We are delighted to invite our Gloucestershire Branch members to this year’s Gloucestershire  AGM at Calmsden Estate, by kind permission of The Tufnell Family.

Calmsden Farms is an 890 hectare arable farm located near Cirencester in the Cotswolds National Landscape. The farm has been in the family since it was purchased just before the First World War by the Mark Tufnell’s great-grandfather, when it formed part of the Rendcomb Estate which was originally owned by Sir John Guise Bt. The farm has been managed by Mark and Jane Tufnell since 1995.

Historically a mixed farm with dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and poultry, it transitioned in 1970 to predominantly arable production following advice from Derek Barber (later Lord Barber). Subsequent changes in agricultural policy and agronomic challenges led to the adoption of a wider rotation, alongside a strong and evolving commitment to environmental stewardship.

Since the mid-1990s, the farm has participated in a succession of conservation schemes, including Cotswold Hills ESA, ELS, HLS, Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, with approximately 12% of the land now managed for conservation. Extensive measures such as wildflower margins, beetle banks, wild bird cover, conservation headlands and skylark plots support a wide range of farmland wildlife, with recorded increases in species such as grey partridges, skylarks and pollinators.

Alongside its conservation work, the farm produces high-quality crops for the human food chain, including milling wheat, milling oats, malting barley, oilseed rape and peas, with a focus on securing premium markets.

Calmsden Farms demonstrates that productive, profitable agriculture can operate in harmony with nature recovery, supported by strong engagement with initiatives such as the Jordans Farm Partnership, LEAF Marque and the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, alongside hosting farm walks and community events.

Since 2020 there has been a policy of converting redundant farm buildings into workshops, offices and a wedding venue. The most recent development, which created Calmsden Workspace, was completed in September 2024. Alongside the small residential portfolio, which required significant upgrading since 1995, these additional revenue streams have allowed the farm to cope with the volatile agricultural markets.

Programme
11.00am – Registration, tea and coffee
11.30am – AGM
11.50am – Update from CLA Vice President Eliza Ecclestone
12.45pm – Welcome to Calmsden with Mark Tufnell
1.00pm – Two-course lunch
2.15pm – Estate Tour (Tractor Trailer)
3.20pm – Refreshments
3.45pm – Depart

 

Please dress accordingly to the weather with sensible footwear for tractor trailer tours.