We were delighted to learn more about Landmatch England, a new not-for-profit service that connects landowners with people seeking land, at its online launch event this week.
The scheme represents a real opportunity for landowners and land seekers in Cornwall to find new ways of working together that benefit both parties, while creating opportunities for agroecological food and farming enterprises.
What Is Landmatch England?
Landmatch England is being delivered collaboratively by Tamar Grow Local CIC, the Landworkers’ Alliance, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Network UK, and Shared Assets CIC.
Publicly funded land-matching services already exist in Scotland and Wales, and this scheme marks a significant step towards creating similar opportunities in England to encourage and support tenant farmers.
Key takeaways from the launch event
Our main takeaways from the launch were:
- Although the scheme covers the whole of England, additional funding has been secured for a South West pilot. This means landowners and seekers in the region can access events and more tailored support, including peer-to-peer networking and on-the-ground help.
- There are already strong levels of interest, with more than 100 people attending the launch and 53 applications from landowners and seekers received so far.
- The service has a really useful website with excellent resources, including guides to governance and organisational structures, as well as clear explainers on lease agreements and community ownership models.
- The website also includes a noticeboard facility where landowners and seekers can post details of what they are looking for or can offer. It’s great to see some Cornish opportunities already listed.
Learning from landowners and land seekers
The event also featured powerful presentations from both a landowner and a land seeker.
David Wolfe, of Wakelyns Farm in Suffolk, shared the landowner perspective. Wakelyns is a 56-acre organic agroforestry farm hosting 12 businesses, ranging from hemp growing to apple pressing and livestock. David spoke about a strong focus on enterprise stacking, mutual cooperation and collaboration, and making use of all areas of the land – even those that might traditionally be considered marginal.
Holly Smith, based in the Cotswolds, shared her experience as a landless, first-generation farmer. She spoke candidly about the difficulties she faced in finding land for her small flock of sheep and bees. Alongside stories of the kindness and collaboration she has encountered, Holly highlighted the challenges of entering farming without family connections or sector experience, as well as the anxiety that can come with not having a long-term land agreement.
Why this matters for Cornwall
We believe that Landmatch England represents a real opportunity to start and grow agroecological enterprises in Cornwall, and to bridge the gap between new entrants looking for a base to establish or expand their businesses and landowners seeking to strengthen their resilience through collaboration.
It’s well worth visiting the Landmatch England website to find out more. A recording of the launch webinar will also be made available there.