Business Case Study:
Church Farm And Fenestra Conference Centre

Church Farm is situated just north of Scunthorpe. It is a combination of arable fields and hillside grassland with open access to walkers and good views looking towards the town over farmland, the River Trent, industry and villages.

Andrew Green and his family farm 105 acres at Flixborough, 270 acres at Waddingham and also has 100 acres of rented land.

The business has altered dramatically over the last ten years. Previously all the cereals produced on the farm were used to feed the livestock on the farm. The main enterprise was pig production, from a 250 sow straw based unit.

Today, Church Farm business has several different functions.

• Arable farming, where wheat, barley, sugar beet, oilseed rape and winter beans are grown. Wheat and barley is either sold to Porter’s at Flixborough or exported from Immingham for animal feed. Milling wheat is also grown for companies such as McVitae’s. Spring barley is grown for malting. It is purchased by the maltsters, such as Muntons, malted, then sold on to brewers and other users of malt. Sugar beet is grown on contract with British Sugar and processed at the factory at Newark. Land is also rented out for the production of potatoes, carrots, peas and maize. The potatoes are usually grown for processing into crisps or chips. Carrots are grown for supermarket contracts. Peas are grown for ‘Birds Eye’.
• Grassland is under several different uses. The equestrian enterprise uses grassland for grazing and the production of hay. Other grassland is grazed by cattle. Other areas of grassed field margins and field corners are there specifically for the benefits to wildlife.
• Countryside and Environmental schemes. A significant percentage of the farm is under the ‘Higher Level Environmental Scheme’, along with the ‘Entry Level Environmental Scheme’. Measures include summer fallows, areas sown with wild bird food producing plants, areas sown with species producing pollen and nectar for insects, grassed margins around the margins of arable fields, arable reversion to grass, along with permissive public access measures. The schemes are designed to increase the diversity of flora and fauna of the site. Hedges and field margins are being managed to provide food and shelter for lowland farm birds. Part of the site is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) following the discovery of Roman-British and Saxon settlement remains nearby.
• Composting (organic waste, wood waste etc). Organic material is delivered to sites on both farms, it is composted, processed and returned to land. Material comes from a local County Council, local waste and recycling companies, as well as individual businesses.
• A 19 stable equestrian facility has been established. This uses existing farm buildings that were specifically converted for the purpose. Additional facilities, including a 60m x 20m floodlit ménage have also been developed. This facility is rented out and run separately from the farm.

The farm is not large and because of the continued uncertainty over the future prospects for agricultural production and the loss of the main livestock enterprise, it has necessitated that every opportunity be considered to ensure that the business remains viable and sustainable in the future. This has meant looking at how to get the best return from the best land and has resulted in different crops being grown as a result of the use of irrigation. Income is also derived from the environmental schemes, as well as the other diversification projects; The Fenestra Centre, North Lincs Composting and the equestrian facility.

The ethos of the business is to work with nature and to maintain and enhance the environment of the farm.

In addition to the enterprises on the farm described above there has been diversification to develop and establish a Conference and Meeting centre which is available for hire.

The Fenestra Conference Centre is situated in a large and attractive single storey traditional farm building, rich in character, with thick limestone walls, brick pillars, exposed beams and large windows. It has been purposefully and sympathetically restored to fulfil its new role. The centre lies in a visually impressive, rural location, on a farm which has been recognised for its environmental efforts and achievements.

Andrew explains: ‘Fenestra was chosen as the name of our conference and education centre because, it reflects the character of the building itself, as well as our ethos of providing and encouraging individuals to make the most of opportunities’.

The Fenestra Centre’s customer base ranges from local to national companies, to public bodies and to numerous other organisations. The venue is used for a wide range of events, to deliver offsite meetings, including training and educational activities. The centre is also suitable for a wide range of other uses.

The Fenestra Centre is the first stage of project to develop the full range of the old farm buildings into a vibrant new centre for the local businesses and the local community.

Awards

Church Farm was ‘Highly Commended’ in the 2008 Natural England ‘Future of Farming Awards’.
The Fenestra Centre was ‘Highly Commended’ the 2007 CLA Rural Buildings Awards and was Runner-up in the 2007 North Lincolnshire New Business Enterprise Awards.
Church Farm, Flixborough was placed second in the Agriculture Section of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards in 2005.
www.fenestracentre.co.uk