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Farmplanner of the Year teams set for Berkshire challenge

Suzie Horne 28 May 2012
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The challenge for the 2012 Farmplanner of the Year competition is to draw up a business plan for the 800ha Farley Estate in Berkshire.


The competition is run by the Institute of Agricultural Management, with 13 teams fielded this year from a wide range of agricultural colleges and universities.


The Farley Farms Estate is just south of Reading, with a wide range of enterprises and businesses. These include a traditional working farm, let grassland, woodland, a luxury livery development and shoot with both private and commercial elements. Residential and commercial lettings are also important in the mix.


The plans must meet the objectives for a robust, diverse, sustainable business delivering asset growth and income generation for re-investment.


Under particular scrutiny will be the dairy unit, maximising environmental and conservation interests alongside identifying development potential for the Farley brand as well as for other property development. Routes to more profitable use of the estate’s extensive grassland are also sought.


Three finalist teams will be chosen to present their reports to the judging panel on 31 May. The panel includes estate manager Mark Robins, Piers Costley of sponsor Farmplan, Tim Brigstocke from IAgrM and Farmers Weekly’s Business Editor Suzie Horne. The competition is also supported by Marks and Spencer.


See the participants in the gallery below.


Photo captions below gallery.





  • Duchy College

  • Bridgewater College

  • Bishop Burton College

  • Hadlow College-1

  • Hadlow College-2

  • Askham Bryan College

  • Harper Adams

  • Lincoln College

  • Plumpton College

  • Hartpury College

  • Kingston Maurward College

  • Newcastle University

  • Reading University

  • Moulton College


1.Duchy College, Cornwall
(Left-right)
Rebecca Screech, Leanne Kneebone, Catherine Ede, Ann Willcocks


2.Bridgewater College, Somerset
(Left-right)
Shane Plowright, Jaavi Manning, Richard West, Robert Dorpman, Matthew Whittle


3.Bishop Burton College, East Yorkshire
(Left-right)
George Thornally, Charlie Long, Shane Durham, Thomas Keech, Thomas Chalk


4.Hadlow College, Kent
(Left-right)
Ben Corrie, Albert Dumbutschenc, Elizabeth Entwhistle, Elianne Mutombo, Koni Muroyiwa


5.Hadlow College, Kent
(Left-right)
Fatai Abiola, Philip Martin, Josh Velwick


6.Askham Bryan College, North Yorkshire
(Left-right)
James Brentnall, Tim Weatherhead, Ian Snowden, Xandy Mortensen, Josh Wright


7.Harper Adams University College, Shropshire
(Left-right)
(Front) Tony Asson, Catherine Teward, Sam Bowsher, Rebecca Inch
(Centre) Callum Jackson, Alex Hollands, Chris Dawe, Josh Morgan-Jones
(Back) Harry Read, Sandy Cambell, Will Pollett, Chris Tagg, Michael Temple


8.Lincoln College
(Left-right)
(Front) Helena Rushby, Courtney Cotton, Tanya Bridgeman, Kirsten Hoggard
(Back) Andrew Boulton, Will Brooks, Steven Dunnington, Josh Watchorn, Nathan Page


9.Plumpton College, Sussex
(Left-right)
David Phillips, Joseph Hopkins, Phil Trott, Carl Tulip, Martin Kalule


10.Hartpury College, Gloucestershire
(Left-right)
(Front) Janatha Stout, Charlotte Andrew, Josie Moore, Jamie Diplock, Dan Beattie
(Back) Tristan Hudson, Alex Robinson, Tom Wormington, Chris Acock, Kevin Ball


11.Kingston Maurward College, Dorset
(Left-right)
(Front) Jennifer Diment, Julie Ridout, Ruth Wilkin, Heidi Pounder
(Back) Carl Hoskins, Matthew Cradock, Harry Foot


12.Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
(Left-right)
(Front) Ed Youngman, Rachel Almond, Helen Proud, Joe Fisher
(Back) Colin Tuer, Victoria Walton, Nicholas Hibbert-Hingston, Henry Ward, Oliver Harding-Rolls


13.Reading University, Reading
(Left-right)
(Front) John Martin, James Higginbotham, Lily Hiscock, Daniel Snook, David Ractliffe
(Back) Alison Bailey, Christopher Appleton, Charles Clack, Mark Henty, Josh Mitchell, Owen Piper


14.Moulton College, Northamptonshire
(Left-right)
(Front) Helen Tedds, James Donald, Annabel Green, Emily Litchfield, Ella Zakrzewski

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