MP Gregory Stafford praises countryside charity for its “incredible work” at Pierrepont Farm

Mr Stafford, who was elected as the Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon in the latest General Election, met Pierrepont Farm’s new tenant, Kayleigh Robb, who took on a 10-year tenancy at the farm in April, to discuss the importance of nature-friendly farming and diversification on farms. 

She said: “It was lovely to be able to show Mr Stafford around the farm and share with him my plans for the future, as I’m currently in the early stages of installing a milk vending machine, and how this will allow me to sell produce directly to local consumers and interact with the public. 

“As we walked through the cows, it was good to chat about how the farm will be using more regenerative practices and how this will play into a wider picture for the farm long term as well as for nature.” 

"Incredible" work at Pierrepont Farm

Mr Stafford said: “The CRT is doing some incredible work at Pierrepont, and it has been a pleasure to meet the range of small businesses based here and visit the working farm itself.  

“I think farmers can often unfortunately receive some negative attention, mainly due to a lack of public awareness and this idea that farmers are just there to ravage countryside. People forget that our countryside looks like it does because we have been farming it for thousands of years; it would be forest if we didn’t have farmers. 

“My question before I arrived was around how regenerative farming makes commercial sense, because farmers must feed people - which is one of the main objectives of farming - but I have been really impressed by what the CRT has said.

"It may not work in all instances or for every farm but if we can do more, it's a really good idea." 

The challenges facing rural economies

Kerriann McLackland, CRT Head of Estates, said: “It was a great opportunity to showcase how the CRT and our tenants work collaboratively to support local small businesses alongside nature-friendly farming. 

“The MP was really interested in all rural issues and we had an opportunity to raise some of the challenges facing the rural economy, such as the limitations of broadband and mobile phone coverage, delays in the planning system and the proposed cuts to agri-environment funding.”

Meeting artisan businesses

Mr Stafford was able to meet local craft businesses at the Old Dairy Courtyard, including talking to the Farnham Brewing Company about their plans, watching cheese being made from Cheese on the Wey and trying some fudge from Mummy Makes Fudge.

Mr Stafford saw a jewellery making workshop in action with the Frensham Old Barn Workshop, run by Fenella Watson and Jessica Noble, who are two established jewellery and silversmithing designers.  

He also spoke with Finntage Interiors and Peter Quarmby of Windsor Chairs and artist Sinead Fox, who was preparing for an exhibition in Battersea. 

On Saturday, October 5, the Old Dairy at Pierrepont is hosting the launch event of the Farnham Craft Month, held every October to celebrate Farnham's status as England's First World Craft Town from 12pm to 5pm. They will be joined by musicians, visiting artists and a variety of food and drink stalls. 

How you can help