The Story
Recognising the community involvement that was already present at Babbinswood Farm the community
suggested to Barbara Jones, the current landowner that community ownership could provide a viable future for the land. Local
media became involved and surveys were sent out to gauge the wider community’s perspective.
• 94% of respondents were interested in the idea of buying a share in the farm...
In December 2023, a public consultation was held at the farm. The situation was presented and ideas for the farm’s future developed, followed by Q&As. The 30+ people who attended, despite the snow, showed the same strength of feeling about saving land at the farm as the initial surveys. Saving the land, keeping it organic and building a better future for the community through co-ownership seemed like a natural progression. The Jones family had already chosen to steward the land sustainably with an ethos of community outreach for many years. Momentum continued to build for community ownership. Some of the locals who had attended the December meeting formed a Steering Group and began to meet regularly.
Babbinswood Farm Community Benefit Society was officially incorporated in August 2024 and achieved exempt charity status in the November. The Society had less than 18 months to buy as much land as funds would allow before the farm was put on the open market. The work towards community ownership began in earnest.
• 94% of respondents were interested in the idea of buying a share in the farm...
In December 2023, a public consultation was held at the farm. The situation was presented and ideas for the farm’s future developed, followed by Q&As. The 30+ people who attended, despite the snow, showed the same strength of feeling about saving land at the farm as the initial surveys. Saving the land, keeping it organic and building a better future for the community through co-ownership seemed like a natural progression. The Jones family had already chosen to steward the land sustainably with an ethos of community outreach for many years. Momentum continued to build for community ownership. Some of the locals who had attended the December meeting formed a Steering Group and began to meet regularly.
Babbinswood Farm Community Benefit Society was officially incorporated in August 2024 and achieved exempt charity status in the November. The Society had less than 18 months to buy as much land as funds would allow before the farm was put on the open market. The work towards community ownership began in earnest.
The Journey