Resource Library

In this guide authored by Shared Assets CIC for Landmatch England, you will find information about different types of legal structure and some questions to support you in your thinking about which one might be the best fit for what you want to do. You will also find information about setting up roles and responsibilities for your project as well as options for how to make …

Soil health has become increasingly central to discussions about farming resilience. Harry Epsom combines his experience with the assessment and practical management of soil and his work as a valuer to offer a starting framework for considering the value of soil health. Harry Epsom is a scholar of The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), a specialist professional body representing, qualifying and briefing around 3000 members practising in a diverse range of agricultural and rural work throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.   …

This guide promotes a broader perspective when considering how to approach a value exchange when sharing land. For landowners and landseekers it will provide a food for thought prior to negotiating …

This guide is intended to help you, as a new entrant or more established small-scale horticultural enterprise, to gather the information you will need to show planning officers and assessors to confidently make the case for why having accommodation on site is a crucial part of your business’ viability. This guide is designed to be read in conjunction with the Planning Guidance for Rural Enterprise Dwellings on Smaller Scale Horticultural Enterprises document recently published by Powys County Council. However, we aim to make some of the more technical guidance available on planning processes and applications accessible to an everyday audience, so people can easily understand what is required of them. Please note, this guide is particularly tailored to applicants in Powys as the funding to develop this guide came from a project focused on that area, but it may be of wider use. We can’t guarantee that following the guidance in this document will ensure a successful planning application, but hopefully it will at least make following the process …

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The Henry Plumb Foundation funds young people (18-35) with business ideas, study plans or interests that will lead to a career in the agricultural or food industry. Funding ranges from £500 – £3,000. As part of the programme, they also match candidates with an industry mentor to make the most of the funding. The foundation aims to provide 24 grants a …

Agricultural Consultant Vicky Herbert delivered this webinar for landseekers, providing advice for writing your business plan. See her slide deck (by pressing the download button) to understand the fundamental building blocks of a business plan, and the key costs and considerations to include. You can watch back the recording of the session here: …

A case study providing insight into the bespoke nature of share farming agreements and demonstrating progress over …

The slide deck from an LME webinar session for anyone seeking to take on land for a new farming or growing enterprise. Landmatch England welcomed Richard Choksey, an advisor to community food growers and experienced grower. Richard has supported emerging food-growing enterprises and has practical experience of establishing a small-scale market garden himself with Black Rootz, a Black-led food growing project, as well as developing his own plant nursery …

This guide is a starting point for landholders in the Landmatch England scheme who are considering how they can develop equitable land sharing relationships. We will explore some practical steps you can take to help ensure that land sharing includes justice-orientated practices such as fairness, equality, and a fair distribution of rights and responsibilities.     A Guide Towards Equitable Land Sharing © 2026 by Jo Kamal and Nicola Scott is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA …

In this document, we will explore some of the considerations that you, as a landseeker or landowner, need to make when you are thinking about a land match. Land agreements can appear daunting at first, but with the help of this document, you will soon feel in control of the process. The information here will support you to;  understand the issues that are relevant to your situation,  be able to select a type of agreement that suits you, be confident that you have included all of the terms needed to sow the seeds of success. While the key legal sections in this guidance have been reviewed by Ackland & Co Solicitors, a legal professional, please note that this document is for guidance only and should not be used as a substitute for proper professional advice.   Exploring Land Agreements © 2026 by Landmatch England is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA …

A guide on factors to consider when agreeing compensation for improvements, to be included in your land …

Defra’s guidance to support long-term farm business tenancies covers several areas that are often important when putting long-term agreements in place, including:   Setting clear intentions and expectations from the outset Agreeing approaches to rent reviews Clarifying responsibilities for repairs, maintenance and fixed equipment Planning for improvements Clarity on the end of tenancy process How to develop management plans for long-term farming and environmental objectives, while retaining flexibility to manage …

The Slide Deck for our ‘Launching Landmatch England’ webinar, taking place on the 21st January …

Green Allotments is funding the creation of new allotment sites in England for anyone who is passionate about creating allotments in their area. The New Allotment Site Fund offers to fund up to £50,000 per acre for new allotment land. Green Allotments buy the land, securing the future of the allotment and owning it on a not-for-profit basis. Allotmenteers are offered a peppercorn rent to lease allotment sites and are encouraged to manage the site within the …

Dave Oates from Rosuick Farm shares his top tips and considerations for introducing other businesses onto your farm, and how to maintain your farm’s profitability all the while. Dave shares his story as part of the Nature Friendly Farming Week 2025 through the Nature Friendly Farming …

With inspirational stories and lots of resources, this toolkit explores how community farms can be viable, how to finance the project, planning applications, governance and structures, and ensure good strong relationships between the community owners and tenants.

