New Income Streams for Farmers!
11th January 2006: Farmers and owners of land and woodland can learn how to increase their income thanks to 2 FREE seminars to be held in Oxfordshire and Kent next month.
The Defra Rural Development Service (RDS)* has commissioned Tourism South East (TSE) to run two half day seminars themed "Access: Opportunity not Threat!" to encourage the sector to explore the profit opportunities that public access can bring.
A number of key speakers from the industry will introduce to land owners and farmers fresh and innovative ideas to maximise business potential and make the most of their land asset. The seminars will also include important information on current funding, planned changes and other factors affecting this new and exciting market. Guidance notes will be provided to assist in future projects.
Rachel Simpson, Rural Development Manager at TSE said "The diverse amount of opportunities available to farmers and owners of land and woodland are considerable but not everyone is aware of the potential that their own land represents. The aim of these seminars is to make delegates aware of this. Practical advice will be given on a range of issues including: the conversion of farm buildings into holiday accommodation, how to develop a café, restaurant or farm shop selling local produce and how the opening up of footpaths, woodland areas and farms to the public can generate valuable additional income."
At each seminar farmers will present case studies based on their own experience. Tom Finchett, farm manager at Swanbourne Home Farms, will be talking at the Oxon venue about his recent application to build a new village pub serving local produce, and Graham Cuthbert who farms in Doddington, will be talking at the Kent venue about his conversion of redundant farm buildings into accommodation for the walkers and cyclists using the North Downs Way.
The seminars will be held on the 20th February at Notley Farm, Long Crendon, Oxon and the 24th February at Hop Farm, Beltring, Kent. William White, the Regional Director of the National Farmers Union, will chair the Oxon seminar and Roger Budden, Head of Development and Rural Regeneration at TSE, will chair in Kent.
As part of the same initiative TSE has commissioned important research into new methods of improving income through increased land access. The results will be published at a later date.
To attend the seminar please contact James Blair on 023 8062 5499 or jblair@tourismse.com
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For further Information please contact Jodie Hodge, TSE Corporate Communications on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com
William White, Regional Director of the National Farmers Union, is available for interview / comment on request.
Notes to Editor -
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
* Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants. Their remit is the pursuit of sustainable development - weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns. Defra therefore: