Director - Chartered Town Planner, Nordbarn

WE CAN HELP BUILD YOUR DREAM At Nordbarn, we specialise in creating stunning new homes using your existing barn, whether it is a steel-framed sheet clad building or a historic stone barn, we can help. We take your concept and use our expertise, experience, and skill to plan and implement conversion projects across the country.

At Nordbarn we can help you identify and realise the potential of your unloved and under utilised agricultural buildings.

To find out how we can help you achieve planning permission, unlock significant gains and maximise the value of your existing barn contact us:

Barn Conversion Specialists

0114 278 8548

WWW.NORDBARN.CO.UK

FARMDIVERSITY

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ASBESTOS

White asbestos on farms: how to spot, manage and dispose of it Where you may find asbestos, how to reduce the risk of exposing it, when you need a licensed contractor and how to deal with asbestos waste

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sbestos is a hazardous substance that can cause disease and death.

Farmers are legally obliged to manage asbestos in all “non-domestic” properties.

This includes all farm

buildings, with the exception of the house, which is not usually included.

There are six types of asbestos. White asbestos, also known as chrysotile, is the most common type found on farms.

www.ljafacilities.co.uk

Supporting farm innovation

We provide the highest standard procedures of Asbestos removal, Thermal insulation & Industrial commercial cleaning. We operate a multi-disciplined, national service.

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SPECIALIST ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTORS covering the whole of the UK • Specialists in Asbestos Clad Buildings • Removal, Repair & Reclad For 24-hour emergencies, CALL: Head Office: 01636 918 828 or 07471 959 298 E: info@ljafacilities.co.uk

www.farmdiversity.co.uk

Image courtesy of iStock

How to spot white asbestos White asbestos is light grey.

You may find it: • mixed with blue or brown asbestos as pipe or boiler insulation • in panels between wallboards • in the brake linings of old vehicles • in corrugated roofing and cladding • in rainwater pipes and gutters Flaking or powdering on damaged or worn surfaces could be a sign that the material contains asbestos.

This is known as asbestos containing material (ACM).

You may expose or disturb asbestos fibres when you: • repair or replace mechanical parts, like clutch or brake linings on an old vehicle • remove or work on hot water systems with insulated pipes or boilers • drill or saw roof or wall panels, for example if you rewire or install fans or heaters • demolish buildings, roofs or walls built before 2000 • drill, cut or break asbestos cement

What to do if you suspect or find asbestos If you think you have ACM, avoid disturbing it. It can release fibres that may damage your lungs and cause cancer if inhaled.

Make a management plan If you find asbestos or ACM in or on your farm buildings (except the farmhouse), you must make an asbestos management plan (visit the HSE website for more info) Important things to remember • Asbestos is only dangerous when disturbed - avoid unnecessary disturbance.

• If unsure, presume that material contains asbestos.

• The duty to manage does not require asbestos removal.

• You don’t always need a specialist. When you do, get a competent one.

•If you find anything wrong while following the HSE guidance, get help.

This article is produced from information taken from the DEFRA and HSE websites.

STORAGE

Diversifying your available space with self storage is a fantastic way to add additional revenue to your business As with any new venture there is a lot to get to grips with to achieve success, including additional responsibilities like sales, customer service, administration, marketing. his isn’t to say that self storage isn’t worth the investment, however it is essential to consider the time and skills required to be successful in this field alongside your current business needs.

Anna Roberts, founder of Explorage.com, is part of a farming family and understands the inconvenience of admin work when you are at the beck and call of the weather, seasons and natural light. “My family don’t want to be coming in at midnight after the days work is done and start responding to emails or chasing payments” she admits, and she founded Explorage. com with one simple mission to make life easier.

Explorage.com believe in

treating people as people first, offering their industry expertise to storage operators.

Remote management services are available for operators who want to diversify their land without having the time to dedicate to day-to-day administrative duties. Having a remote managed facility means that the team will handle sales, administration, call handling, emails, marketing and accounting – taking the stress out of managing your facility 24/7, so you are free to focus on the things that matter to you.