This podcast by solicitors Wright Hassall advises on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 – particularly concerning security of tenure. This will be useful for both landlords and tenants to understand what their rights are around renewing a lease at the end of an existing one.

Heads of Terms is a non-legally binding document that records the main terms of a lease agreement between a landlord and a tenant. Social Farms and Gardens have put together this template to help tenants understand the terms and the financial implications of a lease, before a full, legally binding lease is established.

This article by solicitors Wright Hassall gives an overview of what a tenant should consider whilst negotiating and acquiring a commercial lease. The article provides a basic understanding of repair obligations, break clauses, deposits, rent assignments, permitted use, service charges and security of tenure.

This guide has been written for UK-based groups seeking to buy and manage land for agroecology. It explores the different governance models that you can use to own land collectively and to finance the purchase of land.

Navigate Cooperative provides support to groups working together for social and environmental change. Their resource list gathers useful guidance and articles concerning topics such as power dynamics, collective decisions, the distribution of financial resources and how to engage with tensions.

The Landworkers’ Alliance discusses healthy work cultures on farms through this webinar: exploring topics of working structures, participation, cooperative responsibilities, and farm-life balance. 

This infographic provides a visual explanation of tenure that communities can consider when working towards taking on land or an asset and what might be appropriate for different uses, such as community farms, woodlands and allotments.

Community Land Trusts are organisations created to develop housing, farmland, or other assets owned and controlled by the community, which meet the needs of the community on a non-profit basis. This guidebook gives an overview of what they are, what they are capable of, and what the options are for establishing and running them.

This explainer gives an overview of the Community Asset Transfer mechanism in the UK: a function that allows community ownership and governance of publicly owned land, including farmland.

This report from Stir to Action investigates alternative models for the ownership of farmland; exploring the strengths and weaknesses of available models and mapping potential alternatives.

This page Created by Resource Justice examines basic topics of wealth, inequality and class in the UK, and suggests methods to address them – including at the local level.

This report by Pathways to Land focuses on the barriers facing Black and people of colour to access farmland and finance for it, and provides recommendations to address them.

This research documents the experience of Black and people of colour working in the agricultural sector and land-based work in Britain. The report provides an evidence base to address barriers in farming, and makes recommendations including stable access to land.

This research project by Land in Our Names sheds light on the experiences of Black / people of colour with experience of growing food for social enterprise, sustaining livelihoods and accessing land. This report is based on interviews with food growers who talk about their journeys into food growing and enterprise, and the challenges and opportunities they face.

This toolbox for working with farmers and landworkers with disabilities was created by US-based AgrAbility. Their resources provide useful information on specific topics on farming with a disability.

The LWA Guide to Fundraising for agroecological farming and land-based enterprises explores availability of finance options according to types of business, legal structure and includes information on community shares, crowdfunding, fundraising from trusts and foundations, searching for grants, public funds and loans.

Natoora’s own Farm Fund to support agroecological growers under 35 years old with one-off financial grants. A third of each year’s funds are available exclusively to underrepresented, BIPOC individuals and farming projects, creating access for growers previously held back by social or economic barriers.

Information on the Real Farming Trust’s Leap Fund: providing funding and mentoring for small-scale agroecological farming and community enterprises.

Current information from Defra on UK government grants and funding for farmers, growers and land managers.

A webpage by the Open Food Network providing the basic 101s for marketing for promoting sales for food enterprises.

Linked to the Business Planning Guide, this template helps you to forecast your sales and outgoings across your land based business.  

Specifically written for Landmatch England, this guide to writing a Business Plan supports landseekers to provide a detailed and robust account of their business proposal. This guide is aligned with the Management Plan guide so can be used to further develop your initial plan into a business plan.

