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RURAL LIVING: Lawyers Help Family Save Organic Farm

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 February 2006, 06:00 CST

A team of lawyers has stepped in to help a Shropshire family save their organic farm from development.

MFG Solicitors in Worcester is providing free legal advice to help Fordhall Farm in Market Drayton raise the pounds 800,000 needed to save the land by July 1.

The Hollins family have set up a community initiative asking people to become shareholders in the farm in order to raise the cash.

The Hollins, who have farmed the land since the 1920s, decided to launch the scheme after the farm came under pressure from sprawling industrial development several years ago.

Iain Morrison, head of rural affairs and agriculture at MFG Solicitors, met the family and agreed to work on the land purchase agreement between the Fordhall Community Land Initiative and the landowners free of charge.

He said: "Fordhall Farm has been farmed without the use of chemicals for over 65 years. This is a unique part of our countryside history and we wanted to do whatever we could professionally to help save it," Mr Morrison added.

The public are being urged to buy shares in the community trust.

Charlotte Hollins said: "I have lived here all my life. I took over the current tenancy with my brother Ben, after our father passed away. He was the real founder of this project.

"We plan to purchase the farm and open it to the public as a working farm promoting and educating on sustainable farming, healthy living and organic philosophies. We are selling shares in the Fordhall Community Land Initiative to achieve this."

The family is currently working with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the Soil Association, the Community Farm Land Trust Project and Market Drayton Taste of the Town.

Source: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)

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