Contact Explorage.com on 0800 098 8864 or email support@explorage.com today and speak to us about a free site visit and consultation.

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G A R O T ELF S

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GEMEN

A E MAN T O M E R

Self Storage Facilities Management Service Our remote management service takes the stress out of your self storage business.

From just £200 per month we we will take care of the day to day headaches and admin.

Whatever the weather.

Call us on 0800 098 8864, or email support@explorage.com today to find out more FARMDIVERSITY

Supporting farm innovation

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STORAGE

The benefits of diversifying into providing storage solutions

Supporting farm innovation

Farmers and rural land owners are in unique possession of a highly sought after commodity - space A

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s people’s lives are becoming busier and more cluttered, they are increasingly looking for storage solutions for the bits and pieces in their lives that they simply don’t have room for at home. Farmers are ideally located to take advantage of that high demand for storage space, by utilising surplus farm buildings, or secure yard areas to bring in an additional income stream to their farming enterprises.

If you are considering diversifying your farm and are looking for a venture which is relatively low cost to start up, low maintenance, and in high demand, you could do far worse than considering diversifying into providing storage solutions.

There are numerous reasons self-storage offers a real benefit to many people.

Moving home, transitioning after a divorce, needing to store bulky seasonal items (for example such as large Christmas ornaments), storing business supplies, or sometimes people simply don’t have room at home for bulky items such as bikes, lawn mowers, caravans, or even boats. There is growing demand too, from businesses for self storage solutions to fit their needs.

Businesses, especially those based online, are able to take advantage of the flexibility that self-storage offers- with no business rates to pay and the ability to rent exactly the amount of space that they need. The boom in online deliveries has also led to a surge in demand for more rural and semirural warehouse space from companies looking to improve their rural logistics.

What facilities you have, available space, and access to your farm, will all affect what sort of items you want to/ are able to store.

You might simply want to utilise an area of hard standing, or a disused farm building.

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You might want to take advantage of your unique location and offer storage tailored to your local area (for example, if you live near the coast, there is high demand for winter storage of boats, yachts, jet skis, dinghies and the like). Either way, there are many opportunities for land owners to take advantage of the growing market for both short and long term storage solutions.

Whilst items such as vehicles, boats, trailers etc are perfectly able to be stored outdoors, undercover and/ or weatherproof storage will always demand a premium price. Shipping containers don’t require a huge amount of space, and are a relatively inexpensive outlay, which can quickly pay for themselves. As well as being easily scalable, they offer the benefit of

being able to provide immediate, secure, dry storage space, whilst only requiring a minimum of a level site.

With the demand for accessible storage space for both business and personal use increasing, farmers and rural landowners are in the ideal position to take advantage of the possibilities that offering storage solutions could bring to their farm.

The Business Barn is the leading free to use diversification website, dedicated to providing ideas, inspiration and rural business advice to diversifying farmers and rural landowners, as well as connecting them to businesses who can provide advice, products and services for all their diversification needs.

Image courtesy of iStock

STORAGE

Storage On Site

Storage on Site is a family run and industry leading, nationwide supplier of shipping containers and onsite accommodation, with reputable experience spanning nearly 6 decades.

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ith a wide range of sizes and colours always ready to ship, our high quality containers are built to the highest specifications and perfect for numerous projects, large and small, and are especially suited to diversity projects such as self storage centres. If you require something unique, we have on-site modification facilities at our head office in Southampton.

Ordering is an extremely simple process, offering very competitive pricing and always with a customer-first, personal and friendly service, and with no hidden extras ever, the price you are

LEADERS IN CONTAINERS & CABINS

quoted is the price you pay.

Storage on Site owns outright its large fleet of crane-assisted delivery and after-sales vehicles, meaning that from your order right through to delivery, you’re always talking to the same team, often with just one point of contact. This also ensures you get the fastest response times from your initial point of enquiry.

We also offer added value with our free of charge site visits, to help assess, plan and advise how to best manage the accessibility, location and setup for your project.

