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meat farm diversification
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July 23, 2021
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New ‘glamping’ pod venture has helped secure the future of a 200 acre upland farm in South Wales

July 24, 2021
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Exciting times ahead for the fourth generation of a family farm in Bedwas – thanks to succession planning and a new glamping venture

A new ‘glamping’ pod venture has helped secure the future of a 200 acre upland farm in South Wales, which is now set to stay in the family for the fourth generation.

When Linda Davies’s late husband John lost his battle with cancer back in 2011, it was a devastating time for her and the couple’s two teenage children as they struggled to come to terms with their loss.

“I just didn’t know whether it would be possible to remain in the family farmhouse which meant so much to us all and cope with running the farm on my own, which comprised both sheep and an equine livery business.”

Ty Isaf Farm is located close to Caerphilly mountain. Although it appears secluded and has spectacular views for miles, it is only minutes away from the M4 and A470. Ty Isaf had been in John’s family since the early 1900’sglamping and his determination that the historic holding should be retained for the next generation was the reason he gave up his profession as a civil engineer more than 40 years ago to become a full-time farmer.

Having always planned to retire at 65, around 15 years ago, John let out half the acreage to a near neighbour and friend, who needed grazing for his herd of Welsh Black cattle, and at the same time downsized the sheep flock of 2,000 mainly Welsh Mountain and Suffolk cross ewes to around 80. The original letting arrangement is still in place with the neighbour who also manages the day-to-day husbandry of the sheep for Linda. The thriving livery business is managed by an equestrian manager, who has also become a valued friend.

By today, no doubt thanks in part to Linda’s tenacious and courageous spirit, her two children Lydia, now 31 and Ed, 28, are the fourth generation involved with Ty Isaf. Both are equally determined to honour their late dad’s wish that the farm would always stay within the family. Lydia and Ed are both graduates who have mapped out their own careers as neither wanted to commit to being full-time farmers. Lydia, a keen horsewoman, is an IT expert for a leading publishing company and Ed is working on a sponsored PhD on UK rail travel.

Both Lydia and Ed love rural life and their mum says that in recent years, they have spent many hours debating options for a new sustainable diversification venture that would ensure their continued involvement with the farm, while also giving them the time and freedom to pursue their own careers.

farm diversificationIn 2018, the family attended a fully-funded Farming Connect succession planning workshop, soon followed by a marketing and diversification surgery and then a planning process workshop. These were the first critical steps in a process that has led them to where they are today, with Lydia and Ed now joint owners of a new diversified, eco-friendly ‘glamping’ pod enterprise.

“Attending those events alerted us to not only all the issues we needed to consider, but our local Farming Connect development officer Hannah Wright also signposted us to the various services which would help us,” says Ed. This included accessing Farming Connect’s subsidised business planning advice and applying for training which ranged from business and financial management courses to driving tractors.

“Most importantly, early on in the process, we applied for fully funded one-to-one mentoring advice on succession planning, and that’s really why Lydia and Ed are now the proud joint owners of a new glamping pod venture which welcomed its first visitors when lockdown lifted this month,” says mum Linda.

In early 2019, Pembrokeshire-based Sian Bushell, one of Farming Connect’s approved succession planning mentors, facilitated a family meeting which brought the family together to each talk honestly about their aspirations. Sian also guided them through producing their own action plan which set out exactly what they needed to do in terms of financing and managing the enterprise, with their respective roles and timelines clearly set out.

“We met Sian twice, and her fully-funded support and guidance has been absolutely critical to the success of what we have now achieved as a family,” says Linda.

Sian explains that it’s hugely beneficial to ‘start the conversation’ to safeguard the future of a family farm before there is any urgency about this, which often happens someone wants or needs to step back from the business or when ill-health strikes.

“My role is to encourage open discussion on all the relevant issues, to empower each person in the family to take their own decisions and help them find their own solutions.

“Not all families feel ready to encourage the next generation to pick up the reins, to take over responsibility or set up their own new venture, so a realistic action plan with time-lines needs to be agreed, so that everyone knows what they are working towards,” said Sian, who has worked with more than 90 Farming Connect-registered families to help them address this sensitive issue.

Lydia handles all visitor bookings through social media channels. She’s optimistic that with the summer season already filling up fast, the return on their investment looks assured.

Linda is delighted and if all goes to plan, thinks Lydia and Ed might use their planning permission for another pod.

“Their dad would be hugely proud of them both, if only he was still here to see what they’ve achieved,” says Linda.

“I just count my blessings that they are both so hard-working and that thanks to Farming Connect they had all the support, guidance and additional skills they needed to give them the confidence to work together to start up this exciting new enterprise at the farm where they grew up.”

It sounds as if the future of this family farm is assured in the very competent hands of these enterprising siblings and their very supportive mum.

