SERPENTINE COMMUNITY FARM
BUSINESS PLAN - March 2015
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Serpentine Community Farm (aka ‘The Serpentine Project’) is a partnership initiative being run by the Food Group arm of Transition Buxton in association with local organisations including Buxton and Leek College, the University of Derby and High Peak Borough Council. We are also enthusiastically supported by Buxton Civic Association and Buxton Town Team.
Our proposal focuses on an area of land running alongside the Serpentine watercourse to the west of the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, subsequently referred to as ‘Serpentine Community Farm’. Previously the area had been used for the cultivation and supply of plants for the Pavilion Gardens. In recent years the area has fallen into disrepair and the owners (High Peak Borough Council) have been looking at ways to use the existing space. High Peak Borough Council (HPBC) are interested in having partnerships with community organisations to transform run-down buildings into assets for the good of the community.
Transition Buxton presented the Regeneration Committee with plans for transforming the site into a venue for community food growing and education, and was given the opportunity to develop a business plan for the project.
Serpentine Community Farm CIC will take responsibility for transforming the derelict site of the Serpentine Nursery into a working market garden, in partnership with the Borough Council, Buxton & Leek College, University of Derby and other local organisations. Management of the project and physical labour will be on a voluntary basis.
The development will be phased over 3 years, each phase adding an activity and a resource for use by the community. The project will provide a range of produce for sale in the first growing season, and one part-time post in the second year. Thereafter, as more food is produced and more of the site resources developed, it will become a venue for education and training in horticulture, as well as offering courses in food preparation and preserving. In the long term, the site will continue to be an asset to the whole community.
Legal structure
Serpentine Community Farm is established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) taking sole responsibility for the Serpentine Community Farm project. The Board includes members of the project group of Transition Buxton and expects to invite further members from High Peak Borough Council, Buxton and Leek College, University of Derby and other local organisations.
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Business Plan Outline
Stakeholder interests
Transition Buxton:
Buxton and Leek College/University of Derby:
High Peak Borough Council:
Buxton Civic Association:
Buxton Town Team:
Demand and market
The SCF will be a useful resource for several different sectors of the community, as it will provide a venue for guided learning in an active outdoor horticultural setting as well as produce food and food products for sale and consumption in the local area.
Previous, albeit limited, market research has convinced us that there is a growing market for locally-grown fresh produce. In addition, the facilities we provide have been welcomed by the College and University as immediate training and educational resources. In future we will provide bespoke training in food cultivation, preparation and preservation.
Objectives 2015
Revenue
Projected income streams fall roughly into four categories:
1. Salads, vegetables, soft fruit, herbs, mushrooms, cut flowers and pot plants can all be planted immediately and will start producing revenue within the first year although the projections show income building over the first three or four years as the experience of the growing team develops. The projected income is based on wholesale prices and yields achieved at other similar projects around the country. Although Buxton’s climate reduces the growing season compared with other projects further south, our proposals are for nearly half the annual growing beds to be covered in the greenhouse and polytunnels which will compensate for that. The range of produce that can be grown will probably be less than elsewhere but experience from other projects suggests that the actual yield should be comparable. There is considerable room for improvement in these income streams if produce is sold direct to consumers at retail prices.
2. Tree fruit, juices and preserves will take longer to produce revenue partly because the fruit trees we will plant will take a few years to produce a harvest, and partly because the processing will only be possible on an efficient scale when the buildings have been refurbished and equipment installed. However, the majority of the fruit processed isn’t expected to come from the site but from Transition Buxton’s patchwork orchard, which has been growing steadily for several years now, and other local fruit tree owners who can bring their produce to the farm for processing.
3. Courses, which are split into internal and external courses. Although all the courses in the projections will take place at the farm, the internal ones will be organised, staffed and promoted ourselves while the external courses are ones that other providers such as the University and Colleges will provide using the facilities and resources at the farm. Our internal courses can start almost immediately and are projected to build up steadily over the first five years as our experience, facilities and reputation increases. External courses are dependent on having the buildings refurbished and completed facilities in place.
4. Events and café, both produce income from selling our products at a premium price (as opposed to wholesale) to people visiting the farm. Initially this would just be herbal teas, cordials and homemade cakes but the product range and revenue would build as the business develops. A programme of events centred on food and the growing seasons is planned and would bring people onto the farm from across Buxton and the surrounding area. Experience at other community farms has shown that a permanent café is unlikely to be viable but a pop up café, staffed by volunteers on days when there are lots of people around is projected to produce a moderate but steady income.
Key Financial Outcomes
Please get in touch, using the contact page, if you would like a copy of the full Business Plan.
BUSINESS PLAN - March 2015
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Serpentine Community Farm (aka ‘The Serpentine Project’) is a partnership initiative being run by the Food Group arm of Transition Buxton in association with local organisations including Buxton and Leek College, the University of Derby and High Peak Borough Council. We are also enthusiastically supported by Buxton Civic Association and Buxton Town Team.
