Raise a Barn, Make a Farm

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Dear Members, Friends and supporters

Even in the depths of winter there is a lot of activity on the land, such as weekend planting days and Working Wednesdays for community volunteers.

For up to date events consult the Apricot Centre Website.

NEWS: Share Offer - £150,000 needed to make a farm from bare land

Share offer is extended until 31st March

The buzz of activity on the land is being met with a new flurry of fundraising.
Sixteen people have already taken up shares towards building the barn, and much more is needed to make this farm a working reality.

What It's All About

We are creating a farm to feed local people, operating as a multi-purpose community space.

We bought this farm as bare, orphan land with no farm buildings or infrastructure. With the land in conversion to biodynamic status, and permaculture design workshops shaping this land into a nourishing, community connected farm for food and wellbeing, plans are underway for a very worthwhile project. To hear more about the birth of this community farm, catch Marina O’Connell chatting with radio host Stefan Geyer about our progress. Listen to the interview here .

The Apricot Centre is funding all the trees, tunnels, tractors and time. All we as the BDLT need now is help to raise funds to build a barn. So do join us in this project.

Fuller details about this exciting development, including the share offer prospectus and a short leaflet, can be found on our website, or contact us by replying to this email.

View from the Ground

Bob Mehew reports that the Children's Orchard and Forest School are now ready to go. Also, 2-3 community groups would like to come and volunteer at the farm after April: children on respite care and veterans with post traumatic stress. Both projects need access and a car park to get on the site effectively. Planning permission is underway and likely to be in place on 30 May so that the Apricot Centre can continue to build the farm.

We (the Apricot team) are planting over 2000 agroforestry row trees and wildlife trees this winter, and more than 2000 soft fruit bushes and plants. This is a substantial step in realising our farm vision. The agroforestry rows are being planted along the contours of the land, which will have a significant impact on water runoff. This is very encouraging in light of the floods at Week this winter.

This planning permission will also pave the way for the barn; your support is needed to make this vision a reality.

Spread the Word!

Do continue to talk enthusiastically with your friends and family about the story of this land and developing community farm. Interested people who wish to support us are very welcome to join the Land Trust and become a part of this movement to secure land for a living, working countryside. If you know any groups or individuals you think we should send the share offer to, do let us know.

We greatly appreciate your interest and help.

Gabriel Kaye
For the Biodynamic Land Trust team

Share offer is extended until 31st March

Spread the Word!

Huxhams Cross Farm - BDLT in partnership with the Apricot Centre