The Future of West Town Farm
Andy's Radical Plan
Andy Bragg is the third generation of his family to farm West Town Farm as tenants, and it was under his guardianship that the farm became organic in 1992. Healthy soil and wildlife habitats have been prioritised and protected since then.
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Andy bought the farm in 2022 from his landlord, the Church Commissioners. The tenant farmers are Kate Sharp and Simon Higgins.
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The farm is very much part of the local community, with regular open days, barn dances, school visits, weddings and a permissive path.
Andy is passionate about West Town Farm, its place in the local community and the land’s organic future. He doesn’t have children, and has been thinking about securing the farm’s long term future for some time. He has now decided to gift West Town Farm to an organisation that shares his values and that will protect it for generations to come.
The organisation that Andy has chosen is the Fordhall Community Land Initiative (FCLI), which is a charitable Community Benefit Society owned and run by over 8,000 members. The Society and its shareholders have owned Fordhall Organic Farm, near Market Drayton in Shropshire, since 2006. Andy has also been a shareholder since this time and is satisfied that Fordhall’s mission and vision is aligned with his own.
The plan is for the farm’s ownership to pass to Fordhall in the early part of 2027.
- Andy is passionate about West Town Farm, its organic status and securing the farm’s future for generations to come. He believes that the charity FCLI are best placed to continue his legacy, which is why he has chosen to gift the farm to FCLI
- West Town Farm and Fordhall’s values are strongly aligned and gifting West Town to Fordhall will protect West Town’s mission and values
- Although Fordhall is based in Shropshire, West Town Farm will be governed by a Board of Directors that will include local members – get in touch if you want to know more
- West Town Farm will always play a part in the local community, whether that is hosting school visits, art groups or barn dances etc, and the local community will always be welcome.
Not For Sale
FAQ's
Q: Who owns West Town Farm?
A: Andy Bragg is the current owner
Q: Why is the farm changing hands?
A: Andy wants to secure the future of the farm for generations to come.
He has no children and his vision for the farm’s long-term future is very important to him.
Q: What will happen to the farm?
A: Ownership of the farm will pass to a charitable community benefit society called Fordhall
Community Land Initiative, who are based in Shropshire and look after organic farmland.
They already have one farm, which is owned by over 8,000 non-profit making shareholders
across the country - ordinary people who want to protect it.
Q: Why is the farm going to a charity that’s based so far away?
A: Andy chose the Fordhall Community Land Initiative because its mission and values align
very closely with his own. Although their base is in Shropshire, there will be local people on
the board of directors once the farm changes hands, ensuring local voice and a place-based
approach to this unique farm is part of its future as much as its present. The vision for the
Fordhall Community Land Initiative is to maintain the farms organic stewardship, offer long-
term farm business tenancy which supports livelihoods on the land, and to encourage
community engagement with the land and activities on it.
Q: Why isn’t Andy leaving the farm to his partner Jenny, step-daughter Maggie, or even his brother Martyn?
A: Jenny, Maggie and Martyn are all completely supportive of Andy’s plans and have no
desire to inherit the farm.
Q: How much money is Andy selling West Town Farm for?
A: Andy is not selling the farm - he is gifting it to the charitable organisation to safeguard its
future as an asset to the local and wider community.
Q: Isn’t he just trying to avoid inheritance tax?
A: No, he is just trying to secure the long-term future of the farm.
Q: Will people still be able to walk ‘round the world’?
A: Yes. This walk is on the road and any plans/activities for West Town Farm do not stop people walking on the road, or the public footpath across Haynes Field.
Q. Can the public still use the public footpath in Haynes field, below Haynes Farm.
A. Yes.
Q. Can the public still walk the permissive path at the farm.
A. Yes. Hopefully the path will re-open soon after maintenance and signage update.
Part of the reason we’re doing this project i.e gifting the farm to Fordhall is to protect the farm’s wildlife habitats, woodlands and footpaths for the future. The local community will remain a central part of
the farms future and community benefit is a central part of the Fordhall Community Land
Initiatives charitable objects.
Q: Will the farm still be pasture-fed and organic?
A: Yes. A big part of the reason we’re doing this is to protect this environmentally friendly
way of farming. Fordhall Organic Farm is also registered organic with the soil association and pasture-fed.
Q: Will the farm still be accessible to the public?
A: Yes, it’s important to us to continue the current accessibility (open days, educational
visits, special events, footpaths etc) while its status as a working farm will need to continue
to be respected.
Q: How can the local community be involved?
A: Local people can still visit and support the farm. There is also the opportunity to become
part of the community ownership initiative by buying a share in the Fordhall Community
Land Initiative and possibly by joining the board of directors. Shares are £50 each and the
Society is run under a one member, one vote rule, ensuring it remains 100% democratic
regardless of the number of non-profit-making shares held.
For more information see the Fordhall Farm website. A specific share offer for West Town will be
launched in due course, but anyone can become a member of the Fordhall Community Land
Initiative at any time.
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Q: What will happen to Kate and everyone who works at the farm?
A: Kate’s farm tenancy will continue for as long as she wants it. The livelihood of other farm
staff will also be protected - these issues are an important part of Fordhall’s purpose as well
as Andy’s intention. There will always be a place on the board of directors for the current
tenant farmer.
Q: When is the change of ownership going to happen?
A: At the moment, the plan is for this to take place in April 2027.
Q: What will Change?
A: Changes will include more structured community involvement, new opportunities for
volunteering and employment. The direction of this will be driven by the existing staff team
and the local community with guidance and support from the Fordhall Community Land
Initiative.
Q: How can I get involved or learn more?
A: We’d love to hear from you! You can follow updates on our website or sign up for our
newsletter. There will also be community meetings and volunteer days as the transition
progresses.
Q: Will there be jobs or apprenticeships at the farm?
A: Possibly! As the project grows, there may be opportunities for paid roles,
apprenticeships, or internships. These will be advertised locally and through the Society’s
channels.
Q: What will prevent Fordhall from selling off the farm in future, e.g for housing?
A: As long as the farm stays viable and supported by the local community, there is nothing
within the charitable objects that would support a sale of the farm for development or
otherwise. As a charitable society, there is an automatic asset lock in place that means any
proceeds from any profits/sales would have to further the Society’s charitable objects.
Profits are not distributed to members, resulting in no incentive to use the land other than
for activity which furthers its charitable objectives of sustaining livelihoods on the land,
organic farming and community land trusteeship.
Q: What happens to shares when shareholders die?
A: Any shareholders of the Fordhall Community Land Initiative will become part owners of
both Fordhall Organic Farm and West Town Farm after April 2027 and in doing so, have the
right to a vote at the AGM and to have a place on the Board of Directors.
When a member dies, shares in the Fordhall Community Land Initiative can be passed onto
to a family member if noted by the member before death, donated to the Society or
returned to the estate (following an admin fee).
For more information on community shares or to see their Society Rules see
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For more information please visit :
https://www.fordhallfarm.com/devon-farm
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