Our proposal focuses on an area of land running alongside the Serpentine watercourse to the west of the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, subsequently referred to as ‘Serpentine Community Farm’. Previously the area had been used for the cultivation and supply of plants for the Pavilion Gardens. In recent years the area has fallen into disrepair and the owners (High Peak Borough Council) have been looking at ways to use the existing space. High Peak Borough Council (HPBC) are interested in having partnerships with community organisations to transform run-down buildings into assets for the good of the community.
Transition Buxton presented the Regeneration Committee with plans for transforming the site into a venue for community food growing and education, and was given the opportunity to develop a business plan for the project.
Serpentine Community Farm CIC will take responsibility for transforming the derelict site of the Serpentine Nursery into a working market garden, in partnership with the Borough Council, Buxton & Leek College, University of Derby and other local organisations. Management of the project and physical labour will be on a voluntary basis.
The development will be phased over 3 years, each phase adding an activity and a resource for use by the community. The project will provide a range of produce for sale in the first growing season, and one part-time post in the second year. Thereafter, as more food is produced and more of the site resources developed, it will become a venue for education and training in horticulture, as well as offering courses in food preparation and preserving. In the long term, the site will continue to be an asset to the whole community.
Legal structure
Serpentine Community Farm is established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) taking sole responsibility for the Serpentine Community Farm project. The Board includes members of the project group of Transition Buxton and expects to invite further members from High Peak Borough Council, Buxton and Leek College, University of Derby and other local organisations.
* * * * *
Business Plan Outline
Stakeholder interests
Transition Buxton:
- community engagement focused on developing resilience to climate change and resource depletion;
- promotion of all aspects of sustainable, local food production.
Buxton and Leek College/University of Derby:
- create suitable curricular activities;
- Provide opportunities for work experience.
High Peak Borough Council:
- ensure public assets are managed responsibly and productively;
- provide cost effective community services.
Buxton Civic Association:
- protecting and managing woodlands & heritage in Buxton.
Buxton Town Team:
- promote links between small businesses in the town;
- support sustainable economic and cultural development for the benefit of the majority population.
Demand and market
The SCF will be a useful resource for several different sectors of the community, as it will provide a venue for guided learning in an active outdoor horticultural setting as well as produce food and food products for sale and consumption in the local area.
Previous, albeit limited, market research has convinced us that there is a growing market for locally-grown fresh produce. In addition, the facilities we provide have been welcomed by the College and University as immediate training and educational resources. In future we will provide bespoke training in food cultivation, preparation and preservation.
Objectives 2015
- Restore the greenhouse and establish growing areas outside to create a functioning market garden, producing fruit, herbs and vegetables for sale to commercial kitchens and the public.
- Develop the stone outbuildings into a venue for training and teaching, food conserving and food preparation.
- Develop a forest garden on part of the site. Involve the community in local food production, to include schools and college students as well as the general public. To employ conventional horticultural techniques and investigate potential new crops informed by permaculture principles in the development of the site, in order to become self-sustaining by 2019.
Revenue
Projected income streams fall roughly into four categories:
1. Salads, vegetables, soft fruit, herbs, mushrooms, cut flowers and pot plants can all be planted immediately and will start producing revenue within the first year although the projections show income building over the first three or four years as the experience of the growing team develops. The projected income is based on wholesale prices and yields achieved at other similar projects around the country. Although Buxton’s climate reduces the growing season compared with other projects further south, our proposals are for nearly half the annual growing beds to be covered in the greenhouse and polytunnels which will compensate for that. The range of produce that can be grown will probably be less than elsewhere but experience from other projects suggests that the actual yield should be comparable. There is considerable room for improvement in these income streams if produce is sold direct to consumers at retail prices.
2. Tree fruit, juices and preserves will take longer to produce revenue partly because the fruit trees we will plant will take a few years to produce a harvest, and partly because the processing will only be possible on an efficient scale when the buildings have been refurbished and equipment installed. However, the majority of the fruit processed isn’t expected to come from the site but from Transition Buxton’s patchwork orchard, which has been growing steadily for several years now, and other local fruit tree owners who can bring their produce to the farm for processing.
3. Courses, which are split into internal and external courses. Although all the courses in the projections will take place at the farm, the internal ones will be organised, staffed and promoted ourselves while the external courses are ones that other providers such as the University and Colleges will provide using the facilities and resources at the farm. Our internal courses can start almost immediately and are projected to build up steadily over the first five years as our experience, facilities and reputation increases. External courses are dependent on having the buildings refurbished and completed facilities in place.
4. Events and café, both produce income from selling our products at a premium price (as opposed to wholesale) to people visiting the farm. Initially this would just be herbal teas, cordials and homemade cakes but the product range and revenue would build as the business develops. A programme of events centred on food and the growing seasons is planned and would bring people onto the farm from across Buxton and the surrounding area. Experience at other community farms has shown that a permanent café is unlikely to be viable but a pop up café, staffed by volunteers on days when there are lots of people around is projected to produce a moderate but steady income.
Key Financial Outcomes
- Serpentine Community Farm to be self-sufficient in cash terms by 2018.
- A surplus of funds would be produced by 2021.
- Further surpluses would be used to help fund other similar projects throughout the district.
- Once mature, the farm would provide direct employment equivalent to a little over one full-time job.
Please get in touch, using the contact page, if you would like a copy of the full Business Plan.
