The BALE Award judges, Lord Deben, Margaret Holland and Jonathan Long

Ashton KCJ Solicitors, together with the Suffolk Agricultural Association, will be announcing the winner of the BALE (Best Alternative Land Enterprise) award next week, but with many worthy competitors, it has been a tough judging process. Here we take a look at the competitors.

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TWENTY years ago, Ashton KCJ Solicitors and the Suffolk Agricultural Association teamed up to produce the BALE (Best Alternative Land Enterprise) Awards.

Over the years, the awards have gone from strength to strength, with BALE becoming a regionally-recognised award across East Anglia.

The award is aimed at the best farming diversification enterprises in the region and is open to agricultural businesses across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex – a good fit for the newly merged Ashton KCJ which now covers Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. The awards give recognition to farmers and landowners who are making the most of their business, are contributing to the rural economy and have been able to adapt their business to a rapidly changing industry.

Since 1992, a wide variety of businesses and individuals have entered and there is always a high standard of entries.

Previous winning enterprises include a children’s play venue and farm park, stable buildings converted to conference rooms and wedding facilities, a vineyard, an equestrian centre and a pets’ cemetery.

This year’s award is particularly special as it’s the 20th anniversary and will be a “Champion of Champions” contest, open to the winners of the past 10 years.

Judging of the competition took place in early November, with judges the Rt Hon the Lord Deben, Margaret Holland (who won the very first BALE Award for her Farmhouse Cooking enterprise) and Jonathan Long, partner and head of Ashton KCJ’s Agriculture and Estates team.

The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards luncheon on Monday, January 30. The contenders are:

Suffolk Food Hall – 2009 Winner: AJ, Oliver & Robert Paul

The Suffolk Food Hall opened in 2007 in a redundant farmstead just south of Ipswich and now employs over 50 people. As well as selling produce from its own farms, the Food Hall supports a broad range of local food and drink suppliers and incorporates a full butcher’s shop, a wet fish counter, artisan baker, 160 seater restaurant and garden centre. This contribution to the supply chain contributes to the local economy and ensures a fair price for local farmers. As well as attracting c4,200 visitors per week, sales have grown 28% since winning in 2009 and the company was runner up in the 2011 Farmers Weekly awards. (108 words)

Hollow Trees Farm – 2007 Winner: Sally & Robert Bendall

The 140 acre Hollow Trees Farm has evolved over the past 25 years providing home-grown vegetables and meat (beef, pork and lamb), with the fresh local produce prepared & served in its Woodland Coffee Shop. With annual visitor numbers of 250,000 the Farm has become the hub of Semer village, employing 50 people. As well as staging events such as Open Farm Sunday, the Student Food & Farming Day, Festival of Food Day and a Vegetable Festival, the farm hosts educational visits from May until October and children’s parties at weekends. Since winning the award in 2007, the owners have made major investment in the business and the farm shop now has almost 5,000 VIP loyalty card customers and staff development has enabled greater delegation by the owners. (128 words)

Resting Pets – 2004 Winner: Margaret & Andrew Gemmill

Since winning the award in 2004, this pet cemetery and crematorium has seen business increase by an average of 18% per annum. The business has expanded to include a horse rehabilitation unit and equine vetinary clinic generating new income to be reinvested in new buildings and services such as Vetinary Wave Services providing safe clinical waste disposal. Investment in further building improvements has enabled the company to secure additional tenants and a new staff development & training programme has enabled business expansion and greater self sufficiency. The business has enabled the growth of new local suppliers for horse caskets, pet ashes presentation boxes & glass keepsakes. Writtle Agriculture College incorporates site visits as part of their Animal Care or Equine courses and support is also given to local school work experience schemes. (132 words)

Park Farm Business Centre – 2008 Winner: Malcolm & Glenda Stennett

As 2008 winners, Park Farm Business Centre has since increased the number of office units available and they are hoping to install a 100meg high speed internet link as well as solar PV to generate 49.9KW to become more self sufficient. The conversion of redundant farm buildings has generated increased capital and property valuation. As well as increasing the number of business units (25,000 sq ft), the Centre is expanding into holiday homes and domestic property rentals as well as developing the transport and storage side of the business. In addition to the direct maintenance staff, 92 employees are employed by the tenant businesses and also generate income for local suppliers and accommodation providers who accommodate c150 beds per week. (119 words)

Hunter’s Hall (Park & Castle Farms) – 2010 Winner: John Carrick

Hunter’s Hall is a former Victorian barn & grain store converted into a function venue which opened in 1999 and which now has capacity for 200 guests and employs 43 full and part-time local staff. Although not providing accommodation, local B&B providers support Hall guests. Development is planned to improve and extend the kitchens and a new banqueting facility to support the increase in corporate business. It is also hoped to expand and develop the tearoom and farm shop to satisfy demand for local produce and the site now has 10,000 visitors each year. The development of the site has led to an increased the capital valuation. (107 words)

The Reid Rooms & The Room in the Rodings – 2001 Winner: Messrs M R & J L Ritchie

Since winning the award in 2001, this wedding venue has significantly expanded to include a new lounge, conservatory, porch and veranda extensions as well as developing the Farmhouse B&B and The Room in the Rodings (a second wedding venue converted from the village hall). Apart from the increase in capital value the turnover generated by the venue business is 5 times that of the farm itself with a current valuation of £3.25m. The Rooms are a major local employer and additional local people are employed by the outside caterers. Future expansion plans include the conversion of a barn to 12 self-catering B&B units and increased capacity for the Ceremony Room. (109 words)

Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure Centre – 2005 Winner: Sarah Robertson

This 82 acre equestrian centre has expanded its core business since winning in 2005 and now incorporates a cafe, stud farm, wedding carriage hire, camping & carvanning site, dog agility club, art & photography classes, holiday rentals, B&B and children’s residential holidays. The riding school uniquely offers training in a wide range of equine disciplines and attracts international visitors. The expansion of the business has in turn supported local B&Bs, shops and pubs in the area who have all benefited from visitors to the centre. Valley Farm is a registered Care Farm & Visitor Centre and the campsite and residential lets are widely used by schools. (106 words)

Bruisyard Hall & Barn – 2002 Winner: The Rous Family

The Grade II listed house has been converted into a self catering property for weddings, receptions and family occasions and the Barn conversion is also available for conferences, exhibitions and corporate events. Business has increased steadily since winning the award in 2002 although on site employment is mainly from within the family. Staffing levels will increase as the Barn hire business increases and local produce is used in catering at the venue. An additional benefit has been the generation of income for local B&Bs from an increase in visitors from outside the region. (93 words)

Manor House Estate – 2006 Winner: The Simper Family

The sale of converted unused farm buildings on a family farm at Bawdsey into a development of 21 bespoke, high quality second homes, funded the creation of a management company to maintain the Manor House Estate grounds, swimming pool, tennis court as well as caretaking and concierge services for the homeowners. The family-owned building company has subsequently completed 3 other barn conversions and 2 other housing developments elsewhere and won an RIBA Housebuilder of the Year award in 2007. The income generated by the sale of the buildings has also facilitated the purchase of a neighbouring farm thereby increasing the family’s original asparagus-growing business as well as building up a Red Poll herd to satisfy the increasing demand for local produce. (121 words)