Craft, Conservation & Mixed Grazing Opportunities at a Holistic Farm in Mottram, Greater Manchester
Craft, Conservation & Mixed Grazing Opportunities at a Holistic Farm in Mottram, Greater Manchester
A family-owned and run farm in Greater Manchester is seeking opportunities to explore new agroecological enterprises on their land and complement the existing farm system.
The family are open to a range of ideas, especially those rooted in agroecology, with particular areas of interest including mixed grazing systems involving sheep or poultry, beekeeping, agroforestry focused on fruit, nut, coppice or willow production, mushroom cultivation, wild food enterprises and innovative solutions for composting or productively utilising large volumes of horse manure. They are also keen to explore whole-farm permaculture design to move toward a more closed-loop, community-facing system.
Between them, the family brings over 40 years of combined experience in managing land-based businesses and has relevant business skills and knowledge to offer a new landseeker. Existing skills that the family would like to build on include firewood production, hedgelaying, coppicing and willow weaving, wild food cookery and fermentation. Jennifer is a qualified arborist and completed a Permaculture Design Certificate in 2023.
The farm is made up of approximately 16 hectares of grassland, alongside over 1,300 metres of native hedgerows, and around one acre of mature woodland shelterbelts. The primary business on-site is a holistic horse livery, where horses are managed in a welfare-focused herd system and well-stewarded pasture management. The grazing land is currently producing hay, which limits the potential for horticultural enterprises, however the land has potential for other creative opportunities that could work alongside existing parameters.
A Community Interest Company has already been established on-site to widen access to the farm and share the space and capabilities for skill-sharing. The family have hosted activities in the past, such as foraging courses, fermentation workshops, wellbeing activities and apple grafting. There is potential for a new landseeker to use the existing CIC structure to reignite similar activities straight away.
The farm offers a range of infrastructure and resources, including yard space, outbuildings, mains power and water, and an outdoor toilet. A woodland campsite and sauna are currently under construction, and affordable on-site accommodation is in development, with additional low-cost options available locally. There is a significant supply of horse manure, a range of practical machinery, and a well-established network of local contacts.
The family are searching for landseekers who are interested in collaborative ventures that contribute to long-term biodiversity and resilience on the land.
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