Young Farmers Sylvie Planel and Clare Whitney need Starter Farm Land!

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Sylvie Planel and Sam Hardiman at the 26th June Launch
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Cwm Harry Food Company - located in Newtown, Powys.

Land for Young Farmers through Stroud Community Farm Buy Out: Community Share Offer Launch for Hammonds Farm, 26th June

Young farmers Sylvie Planel and Clare Whitney want to develop a Starter Farm between Hawkwood College and Stroud, Gloucestershire. But they need land. So the Biodynamic Land Trust team launched a community buy out of 41 acres of Hammond’s farmland on Friday 26th June at a packed meeting at Stroud Brewery.

As the average age of farmers is around 60, getting farmland for young farmers is vital. We face two burning questions about food security:

  1. How will we ever get young farmers to grow the food we need when it’s such hard work? And,
  2. How can we get land for the young farmers who do want to farm?

Co-own farm land?

So imagine having the chance to co-own part of a beautiful, productive farm bordering Stroud? This is a rare chance to secure land on Stroud’s doorstep for a Starter Farm for young farmers Sylvie Planel and Clare Whitney. This land will also help Stroud Community Agriculture (SCA) develop its successful Hawkwood farm. The Biodynamic Land Trust, needs public support to make this happen so as to:

  • Develop a Starter Farm for young farmers and grower
  • Regenerate soil, wildlife and biodiversity
  • Protect the AONB and agricultural land from housing development
  • Educate and train in farming, horticulture, rural skills
  • Grow good, healthy food

This community buy out is important because this farmland will enable SCA to provide land for a Starter Farm and market garden, and increase food production for local needs. For more details see www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk.

Says Gabriel Kaye of the Biodynamic Land Trust co-op:

‘What are we trying to do? We need to raise £380,000 in gifts, community shares and loans to buy 41 acres, Lot 3, of Hammonds Farm by 24 July. We have already raised £220,000 so far in just three weeks. People are warmly invited to invest and or donate NOW to secure this farmland.’

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