A Shropshire farming family has been awarded a substantial grant from Europe to build a new farm shop and food preparation facility to help to secure the future of the farm.
Mike and Hazel Timmis of Moor Farm, Baschurch near Shrewsbury have started work on a £250,000 building project after receiving £62,500 grant aid for a purpose-built farm shop having outgrown their existing facility housed in a garage and outbuilding within the farmstead.
The grant application was secured for them by chartered surveyors Berrys at Shrewsbury who completed the detailed application forms, prepared the Business Plan, and managed the tendering process for the building work.
“We applied for a Rural Enterprise Grant through Herefordshire Council who manage the scheme for Advantage West Midlands for the maximum grant of £62,500. This was awarded after we had justified that there was a need for the shop, need for the grant to make it happen and highlighted the benefits to the family business and wider community,” said Mandy Seedhouse of Berrys.
“This is a sound investment that will secure the future of the farm and also create jobs for local people. Mike and Hazel’s two daughters Melissa and Elaine, who have both been to agricultural college, are keen to stay on the farm and the shop will enable them to do so. It will also provide extra hours for the shop butcher and other part time workers, as well as providing a sizable construction project for a local building company.”
Berrys secured planning permission for the shop which has been designed following input from Shropshire Council to remain in keeping with the adjoining farm buildings. There will be a sales area, kitchen and food preparation area, cold storage room and WC. A loft over part of the building will provide storage and two lean-to extensions will provide a covered display area and rear delivery area. The shop is located to the front of the farmstead which will allow easy access from the main road and parking for customers.
The Timmis family has been farming in Baschurch village since the First World War and opened the original farm shop in April 2006. The shop is now a vital element of the farming business, enabling the daughters to remain on the family farm.
Meat from the farm’s Shraden herd of pedigree Hereford cattle is sold through the shop along with home reared pork, lamb, free range eggs, vegetables and potatoes grown on the farm.
Home made products including jams, chutneys, burgers, sausages, pies, cakes, and ready meals are currently prepared in the farmhouse and are very popular in the shop. The bespoke kitchen and food preparation area in the new shop building will allow the range and quantity of home made products to increase.
“The project will provide Baschurch with an improved farm shop selling a better range and quantity of quality home made products. Our emphasis is on quality products, ethical production methods and low food miles. The increased sales will also benefit other local farmers and suppliers as we will need to source additional ingredients and products off the farm,” said Hazel.
The Rural Enterprise Grant offers funding for farmers and rural micro-enterprises for a range of activities and is still open to new applications. It is funded by Europe through the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013.
Caroline Cattle, Rural Enterprise Grant Manager, stated: ”This is exactly what REG is all about. The Timmis family had identified a number of issues that was affecting the growth of their farm shop. The grant funding has enabled them to move forward with their plans which will help to secure the future of this farming family but also provide local people with employment and fresh local food.
“REG is all about giving land based companies and rural businesses access to additional funding to help them evolve and embark on projects that will identify new revenue streams and safeguard jobs, Moor Farm is an excellent example of this.”
For further details contact Mandy Seedhouse at Berrys on 01743 271697 email mandy.seedhouse@berrybros.com. Moor Farm Shop can be contacted on 01939 260261 or visit the website www.moorfarmshop.co.uk
