Member Business • Charles Abel
Farming briefs Peter Sharpley (left) and Tom Arthey (right) at Croft Farm Barn Holiday Lettings
Cereals to B&B ARABLE farmers J P and M Sharpley and Son timed a major diversification project perfectly, completing a series of traditional barn conversions just in time to meet surging demand from the covid-induced staycation market. Their three exclusive holiday cottages in Thornhaugh, Peterborough, near Stamford, were made possible by a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Growth Programme grant to fund 40% of the cost of works. It has not only provided a diversified income stream for the farm, but also supported local businesses in the building, fitting and servicing of the cottages, and helped provide ongoing work for local businesses, including cleaners and laundry services. Options for guests to pre-order goods from local farms and shops are planned. Furniture and fittings were mostly sourced locally.
“We are thrilled that with the RDPE grant we have been able to not only bring life back to an old farmhouse at the centre of the village, but also that we are now making use of what were completely unused barns,” says Peter Sharpley, a member of The Farmers Club. Completing the project in time to welcome paying guests during the covid pandemic was particularly satisfying, adds director Tom Arthey. “In what has no doubt been a turbulent year, the Sharpley family worked hard at keeping the project rolling and launching it to take advantage of a new generation of ‘staycationers’, whilst ensuring the accommodation complies with the latest Covid-19 guidelines.” Whilst RDPE Growth Programme funding had closed for new applications at the time of writing, ensuring future grants fit client diversification projects to maximise existing and unused assets is important, he adds.
With flexible accommodation for up to 18 guests across three properties marketed exclusively by Sykes Cottages, the 400 year old Croft Farm Barn Holiday Lettings are a local conservation project, with the application for the RDPE grant taking 18 months from the concept through to confirmation that the funding had been awarded in July 2019. The cottages were completed and welcomed their first guests in early October 2020.
“To see a completely redundant set of buildings finished to such a high standard is a great example of the kind of diversification that farms should be looking to undertake to maximise existing and unused assets”
RSK Wilding, launched by ADAS owner RSK Group, is helping clients offset carbon emissions and meet biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements via plans ranging from no action, to recreating meadows or introducing dormice or beavers to a site, and carbon sequestration. Target clients include developers seeking BNG for planning permission. Exploit all factors to create productive, regenerative, inter-connected, resilient farming, says Pieter de Wolf, Farm of the Future leader at The Netherlands’ Lelystad University. “Don’t empty the toolbox – we want to and should use all tools available. Being clear about challenges and responding as individual businesses is key.” www.farmofthefuture.nl Trials of a novel water retention product in south west England could help farmers lift soil quality and cut flooding and pollutant run-off. With Innovate UK funding Rescaype UK is assessing the cost-efficient use of WaterscaypeX in Environment Agencylisted critical soil and water areas, Drinking Water Safe Zones and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. The soil improver is based on m-PAM, a foodgrade flocculant.
Tom Arthey
www.thefarmersclub.com • 17
