Agroecological Growing Opportunity in the Lake District
Agroecological Growing Opportunity in the Lake District
The Farmer’s Arms is a thriving community-owned pub and a cornerstone for cultural activities near Ulverston, Cumbria. Set within a rural community on the edge of the Lake District, the site includes a 2.5-acre plot available to a landseeker, ideally suited to developing a vegetable-growing enterprise that can supply high-quality local produce to the surrounding area.
The pub was purchased in 2021 by Grizedale Arts, a small Lake District–based charity, and has since become a hub for activities including workshops, pottery classes and events, alongside their pub and café. A series of established no-dig fruit and vegetable beds are already in place, supporting a thriving gardening club and supplying some produce directly to the pub kitchen. The organisation is committed to stewarding the land agroecologically, enhancing biodiversity and creating a diverse, productive landscape. A new community orchard has also been established on an adjacent plot and is being managed to further increase biodiversity.
The available land is a sunny, south-facing, gently sloping pasture with good soil health. There is potential to install polytunnels and other necessary infrastructure, including storage space, and vehicle access is already available across the central field.
The Farmer’s Arms is well-positioned for both road access and local markets. Located around 30 minutes from Junction 36 of the M6 and on the edge of the Lake District National Park, the area offers strong commercial potential. The Lake District’s vibrant hospitality sector — including numerous cafés, pubs and fine dining establishments — alongside a community of ecologically minded residents, creates a solid and growing market for local produce. There are currently few vegetable producers and veg box schemes in the county, and the existing gardening club has already received multiple requests to sell produce more widely.
Grizedale Arts is an ambitious and dynamic organisation, keen to support the development of a new land-based enterprise. They are open to working collaboratively with a landseeker to shape the business model and legal structure, and can offer access to an engaged local network. Their contacts and beneficiaries may also provide opportunities for volunteers and educational activities on the land.
For the right landseeker, they will be able to provide affordable accommodation on-site.
Further information about the Farmer’s Arms, Grizedale Arts, and their productive garden at Lawson Park (their nearby artists’ residence) can be found on their respective websites.
www.lakedistrictfarmersarms.
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