Introduction
Trewint Farm is a family-run beef farm in the Tamar Valley, Cornwall. Elinor Willcocks grew up at Trewint and, after training in productive horticulture, was keen to introduce new approaches that would support the land to thrive in the long-term.
The Tamar Valley has a rich history of market gardening, particularly fruit and flower production, which flourished in the late 19th century, with produce transported across the UK by rail. Inspired by this heritage, Elinor established a market garden on a plot at Trewint, using a traditional agroforestry approach that integrates apple cropping with flower bulbs.
When Elinor and her partner made plans to move outside Cornwall, she began looking for someone to take on the plot. Through her networks, she was aware of how challenging it can be for new growers to access land locally. She wanted to offer the opportunity to someone who shared her agroecological values – prioritising biodiversity and low-input growing methods – and so turned to Landmatch England.
Alice Baxter-Lindsay, a flower grower from Tasmania, had been searching for an opportunity through Landmatch. Hoping to settle in Cornwall, where her husband is from, she was looking to establish an enterprise that combined cut-flower production with education. When she came across the opportunity at Trewint Farm, she recognised it as the perfect chance to put down roots in the area, arriving with vans full of perennial flowers from her previous garden.
Elinor at Trewint. Photo Credit – Hanna Collins Documentary Photography
The Land-Sharing Agreement
Alice currently holds a one-year lease on the plot, with a review scheduled at the end of the term. If all goes well, this will transition into a five-year lease. For both Alice and Elinor, starting with a simple, short-term agreement has provided enough confidence to test the relationship – allowing them to understand what works and what may need adjusting.
As Alice explains,
‘it’s so difficult to rent small parcels through traditional means … (but) it doesn’t need to be a massive thing upfront, you can do it in bits and pieces.’
To support the development of her enterprise, Alice plans to fund any infrastructure improvements she introduces during her tenancy, such as a potting shed. Should her lease come to an end, Elinor has agreed to buy back any approved infrastructure, subject to depreciation.
Reflecting on the process, Elinor says:
‘When we were working out our land agreement, Alice and I both wrote out our heads of terms (with the help of our representative from the landmatch programme), which really helped to affirm that we held similar values for managing the land and also made sure that all bases were covered if something were to go wrong.’
Establishing on the Plot
Alice arrived on the land in spring and immediately got to work clearing it, as it had needed attention since Elinor relocated. She has since bedded in a range of her existing perennials, bringing roses, peonies, verbena and herbs from her garden in Scotland. At the same time, she is making the most of the milder Cornish climate, which allows her to grow later-blooming flowers such as zinnias, dahlias and chrysanthemums.
Thanks to all her efforts, Alice was already able to begin selling flowers in early summer, including some stems that Elinor had originally sown. She is optimistic about the season ahead, expecting a good harvest and feeling positive about the future of her new enterprise.
Elinor’s family have been impressed by the transformation so far. It has been remarkable for them to see how quickly the land has become productive again and to watch Alice already selling flowers from the plot.
Looking to the Future
With the land-sharing relationship progressing well, Alice plans to launch an educational offering next year. She is already exploring ways to develop the site to improve access for the local community. Keen to share her growing expertise and her enterprise, she hopes to use the land as a space to teach people how to grow from seed, and draw on her experience as a florist to run arranging workshops at Trewint.
Elinor is equally enthusiastic about continuing to share the land and hopes that Alice’s workshops will pave the way for regular educational activities and group visits on the farm.
Reflecting on her experience, Elinor advises others considering a land match:
“Try to find someone with similar values and ethos to yourself, be clear about your boundaries and what you’re prepared to offer; and be prepared to open yourself up to the wonderful opportunities a land match could bring.”