A Feasibility Study for Urban Edge Agricultural Parks - SAGE

In 2001, the Trust advanced a sustainable land management project with its FarmForward Project. Leasing farmers have complete autonomy if they leased the farmprior to 1995 under national laws. However, new leases include conservationclauses and renegotiations of prior leases are attempted. The Trust is developingWhole Farm Plans with tenants, to achieve financial viability for the farmer andmeet the Trust’s conservation goals.With respect to public access, the Trust stresses three types: visual, intellectual,and physical. Physical access is granted to all common land owned by the Trustand the Trust negotiates public rights-of-way or permitted paths through tenantfarms. Further, tenant farmers are helped to arrange open days for visitors andencouraged to allow access to school groups.Housing development has recently been explored to create an income source forland held as investment rather than conservation. The Trust invests in GreenBuilding practices at a higher cost to provide social and environmental benefits.Planned developments include 10 percent affordable housing.Economics/Sources of FundingIn 2003 the Trust’s revenues exceeded ₤303 million, with expenditures at ₤301million. Funding comes from memberships (₤75 million), enterprise income such aslodgings and catering (₤68 million), donations and estate bequeaths (₤67 million),property income (₤36 million), and capital grants (₤29 million).Land is acquired through gifts as well as priority acquisition campaigns. In 2003,₤31 million in acquisitions were funded, including 90 percent through restrictedcapital grants.The Trust typically does not subsidize farmers with cash payments, though leasesare considered below market rate set to reflect conservation responsibilities, at ₤20an acre in marginal lands and ₤80 an acre for prime lands. The Trust encouragesinitiatives such as bed and breakfasts, camping and farm shops to enhance farmrevenue.Lessons LearnedThis model illustrates how a large-scale non-profit can operate to achieve multiplegoals including land conservation, revenue generation, and encouragement ofsustainable and organic farming. The Trust has worked to improve the financialsolvency of its tenants by assisting them to expand revenue-generating activitiessuch a diversification, marketing, branding, reuse of obsolete farm facilities fortourist accommodations, value-added production, and internal purchasing of farmproducts.DRAFT 1.6.05 73