This unique visit will explore the opportunities and challenges of farming on the urban fringe in Essex.  The family-owned farms on the estate extend to some 6,000 acres, with milling wheat the largest crop by area, together with oilseed rape, beans, maize for anaerobic digestion, potatoes, sweetcorn and salad onions. Contract crop storage has been a feature of the business for over 30 years.

Older buildings and vacant yard space are let to a wide range of businesses. Challenges for the estate
include proposals for a six-lane Lower Thames Crossing motorway to relieve the pressure on the Dartford Crossing, a proposed new 400kV East Anglia Green pylon line and de-commissioning a high-pressure gas main.

New opportunities on the estate include solar farms, a 600MW peaking power station, a 400MW battery site, a sporting clay shoot and a planned crematorium. During this visit, you will also hear about the estate’s Scottish enterprise, which includes a tenanted farm, sporting lets, forestry, peat carbon capture, 49MW windfarm, a run-of-river hydro scheme and a planned 600MW pumped-hydro scheme.

After lunch, there will be an optional tour of the UK’s newest port, Tilbury2.

This visit is by kind permission of the Finnis and Cole families.

ITINERARY
9.30am Registration and refreshments in the Black Barn
10.00am Essex Branch AGM, update from a CLA Officer and welcome
from the Finnis family
11.00am Coach tour of the estate
1.00pm Two course lunch with wine in the Black Barn
2.00pm Optional further coach tour of the Tilbury2 Docks
3.00pm Depart

HOW TO BOOK?
To book a place at this CLA event please click book now.

For more information please call 01638 590429 or email Elaine Molton via elaine.molton@cla.org.uk.