CONTAINERS AND CABINS - HIRE AND SALES NEW AND USED AVAILABLE - DELIVERY ALL AREAS

TEL: 023 80 332266 enquiries@storageonsite.co.uk www.storageonsite.co.uk A VICKERY GROUP COMPANY www.storageonsite.co.uk

LEADERS IN CONTAINERS FOR FARMLAND DIVERSITY PROJECTS WITH YOU AT EVERY STAGE

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CALL US TODAY 023 8033 2266

enquiries@storageonsite.co.uk www.storageonsite.co.uk

FARMDIVERSITY

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REAL

Diversification born from family tragedy leads to success

experiences from real farmers

West Yorkshire farm widow reveals how she used her land to keep her farm afloat

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or many farmers, diversification is a nice sideline to bolster their agricultural income streams.

But for Huddersfield farmer Lydia McGrath it was literally a necessity to ensure she could keep herself and her four children living on the farm that they had called home for years.

In 2021, tragically, Lydia suddenly lost her husband Tom just a year after their fourth child had been born.

She was left facing not only the grief of his loss but also the challenge of keeping

their farming and pipe laying businesses running on her own, all whilst caring for four young children.

She bravely tried to step up and manage it all but soon realised it wasn’t going to be possible.

She explained: “When I lost Tom I wanted to stay here (on the farm) with the children, it was a priority for me.

“We’d bought the farm together to raise our children, to be able to have the life that we had as children ourselves.

“The farm wasn’t our main

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business, but it was a business nonetheless.

“We’d calf the cows every year and then sold the calves on. Sometimes we reared them and then bought in new ones and we had a small cow breeding programme.

“It was more of a hobby farm but it obviously still had to be run as a business, because you can’t afford for it to lose money.

“It was always a struggle because you were always thrown with different eventualities of farm life. We did everything ourselves with the cattle and then we used the other land for growing the crops, straw and silage.

“So when Tom died I was doing it all on my own and it was just too much, as at the time the children were five, four, three and 13 months old.”

The decision to diversify Lydia’s path to diversification was cemented when she had a near miss with an angry cow and had horrific thoughts of her children losing both parents.

“One night, the children were in bed and I went out to check on one of the cows and it just

turned on me,” she said.

“Fortunately I was near the gate, but if I had been any further in the building it would have just floored me, and in that moment I thought what are you doing? It’s just ridiculous. You’ve four children in bed and you’re out here looking at calving a cow on your own.

“So I decided that I was going to get rid of the cows and look at something a bit easier.”

Lydia thought of sheep farming or hosting wedding events, which she had done a few times before, but ruled them out as they were too much work for one person.

She continued: “I needed the land to pay me so I decided to grow a maze in the top field. I’ve never grown maize before, didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but set off on this journey to grow a maize crop.

“I grew it quite successfully and then cut a pattern into it and we opened it to the public last year (2022) for the first time.

“Following that, we had an on-site cafe in a wedding marquee, which was quite successful. We opened for six

FARMDIVERSITY out myself with my cousin John.

“It was brilliant. We were open for six weeks every day and it was great. We decided to do one entry price and then have everything included. So we had bouncy castles, an outdoor obstacle course and other games and things for kids to play and we did tractor rides because that was easier to manage. One ticket you were done for the day, rather than trying to charge for a bouncy castle or charge for a tractor ride.”

I was just pulled from pillar to post. He had 27 men on three contracts and I was going out to work every day, leaving my sister-in-law here with the children and I was just beside myself.”

community magazines. She also was able to install signs and banners in a number of high profile spots on her property and other community buildings.

Analysis of her marketing has revealed Facebook was the most successful medium.

Location, location, location!

Lydia’s West Yorkshire farm is on a major route between Huddersfield and Wakefield and she realised her location would be a great asset for on site advertising and ease of access for visitors.

Commenting on her debut season, she said: “We tested the soil to see what it needed, got a different contractor in to sow the maize and then I cut it

Advertising impact Lydia used a local marketing agency to arrange some advertising on Facebook and Instagram alongside traditional print advertising in hyperlocal publications such as

temporary events licence if you were selling alcohol, late night entertainment or late night food. They came and said, you’ve got to take it all down, and cease trading straight away.