Specifically written for Landmatch England, this guide to writing a Management Plan supports landseekers to provide an overview of what kind of business they want to run and how they intend to run it.

A guide authored by the Landworkers’ Alliance to help small farm business managers develop the right sales model for their farm. This guide addresses business and legal challenges, with the aim of supporting more producers to create sustainable livelihoods from short supply chain sales of local food. 

UK Government’s guide for what to consider and where to go for help when working for yourself.

A workshop series run by Stir to Action introducing how communities can buy, develop, and manage local assets such as farmland. The series explores what community ownership means in practice and how social, environmental, and economic benefits are created for the community.

Guidance for setting up a Community Interest Company (CIC): A Community Interest Company UK is a type of business structure designed to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. Business structure can affect the way you pay tax and your legal responsibilities. It is therefore vital to have a strong understanding of the risks and benefits.

The UK Government’s basic advice on setting up a business. Business structure can affect the way you pay tax and your legal responsibilities. It is therefore vital to have a strong understanding of the risks and benefits.

The UK Co-op’s guide to starting a new co-op may be useful for those interested in setting up, or converting an existing business to a farm cooperative. Farm cooperatives are useful to land or business owners who want to: use the cooperative structure to support new entrants or successors, share costs and resources, diversify land use, and reach social, community or environmental goals.

The TwoCan Mentorship Programme is a six-month initiative for mentors and mentees in the food and farming sector, supporting professional growth. Mentees will be supported to navigate farming career challenges, build their confidence, and develop their skills and knowledge. Mentors can benefit through strengthening their coaching and leadership skills, expanding their perspectives, and contributing to the growth of the sector.

The new entrant support page on the Landworkers’ Alliance (LWA) website provides advice and resources for new entrants into landwork and land based businesses. Their webpage contains information on volunteering, training, accessing land and finance, business support, as well as LWA peer networks.

The Agroecology Learning Collective (TALC) is a knowledge and information hub for agroecological learning opportunities. Their website contains a directory of short courses, training, farm start projects and higher education opportunities in the UK.

The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) is a professional body providing support for those working in an agriculture or horticulture business, and for new entrants. TIAH provides resources for professional development, careers and business advice.

Guidance on career pathways to agroecological horticulture, originally authored for the ‘New Entrants Support Scheme’, by Landworkers’ Alliance. This guide includes advice for developing skills, finding career opportunities, acquiring land, starting a business, and broader business support.

Guidance on career pathways to agroecological arable farming, originally authored for the ‘New Entrants Support Scheme’, by Landworkers’ Alliance. This guide includes advice for developing skills, finding career opportunities, acquiring land, starting a business, and broader business support.

Guidance on career pathways to agroecological dairy and livestock farming, authored by Landworkers’ Alliance to support new entrant farmers. This guide includes advice for developing skills, finding career opportunities, acquiring land, starting a business, and broader business support.

A toolkit for managing good relationships on farm, put together by the Agricultural Justice Project. The toolkit includes advice on respectful and resilient workplace culture, farming cooperatively, and inclusivity.

Government advice on agricultural tenancies including: Farm Business Tenancies, Farm Business Tenancy rent reviews, Farm Business Tenancy compensation, ending a Farm Business Tenancy and dispute procedures.

An article offering guidance on bringing in a new farm business partner and developing a legal partnership agreement, authored by Farmers Weekly. This is useful for landowners exploring partnerships as part of succession planning for their business, with good insights into legal considerations and agreements.

UK Government’s support service for getting help to run your business.

A handbook on land matching and partnerships created by Fresh Start Land Enterprise in 2015. It offers practical guidance on the stages of a land match, how to create an agreement, and the opportunities of land partnerships. While the original Fresh Start scheme is no longer active and some details may be out of date, the handbook remains a valuable resource.

A guide for landowners about what to consider when preparing or formulating a land offer, originally created for the SW Land Match pilot. The guide includes understanding your current context, what to look for in a landseeker, how to approach charging or paying a landseeker, and what to consider when looking for a land match.

A guide to the main types of models for land sharing agreements in England, originally created for the SW Land Match pilot. This guide summarises: licence agreements, tenancies, Agricultural Holdings Act tenancies, Farm Business Tenancies, share farming agreements, contract farming cooperatives and partnerships.