Public Summary Of Proposals

Comments, ideas, input and feedback welcome from all interested parties.

Please email tim@churchfarmardeley.co.uk

www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk

www.agrarianrenaissance.co.uk

Timeline

Plant Aker Wood Orchard: Part time Share Farming going. Eco-camping

established. Upgrade Café & Farm Store. Reseed Pastures. New Farm Walk

Experience. Higher Level Stewardship

2012 & 2013

Farm Store and Café Started. Sheltered eating area. Events programme.

Care Farming Started: Composting toilets in.

By end 2011

Start food and craft Saturday markets.

Picnics and Barbecues

Events & Volunteering start

TBD

Take over park. Rebrand Signage. Launch Website. Change Pricing. Add

hosting. Farm box delivery point. Revamp farm tour, bring over livestock

from Church Farm. Fence and enhance play area.

TBD

Detailed Business Planning

Sign Lease : Agreement with HCC, Friends, Staff & Stakeholders

June 2011

Proposal for a Renaissance of Aldenham Country Park

Summary

We are offering to take on the lease of the Park and running it in a very similar way to Church Farm,

for people, land and food. See www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk .

We will do this with the support for the plan of all stakeholders but in particular in partnership with

the Friends.

The HCC owned facility is scheduled to cost £120k+ subsidy to run in the next financial year starting

April 2011, the council will not be funding it after this time.

Friends of ACP have created a groundswell of over 1500 supporters and brought together many

interested parties willing to help sustain and advance the public benefits.

We would be happy to sign a covenant to uphold the community access & public benefit.

Our offer if taken up in the timescale could save HCC money in the next financial year, guarantee the

future of the public benefit and give the council an income of £x per year from year 2.

The benefits to local people would include reduced costs of parking. In summary we would want to

create a renaissance of Aldenham Country Park, a place that reconnects people, land and food,

enterprises that enhance the experience with the active involvement of the community.

Site Layout

New Heritage Orchard Enhancing 100 Aker Wood

This traditional orchard contains over 700 trees and 130 different local

and regional varieties of fruit including apples, pears, gages, cherries,

plums, quince, medlars and crab apples. It would be financed by public

donation / fund raising by us and/or the Friends. Volunteers and Local

people would get the chance to grow a tree.

Picnic & Barbecue area

Farm LayoutReception, FarmEntrance & Information CabinPossible Use of Workshop as Farm Store

Use for Pigs and ChickensPublic able to feed

Outdoor PigsRotates with Veg Field. Pigs dig , compost and take out weeds.

Veg Field Strips For Part time Farmers. Cultivated, composted and bed formed. Rotates with pigs.

Picnic Area and PlayArea fenced and enhancedTractors and small ride-onsFor 2-10yr olds. Picnic Huts for hire

Part time Farmers Cabin.Field Edges Permaculture designed as edible borders similar to Church Farm Vegetable and Herb field.

Possible Long Term Site for Café& Farm Store

Creating a Renaissance

We plan to follow the principles and plans implemented at Church Farm Ardeley. This is an agro-ecological approach, enhancing the environment, producing food and more. Anyone can visit Church Farm which is open every day of the week. We will input the branding and intellectual property of Agrarian Renaissance, set up to create replicable food, farming and countryside enterprises.

We aim to maintain and enhance the community resources and create a real food, farming and country experience. Not just a farm park - a place for people to get involved in food & farming and the countryside.

Rare Breed Farm

We would review the existing stock and add to it from our farm. We would use the rare breeds for meat and egg production and run alongside our existing farm & butchery. We would want to start a Farm Shop, stocked with products produced on our and other Hertfordshire farms.

Initially we would bring over 6 Berkshire Pigs + boar / 6 British Lop Pigs & Boar, 10 Red Poll Heifers, a flock of Laying Chickens, Norfolk Black Turkeys, Ayelsbury Ducks & Emben Geese. We would have more animals outdoors all around the farm to attract walkers to all parts. We would keep the park grazing for longhorn cattle as well as our Red Poll cattle.

