Rural Development Case Studies
The Rural Futures Team have played the lead role in the following Rural Diversification Projects covering the areas of Farm diversification,
Tourism,
Renewable energy ,
Local food and
Community initiative.
Lower Fairsnape Farm
Key Features: Farm diversification; Tourism Development; Renewable energy;
Support Provided: Habitat management; development funding; Planning;
Lower Fairsnape Farm was a traditional hill farm. With falling incomes from farming Robert & Anne Gardner were seeking additional sources of income. The farm put 80% of its land into stewardship and woodland schemes. With redundant farm buildings, the Gardners sought assistance to diversify into holiday accommodation. Care for wildlife, habitat and the environment sets this accommodation apart from many others. It has received the Gold standard accreditation of the Green Tourism Business Scheme and, featured in BBC Wildlife magazine.
More on Lower Fairsnape Farm ....
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North West Biogas
Key Features: Renewable energy;
Support Provided: Planning; fesability studies;
The project aims to create the North West’s first commercially operated anaerobic digester. The project will use waste streams from food manufacturing, supermarkets and the meat processing industry to create renewable heat and power.
More on North West Biogas ....
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Old Holly Farm
Key Features: Farm diversification; Tourism Development; Local food Production;
Support Provided: Planning; Management training; Marketing; Funding;
Old Holly Farm was an established dairy and sheep farm, with a courtyard of traditional but redundant farm buildings. Diversification project to create a children’s activity barn, open farm, farm shop and café. Since opening, a further business has been established making ice cream on the site using the farm’s own organic milk. Still a working dairy farm the result is that it reconnects children with the source of food.
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Lancashire Cheese Trails and Education
Key Features: Tourism Development; Local food Production;
Support Provided: Project design, management and impementation;
Rural Futures developed a project to promote local food, celebrate its distinctiveness and use it for both tourism promotion and education. Each trail is a short circular walk in the vicinity of the cheesemakers dairies, and where appropriate walkers are encouraged to call in at the dairies, restaurants, pubs and shops nearby which serve local cheese. Each walk is “whey marked” and promoted with a map and leaflet.
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Poorsland
Key Features: Community Resources;
Support Provided: Planning; Funding;
The Poorsland Trustees own land and buildings to the east of Slaidburn village. This charitable trust was established in 1826 to benefit the residents of Slaidburn and the surrounding villages. The income for the charity derived from agricultural rents. As returns from the land fell and the traditional buildings deteriorated the Trustees were faced with minimal income and increased liabilities. The project involved converting the buildings into Community workspace and offices for rural micro businesses.
More on Poorsland Community workspace and offices ....
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Public Sector Case Studies  |
