Invitation to the 2015 AGM

Saturday 3rd October – 10.00 – 12.45
at Hawkwood College, Stroud, Glos, GL6 7QW

Dear Members and soon-to-be Members
We invite you to join us for our Annual General Meeting. We have added other activities and information to make it an interesting day for you, and for us all.
Depending on your time availability and interests you can join us just for the AGM or for a combination of AGM and activities. We would love to see you and have your input and ideas on the future of the Land Trust.

Membership Notes
Membership application becomes effective when shares have been accepted and the specific project has been realised (bought or long lease signed), this can take some time.
(There were still only 48 members/shareholders investing in shares in the Brambletye Fields project and general members at the end of the last financial year on 31^st March 2015. These are the members eligible to vote at the AGM.)
Every shareholder, potential shareholder and friend of the BDLT is welcome to come to the AGM.
The shareholders/members for the Huxhams Cross/Week Land project are now numbering 125 new investors; they and Hammonds Farm project investors (about 215) will be eligible to vote at the next AGM (subject to successful completion of Hammonds Farm ) Huxhams Cross Farm agreement is being completed as I write).

As a member and shareholder of the Biodynamic Land Trust, you have joined something very special: a community of people who want to co-create a greener farming future through securing land into trust for affordable access for biodynamic farmers and communities. We are a growing community and a charitable, co-operative, Community Benefit Society - with more and more members realising that biodynamic farms can be beacons for building community, for growing good food, for cultural, social and economic renewal.

We are holding our AGM at Hawkwood College and starting the day with a farm walk so you can see the Hammonds Farm (Lot 3) land and also some of Stroud Community Agriculture activity at Hawkwood.

Please join us on 3rd October and be more part of the activity of the Biodynamic Land Trust

RSVP – there are limited places and we need to know numbers for teas and coffees – lunch must be booked in advance.

If you would like to join us for a (full but) light lunch please complete the form and return with payment of £17.00 or make an online/BACS payment and confirm by email by 25^th Sept. Thank you.

Access: Hawkwood College is out of Stroud to the north; turn off the A46 on the Old Painswick Road and follow up about 1 mile to entrance of Hawkwood College – free parking on site; please use designated car park – the area in front of building is only for disabled parking.
Walking about 1 mile from the centre of Stroud via public foot paths from Gloucester Street via Lovedays Mead. Public transport: none from Stroud to Hawkwood.

Order of the day

(please book your place in advance, thanks)

10.00 Farm Walk round Hammonds Farm Lot 3
10.45 – 11.15 tea/coffee and cake/biscuits
11.00 – 12.45: AGM
- introducing the new Executive Director
- followed by Updates on current and future projects,
- discussion on BDLT and its activities

13.00 END of AGM morning – break for optional lunch – please book and pay for lunch by 25^th Sept.

Followed by optional workshop – 2 – 5pm
see below – cost £30 per person (if this is a problem for you please contact me, some discount may be possible)

Gift and Leaseback Farm Workshop / Farm Land Workshop - Protecting your farm’s future – with David Riddle and Martin Large
Many farmers wrestle with the challenge of farm succession. Their children may not want to farm, there may be potential family conflicts, and continuing farm viability can be a problem, and what about retirement planning? Farmers are keen to see their organic or biodynamic farm, their life’s work, continue, but how? What are the options?

Includes a break for tea and biscuits

Please Book your AGM place, Lunch &/or Workshop places in advance
(Late decision-makers accepted on the day only if space allows!)

We look forward to seeing and working with as many of you as possible (hoping you have booked this time in your diary so that you can join us).

More information and Agenda, proxy votes form etc to come soon.

Best wishes
Gabriel

For booking the Workshop and/or place at AGM and for lunch: please see the website events page – follow the links or otherwise email or ring the office on 01453 367233
(In case of need on the day Call Gabriel 07870 535912 or try Hawkwood College tel 01453 759034)

Other AGM documents to follow to Members ONLY – if not yet a member and you would like copies please contact Gabriel.

AGM Agenda
Directors – information about Directors of the Board up for election
Proxy vote form for AGM motions
Brief report of activities of the BDLT 2014/15
Finance report for 2014/15 = audited accounts will be available for members prior to the AGM date and will be emailed - please request if a paper copy is wanted.http://www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk/category/events/

Farm Gift and Leaseback Workshop

Retirement Options for Securing your Farm’s Future

Organised by the Biodynamic Land Trust & the Soil Association Land Trust

3 October 2015: 2.00-5.00.pm,

at Hawkwood College, Stroud, Glos, GL6 7QW

after the Biodynamic Land Trust AGM

Protecting your farms future
Many farmers wrestle with the challenge of farm succession. Their children may not want to farm, there may be potential family conflicts, and continuing farm viability can be a problem, and what about retirement planning? Farmers are keen to see their organic or biodynamic farm, their life’s work, continue, but how? What are the options?

The aim of this workshop is to present a range of options for protecting farms from outright gifting to leaseback where some of the farm’s asset value can be retained. It will help participants clarify what they want for the future of their farms and how to realise this.

Who is this workshop for?
Farmers and Landowners ……
·        Who have no heirs but want their life’s work to continue
·        Whose family no longer want to farm
·        Who want to put their farm beyond potential family conflicts
·        Who want to continue farming while they can, and want to clarify their farm legacy, e.g. via a gift and leaseback, or partial sale and gift option
·        Planning for retirement who are considering a community farm trust buy out

Workshop Leaders:

David Riddle, trustee of the Soil Association Land Trust, former Land Use Director for the National Trust, and a co-founder of 3D Rural Surveyors, specializing in land agency for the environment and people.

Martin Large, founding BDLT director, helped pioneer Community Land Trusts nationally and Farm Trusts including assisting the Fordhall Farm community buy-out in 2005-06.

Course Fee: £40 (£30 for BDLT and Soil Association members)
Book by 25^th Sept Please book via our online system – see the website events page: www.biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk or via gabriel@biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk or 01453 766296
The Biodynamic Land Trust, Painswick Inn, Gloucester Street, Stroud, GL5 1QG

Meeting the Land of Hammonds Farm Lot 3

A one day experiential workshop

4^th October 2015 – 9.30am – 4.30pm

With the successful Community Share Purchase of Lot 3 of the Hammond’s Farm it is time for us to get to know this land
This first experiential workshop is for anyone who would like to come along and begin to build a relationship with the land. Isis Brook will give an introduction to a Goethean approach to meeting a place. (Some indoor or Barn space available if bad weather)
Then throughout our walking of the land there will be a number of

guided experiential exercises and suggestions of
activities to engage in over the day, there will be time for
sharing experiences and insights and
creating an image of our collective experience of meeting this land.

Starting at Star Anise at 9.30 - Finishing at Hawkwood College at 4.30
What to wear: warm waterproof clothes, walking shoes/boots
What to bring:

a packed lunch and drink (suggest water plus a thermos of something hot),
writing/drawing materials,
something waterproof to sit on,
curiosity

Isis Brook is Head of Faculty for Environment and Transdisciplinary Studies at Crossfields Institute. She has undertaken numerous studies of place using Goethean observation and other phenomenological approaches and has published papers on this subject.

Children welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult
Cost £15 per adult to cover costs (£5 for those unable to pay the full amount)
Limited places – Please Book & Pay in Advance: gabriel@biodynamiclandtrust.org.uk or 01453 367233