Sustainability Matters AGM 2015 + Talk by Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Organic Farm
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England’s first community-owned farm – in harmony with nature?
In 2005 Charlotte and Ben Hollins took the unprecedented step of turning Fordhall Farm near Market Drayton into England’s first community-owned farm, thereby saving one of our oldest established organic farms. Now Sustainability Matters is pleased to invite Charlotte to its AGM in Stafford to describe how the farm has evolved over the last 10 years, and what the lessons learned can teach us about producing food in harmony with nature. The talk is being given at Trinity Church, Mount Street, Stafford on Wednesday 7 October, starting at 7.30 pm.
Charlotte and Ben, helped by volunteers and supporters, are maintaining the principles held by their late father, Arthur Hollins. He took on the tenancy of Fordhall in 1929, and subsequently abandoned the use of chemical fertilisers in favour of organic methods based on natural manures and less intensive management. But by the 1990s the landlord sought to evict the family, and so began a 15-year battle to stay on their land.
With the help of people from around the world, the Hollins family and their supporters successfully raised over £800,000 from shareholders, to enable ownership to pass to a charity. Since then much has been achieved. There is a shop and cafe, and the farm hosts a range of educational visits, courses, and other activities throughout the year.
The farm contains a range of wildlife habitats, and it is this aspect that Charlotte’s talk will focus on, outlining how the organic approach can help to restore the populations of native farmland plants and animals that have suffered dramatic declines in recent decades. Her late father was passionate about nature, as the Fordhall website puts it: ‘Arthur made it a priority to ensure that everyone left having learnt something about nature. The enthusiasm he held for farming and biodiversity was evident and he never tired from making people feel like they had stumbled upon a magical world.’
The talk is preceded by the Sustainability Matters AGM, when there will be a short resume of the group’s activities over the last 12 months, followed by refreshments. All are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Roger Oldfield on (01785) 664328 or email rogero...@myphone.coop.