www.ecologicalland.coop
Mission
We
believe that the creation of sustainable rural livelihoods is one of the best
solutions to our most pressing environmental and social problems.
Small-scale
production using, for example, agro-forestry or Permaculture methods, maximises
yields, protects the environment and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by
reducing fossil fuel use. Such businesses help build a vibrant, living
countryside in which humans flourish alongside our cherished landscapes and
natural biodiversity. These sustainable projects have a crucial role to play in
ensuring food and energy security. They also provide employment, access to
local, sustainable food and crafts and educational opportunities for urban
visitors, helping to maintain rural skills and to improve ecological literacy.
These small scale enterprises also allow residents to be rooted in their rural
locality, helping maintain and regenerate rural communities and the services
upon which they depend such as local schools and shops. Ecological foot-print
analysis show that residents of ecological land based businesses use less than
half the natural resources used by the average UK resident and are currently
the only form of development in the UK which comes close to achieving One
Planet Living*.
Yet in
England and Wales there are no affordable residential smallholdings for
small-scale producers wishing to practice ecological agriculture.
The
Ecological Land Cooperative has been set up to buy land that has been, or is at
risk of being, intensively managed and lease it to people that have the skills
to manage it ecologically and would not otherwise be able to afford do so.
How
does it work?
The
Cooperative purchases degraded agricultural land and applies for planning
permission for low-impact smallholdings with temporary residences. We provide a
water supply, biological waste water treatment system, road access, and a
shared barn made of natural and local materials. If we can we also will provide
a source of renewables - such as solar panels - and an electric delivery
vehicle. We then sell 999-year leasehold agreements for the smallholdings at an
affordable rate, passing on just costs plus a target return to investors of 6%.
If planning permission is given, we can sell on smallholdings with planning
permission for temporary agricultural dwellings for around £50,000. In
comparison, a 5-acre smallholding with no planning permission was recently advertised
for £95,000, and a 5-acre small-holding with a house at £299,950, yet the net
profit for organic small-holders is in the region of £14,000. After the
leasehold is sold, we continue to monitor the sites, with a provision for an
annual audit built into the leasehold agreement. If the leaseholders do not
adhere to the ecological land management criteria, the Co-operative can
intervene. The leasehold agreement also prohibits the property being sold out
of affordable, agricultural and ecological use.
Who
gets the smallholdings?
For our
first three smallholdings anybody was welcome to apply. We selected applicants
on a number of criteria including their farming and horticultural experience,
experience of low impact living and connection with the locality. We will
assess our application process when advertising for tenants for any subsequent
sites and will advertise widely.
*One
Planet Living is a term to describe living in such a way that a person uses
only their fair share of the world's resources, calculated on a global per
capita basis. It is currently estimated to be around 2 hectares per person. The
UK average is currently about 5.5 hectares per person.