“So, knowing that I could only do 28 days on a temporary events licence for this year, I decided to open later in the season, giving the maize longer to grow taller. “ For her debut summer, Lydia joined the Maize Maze Association and used a contractor to design the maze pattern, but for her second year she drew out the design herself by pegging out three by three metre squares She added: “This year we opened the third week in the

six week summer holidays and it was more profitable because we’ve done more sales than last year, we’ve taken more money in the cafe than last year, but we’ve had less cost for running it for three weeks rather than it being for six weeks.

“You think when you do an event you should be open as much as you can, but we’ve done about the same numbers, but just in a shorter period of time.

“So it’s been better and it gave me more time with the children and allowed us to have a holiday.”

Supporting farm innovation

weeks in the summer and then it evolved into doing Halloween and pumpkin picking in October, which was also great.”

The idea for a maize maze came after Lydia heard that one of the only other farm mazes in the area was shutting down. She took it upon herself to get in touch with the owner, who also turned out to be a farm widow.

She said: “I rang her and asked her loads of questions and I just thought it’s something I can do. It’s taking up one field. I can run the cafe, I’ve done weddings, events and am quite a personal person.

“It’s quite public facing and I thought it’s something that I can do within my capability, because I tried to run Tom’s business for three months and

Planning issues lead to new strategy While the maize maze was a financial success it hasn’t been without its issues with red tape.

“The council wrote to me and said that I’d breached my temporary events licence as I could only do 28 days a year,” said Lydia.

“I thought you only needed a

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LEGAL SERVICES

Changes to Inheritance Tax rules on property assets within EEA, Isle of Man and Channel Islands Changes to IHT rules mean APR and woodland relief for IHT purposes will cease to be available on property assets within the EEA, Isle of Man and Channel Islands after 6 April 2024, advises Saffery Champness.

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Supporting farm innovation

K taxpayers with agricultural land or property occupied for the purpose of agriculture, or qualifying woodland, within the European Economic Area (EEA), will be affected by the withdrawal of reliefs for inheritance tax purposes from next year following an announcement in the Spring Budget 2023.

Agricultural property relief and woodland property relief were extended to property located within the EEA in 2009 to ensure compatibility with EU law. Following the UK’s departure from the EU however, these measures will be reversed so that previously qualifying property located in the EEA will be treated the same for IHT purposes as property located elsewhere in the world.

The measure also removes the

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Image courtesy of iStock

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availability of APR on property located in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man – relief that has been in place since the 1970s.

Martyn Dobinson, Partner, Saffery Champness and a member of the firm’s Land and Rural Practice Group says: “Agricultural property relief is a relief from IHT available on the agricultural value of qualifying land and other property owned and occupied for the purposes of agriculture.

“This change will now place property owned within the EEA outside the scope of available relief. Similarly, woodland relief, a relief from IHT available on the transfer of woodlands on death, will also be withdrawn for property within the EEA. The changes will also apply to previously

qualifying property held in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. “The changes will take effect from 6 April 2024 and will impact on transfers of value and other IHT events from that date. It should also be noted that where there is a gift of previously qualifying agricultural property situated outside of the UK, from 6 April 2024, the gift will no longer qualify for CGT Holdover or Gift Relief.

“Going forward, the availability of the CGT relief for qualifying agricultural property will only be available for a gift of property situated in the UK. “If you own property that will be affected and have concerns about how this measure will impact on your tax planning you should speak to your professional adviser in the first instance.”

Keeping up with the latest news in the industry

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Visit www.farmdiversity.co.uk

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Supporting farm innovation / Farm Diversity

Growing beyond the field We understand the opportunities and challenges of diversifiying and can provide expert insight and quality insurance advice for farmers.

Scan the QR code or search ‘NFU Mutual Farming Diversification’ for the latest trends and real-life case studies.

The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A member of the Association of British Insurers.