GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
IMAGE: SARAH FARNSWORTH
O
verbury Enterprises is nestled in the Cotswold countryside of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Penelope Bossom’s family have lived at Overbury for almost 300 years; she took responsibility for the estate properties in 1998, and the farm two years later. In 2016, the teams involved in the various parts of Overbury were brought together into the family partnership of Overbury Enterprises. Over the last few years, the farm has evolved into regenerative agriculture; the water and connectivity infrastructure has been updated with new pipework and full-fibre installation; the range and number of businesses working from its properties
has increased; a children’s day nursery has been established; and Penelope’s daughter Rosanna has converted a farmhouse into a country retreat for social and business breaks. Overbury Enterprises employs around 40 members of staff – many of whom have worked there for over 20 years – with roles that cover the farm, farm contracting, conservation, woodland, shoot, gardening, childcare, serviced holiday support, business space services, and building and joinery services.
Connectivity In 2012, Overbury saw an opportunity to connect properties and businesses with full-fibre broadband dug across the farm. This was ahead of the fibre to the broadband cabinet upgrades, better suited for more densely populated areas.
Penelope Bossom offers an insight into the diverse businesses at Overbury, ranging from regenerative agriculture and updated infrastructure through to education
Penelope says: “With precision farming, we had to install our own base station for farm machinery guidance (RTK). This is in addition to paying others for the same service, and due to the lack of interoperability and standards – farmers ensuring big business works together. “To get a connected countryside, I believe we need to look strategically at our problems and specify our technology needs for the future. Today, it is about full-fibre broadband for our homes and offices, mobile connectivity and navigation. For tomorrow we should be working with innovators, discussing the spectrum of networks to get the right ones. We will need to successfully monitor a wide range – electricity meters, security, soil and weather sensors, as well as things not yet used or invented. Putting in a SIM card is not the only answer.” “If we don’t communicate our priorities before the technology is handed to us, we will never get the best solutions. Before we buy, we should work together to get appropriate
An evolving
IMAGE: AGENCY
estate
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