 

For more information about marketing within the glamping sector for your farm diversification business  please check out our website: FLAME MARKETING

Article taken from Business wales

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5 Instagram Reel ideas to market your artisan-spir
5 Instagram Reel ideas to market your artisan-spirit farm business

🍸 Why do we use [insert unusual ingredient] to make our [insert spirit]?
🍸 A tour of our distillery! What system do we use?
🍸 3 ways we are making our [insert spirit] carbon-neutral!
🍸 How do we make [insert spirit]? See our behind-the-scenes process!
🍸Cocktail Masterclass
🍸 Which spirit should I choose for my cocktail?

Do you use reels for your business?

Alternative meat products to add to your farm busi
Alternative meat products to add to your farm business - Charcuterie 

Charcuterie can be an excellent option for extending a product range as the products can be made from your existing meat supplies, or you could choose to team up with a local charcuterie business. 

Additionally, the shelf life of charcuterie products is often significantly longer than other meat-based products. Charcuterie also often uses less desirable parts of an animal, such as in the case of using cheaper cuts in salamis.

Instagram Reel ideas for your dairy diversificatio
Instagram Reel ideas for your dairy diversification

🧀 What happens to male calves on our farm?
🧀 A tour of our milking parlour! What system do we use?
🧀 Why do we use mob grazing for our cows? And what is it?
🧀 How do we make our ice cream? See our behind-the-scenes process!
🧀 Cheese tasting masterclass
🧀 Which cheese should I choose for my cheese board?
🧀Why should you buy milk from vending machines rather than from the supermarket?

 #cheese #britishcheese #dairy #dairyuk #britishdairy #milk #milkvendingmachine

8 farm diversification options for livestock farme
8 farm diversification options for livestock farmers

1. Milk vending machines – for dairy diversification
2. Crop mazes – for kid-friendly farm diversification
3. Shepherd Huts – the classic farm diversification
4. Glamping – the agritourism option
5. Ice cream – the tasty farm diversification
6. Storage containers – the commercial farm diversification
7. Clay pigeon shooting – for estate diversification
8. Growing truffles – the high-end farm diversification

If you are planning a farm marketing strategy to promote your farm diversification then we would also recommend you book a consultation with us.

 #lamb #hogget #beef #organicfarming #pork #rarebreed #highwelfaremeat #agrimarketing #backbritishfarming #farmdiversification #ukfarming  #farmmarketing #farmbusiness #agriculturemarketing #buybritish #organicfarming #agribranding #farmbusinessinnovationshow #farmlife #ruralpowerhouse #CountryLandandBusinessAssociation

Diversification idea – wool business!
Why choose a

Diversification idea - wool business!
Why choose a wool business?

A wool, yarn or fibre business can be an effective farm diversification for adding value to something that is often a by-product of the sheep farming sector. But there are also lots of other types of fibre to consider, from alpaca to plant-based fibres. Fibre businesses are useful for bringing in additional income on a smaller scale and tend to work well alongside a wider farm business strategy or even as a way to make money from your smallholding.

Fibre businesses can range from selling raw fleece through to spinning yarn and even dying yarns. 

Do you sell wool or fibre from your farm?

 #wool #yarn #knittinguk #felting #sheep #rarebreedsheep #britishwool #handspunyarn

How much would you need to sell to invest £600 pe
How much would you need to sell to invest £600 per month in your business? 

Is it 20 veg boxes? 2 glamping holidays? 100 bars of soap? 
How many new clients would we need to bring you?

With packages starting from as little as £200 and most under £675 per month, why not? 

#glamping #agrimarketing #backbritishfarming #farmdiversification #ukfarming #agribusiness #britishfarming #farmmarketing #farmbusiness #socialmediamarketing #contentmarketing #agriculturemarketing #devon #rurallife #rbst #agristudent #buylocal #supportfarmers #buybritish #shopsmall #dairy #organicfarming #agribranding #youngfarmers #farmbusinessinnovationshow #farmlife #thisfarminglife #ruralpowerhouse #CountryLandandBusinessAssociation

Video content for wool businesses needn’t be har
Video content for wool businesses needn’t be hard. Some ideas could include:

🐑 How is it made videos – show the processes within your business, such as spinning
🐑  Why do we do … – explain your practices and educate your audience
🐑  Product reveals – show your new products dressed and displayed in the best possible light
🐑  Before and after – show your goods before and after processes: from sheep to yarn,
🐑  Meet the team – show yourself or your team behind the business.

Want to transform your farm business?
Are you read

Want to transform your farm business?
Are you ready to take your agri-business to the next level?

Instalment option - 6 monthly instalments of £1250
One time payment - We offer a 10% discount making it just £6750

Find out more on our website - go to the link in bio

 #glamping #agrimarketing #backbritishfarming #farmdiversification #ukfarming #agribusiness #britishfarming #farmmarketing #farmbusiness #socialmediamarketing #contentmarketing #agriculturemarketing #devon #rurallife #rbst #agristudent #buylocal #supportfarmers #buybritish #shopsmall #dairy #organicfarming #agribranding #youngfarmers #farmbusinessinnovationshow #farmlife #thisfarminglife #ruralpowerhouse #CountryLandandBusinessAssociation
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