New tenants welcomed to Cambridgeshire County Council's farms estate

In the last year, Cambridgeshire County Council has welcomed seven new successful tenants to its farm’s estate including here in Fenland.

In 2022, the County Farms Estate received more than 40 applications for new holdings. Following the selection process, seven new tenants have been successful.

The breadth of new tenants who have joined is a great example of this commitment- ranging from young entrepreneurs keen to make their impact to others who are building on their extensive experience.

The Estate offers an entry point into farming for those who want to run their own enterprises and supports existing rural businesses to grow and expand.

Experienced farmer Robert Fletcher has taken on Halls Farm at Guyhirn.

Robert and his family previously rented a farm in Norfolk and have now moved to Halls Farm. They plan to run it as a mainly arable farm with an additional lambing enterprise. Robert is looking forward to work in cooperation with other tenants on the council’s wider estate.

Kate Bull, who has been involved in farming all her life has taken on Throckenholt Farm at Parson Drove

Kate has developed a contracting business and is looking forward to building a sustainable farm at Throckenholt Farm. The farm will be used as an arable business with enhanced environmental features and use of regenerative farming.

Other new tenants include:

Ian Wilks has been involved in farming all his working life and has taken on Car Dyke Farm at Landbeach. He runs his own agronomy and farm management consultancy service in Essex and South Suffolk and now wants to farm in his own right. Ian is passionate about farming in a sustainable way and intends to farm Car Dyke Farm in a way that protects soil, water, and the existing environment, alongside creating new and varied wildlife habitats.

Joshua Dennis and his partner Kate are two young and enthusiastic individuals with a keen interest in the agricultural industry and have taken on Fen Bridge Farm at Cottenham. Coming from arable and livestock backgrounds, they have had careers on farms and around agriculture. They hope to make their mark on an ever-changing industry by farming for a future everyone can be proud of while establishing a sustainable farming system to protect the environment.

Charles Deller has taken on Fosters Farm, Whittlesford, he has been working alongside his father since leaving university and is actively involved in all aspects of running a medium sized mixed farm which includes arable and livestock enterprises. He now wants to farm on his own and plans to establish an arable farm together with a small lambing unit. Charles is particularly interested in soil health and farmland ecology and will take steps to improve the environment and reduce carbon emissions.

David Mwanaka now runs Limes Farm and Walnut Farm at Landbeach. David and his family have been running a farming business for the past 20 years, growing non-traditional African crops but on short term lettings which offer less security.

They are looking forward to getting actively involved in the local community, part of their vision is to reduce both carbon output and food waste.

Joe Rabicano at 21 is the youngest entrant this year and has taken on Whitehall Farm, Littleport.

He is already a very entrepreneurial farmer and contractor in Norfolk. Whitehall Farm is a step up the farming ladder for him where he will grow a range of arable crops.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Farms Estate covers an area of about 33,000 acres across Cambridgeshire, providing rural business opportunities for more than 160 tenants.

Chair of Cambridgeshire's strategy and resources Councillor Lucy Nethsingha said: “I am pleased we have welcomed another group of tenants to the County Farms estate in 2022. They will join other tenants who continue to work hard, evolve farming practices and work to promote the enhancement of biodiversity in the natural environment.”

Vice-chair, Councillor Elisa Meschini, added: “The new tenants are joining a community of 160 other tenants who make a difference in farming. I wish them luck in their new endeavours and can’t wait to watch their businesses flourish through 2023 and beyond.”

Leader of the Independent Group and a member of the Joint Administration leadership team, Councillor Tom Sanderson said: “I wish the new tenants a very warm welcome and hope they will be able to put their own stamp on the County Farms estate.”