We would enhance the farm experience enabling access to the area used for a Hay Barn which would have pigs and chickens in it which people could feed. We will make a small charge for entrance to the farm. A small shed would be manned every day by a welcoming face. We would also sell books, guides and animal feed from here.

Creating a Renaissance

Rural Enterprise & Education

We would partner with or start local micro-enterprises to process, produce and market food

on-site, for sale to visitors and locals through a farm shop, regular craft fair and farmers

market. As we have at Church Farm, creating a hub of educational opportunties and local

enterprises from Beekeeping to Jam making. We will support the friends educational objectives.

The Land

Would manage the land with an agro-ecological approach aiming to slot seed clover and deep

rooting chicory into the grass leys after testing the soil for micro and macro nutrients and

correct imbalances. We would use local compost to improve fertility.

With the help of the friends and users, we will creatively enhance the farm walk experience

extending it across all 90 acres. In the long term we would apply to Natural England for a

Higher Level Stewardship Scheme to help maintain and manage the wildlife and woodland. Over

time we would seek to rent additional and adjoining land to add to the farms grassland and for

benefit of visitors and conservation. Ideally we would want to find another 100 acres of

grassland to make hay / silage in the local vicinity.

We would sell food to the public to feed the animals in certain areas & run guided tours

spotting the wildlife, flora and fauna.

Creating a Renaissance

Car Park

We would reduce the car park charge and offer free parking to those who spent a defined amount in the farm shop to encourage local shoppers.

Farm Store

We would seek to use some of the space in the existing workshop as a farm shop selling produce from Aldenham, Church Farm and other local food, local crafts and countryside relevant, sustainable and fair trade produce. This would be modelled on the Farm Store at Church Farm. Longer term we would seek to establish a new Farm Café & Store.

We would be a collection and distribution point for pick up of weekly Farm Food Boxes easily extended from our current operation.

We would have an extensive web and online presence.

All produce retailed not from our farms would be either local or ethical / fair-trade products. We would sell sustainably produced merchandise but not tat.

Events

We would seek to partner with countryside food fairs and hold a regular programme every weekend. We would enhance revenue by allowing overnight eco-camping for groups from the scouts to WI. We would market the events field (we have some experience in this founded and chair www.motivaction.co.uk ) We would promote green weddings amongst the wonderful oaks.

Creating a Renaissance

Rural Care

We would integrate well with KIDs and already run a relevant enterprise that could be a model for

the integration. In any case we would want to start a Care Farm, enabling adults with learning

difficulties to help on the farm as we have at Church Farm. We already have a supplier agreement

and relationship with HCC Adult Care Services at Church Farm.

Branding

Branding would follow our existing style. The look feel and style of branding would follow church

farm, the bee emblem sums up that everything the enterprises do must be good for bees. If so

probably this is good for all :)

We would revamp signage and welcome, simple small touches to enhance customer experience and

emphasise what people can do.

Agrarian Renaissance stands for Reconnecting People, Land & Food and would provide the rights to

use IPR to Aldenham

Toilets & Litter

We plan put in composting loos in addition to the existing loo's.

We would recycle and encourage people to take their own litter with them.

Creating a Renaissance

Community Involvement

Would seek to extend the farm productivity and through community planting make the 100 Aker

wood into a productive orchard as well as enhance access. Projects like these would involve the

community in planting local heritage varieties of fruit. We have planted 7 acres of Orchards at

Church Farm.

We would encourage and enable work experience / volunteers from the local area.

We would extend educational access to include classroom and practical sessions whereby schools

and local companies can come and spend a practical day on the farm.

We would have barbecue area and bbq's for hire, would be only allowed to use sustainably sourced

uk charcoal purchased from us. We would extend opening hours in the summer evenings.

Part Time Farming opportunities - Vegetables & Soft Fruit

We envisage a vegetable, garden run in partnership with local gardeners, we provide the land,

manure and cultivations, gardeners would then take on the production in return for a rent and we

would sell their produce on site. We would make use of compost from green waste to enhance soil

fertility on the chosen area.

Creating a Renaissance

Staffing

We see the strengths of the existing team as care of the park, maintenance, construction, animal

care, safety, organisation and daily operation. We endeavour to keep this team and would

supplement with 2x 6 month internship positions.

To implement this plan we have a management team who will be appointed to host the park, market,

administrate, manage and deliver a great customer experience. Budget is for 2 people initially.

Catering Partnership

In the longer term we would wish to do a joint venture that enables the existing catering offering to

become a full cafe, restaurant and tea room.

Charges

Our strategy is to encourage people to return so we would want to reduce the car parking fee. In

time we would prefer to install a time charge system. There would be no charge for access to 100

Aker Wood.

We would enhance the Farm Experience and charge a small entrance fee for Adults and all Children

over 2. We would intend to erect a cabin near the entrance to personally sell these tickets &

welcome people.

Marketing & Promotions

Main Service Areas

– Core business would be growing food from rare breeds. Income from visitors to the Farm, Feed the

Animals, Food.

– A quiet place for enjoying the countryside and walking

– Provision of exemplary land management including moving to more environmentally friendly waste disposal.

– Catering in partnership with Beckworth

– Craft Fair, Farmers Market and Weekend Events Programme

– Eco Camping, Barbecue Hire

– Care Farming & Education

– Part Time Growers Community Share Farming Vegetable plots covering a small area

– Farm Store Meat, Veg and Local Produce : Box scheme & Merchandise

Main Elements of the Promotion Plan

– Investment in new signage & branding

– Investment in new Brochures & Leaflets

– We would develop www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

– Partnership with local media

– Facebook & social media internship place led by our management team

– Follow what has been successful at Church Farm and benefit from the learning curve.

– Reduce car park charge to encourage more visitors and repeat visitors

– Create an excellent customer experience and numerous talking points.

Appendix – Church Farm

Church Farm Information

Farmer

Tim Waygood

Relevant Experience & Resources

– Born and worked on a small mixed farm, currently active farmer

– Degree in Agriculture from Reading University 85-88

– Founded an events business www.motivaction.co.uk in 1987 grew to

100pax £15million T/o

– Attend Harvard Business School OPM Course 99-01

– Turn around record of - £1.300,000 to profit in one year in 2004

(MotivAction)

– Experience of merger, takeovers and acquisitions

– Founded social enterprise www.agrarianrenaissance.co.uk in 2009 to

create replicable enterprise models and an umbrella brand reinvisaging

farms as places for people, wildlife, food and ecological services.

– Created a renaissance in 3 years since 2008 farming at

www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk open 7 days a week.

– Currently have rare breeds and local livestock of every type which we

retail direct to people.

– Brings resources of all 3 organisations.

Church Farm 2010

New Plantations in filled with 500 Spruce, 200 Chestnut, 400 Larch and 100 Sycamore as well as 1000 nut and wild berry shrubs. New Hedges -approx 1000 metres planted in 2008 more for 2009

120 Walnut trees planted in 2008. Varieties are;

FERNOR 60

LARA 14

RITA 14

BROARDVIEW 12

FERNETTE (p) 10

RONDE DE MONTIGNAC (p) 10

As well as providing an edible harvest from years 4 on, they are also useful for

timber in the long run.

Running poultry under the trees helps fertilize the soil. Geese can take 15%

or more of their diet through grazing.

Woodland Grass and wildflower mix has been planted between the trees.

Church Farm New “Vicars” Orchard

This traditional orchard contains over 700

trees and 130 different local and regional

varieties of fruit including apples, pears, gages,

cherries, plums, quince, medlars, peach and

nectarine.

When in full production in 2012 with picking

and storing the orchard will provide apples 10

months of the year.

Walnut Orchard Trees & Hedges

Percentage Number Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus 10% 200 Holly Ilex aquifolium 5% 100 Privet Ligustrum vulgare 10% 200 Wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana 10% 200

Spindle Euonymus europaeus 10% 200

Elder Sambucus nigra 5% 100 Crab apple Malus sylvestris 10% 200 Alder Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula 10% 200 Purging Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica 10% 200 Hazel Corylus avellana 10% 200 Alder Alnus glutinosa 5% 100 Dogwood Cornus sanguinea 5% 100

Church Farm Footpath Views – England’s Green & Pleasant Land