Since Ian and Louise Nelson first arrived at Sunnyfields in 1989 they have been developing the farm and business. In 2008 it is seen as being a very progressive food and farming business with some very exciting future plans.

Louise and Ian have for many years been developing plans both in their own minds as well as at the farm. Before starting Sunnyfields Louise and Ian both worked in Malawi, Central Africa for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) where Louise was teaching in a Secondary School and Ian working as a Horticultural Development Officer working in villages, hospitals and schools.

Louise and Ian have stated on many occasions that profit is not the only motivation in their business and the activities which they are involved in, now and in the past.

In 2005 they, in conjunction with many others, produced a document with the aid of funding from DEFRA, The EU, SEEDA and Leader +. This document was the result of a scoping study to build a Food, Farming and Environment Centre. The developments occurring at Sunnyfields today are a result of this study which received wide support from many individual, Government and Private Sector Bodies.

The first quarter of 2008 has seen a lot of work on plans to develop Sunnyfields into what would be a major examplar food and farming business.

For the purposes of this future development we have named the work in progress - The Sunnyfields Project. Below is short brief of the project.

The Sunnyfields Project

Food is central to our daily existence, our daily routines, our daily emotions, and our daily health - we are literally “made from food”.  In addition, food is also a major component of our economic activity, our impact on the environment, and our national culture.

The project’s Primary Vision is to change in a positive way how we produce, think and feel and consume our food, from its simple enjoyment to its wider implications, and to do so in an exciting and informative way.

The project will build sustainable “field to plate” Food Businesses that produce, supply, and retail great local and regional foods, together with other ethically sourced products that comprise the weekly shopping basket.

And More

The project’s Educational Vision will support the primary vision by providing a socially inclusive destination for food learning experiences, whilst its Environmental Vision will support the primary vision by operating the food businesses in an overtly sustainable way, including reducing waste and packaging, reducing food miles, and reducing energy usage.

Food production will be the core around which Sunnyfields Project Sites will be built. where people can have fun whilst learning about food on their own terms.  There will be attractions, exhibitions, leisure activities,  accommodation, event hosting, retailing, food markets, children’s farms, kitchen gardens, orchards, greenhouses, allotments, bakeries, butcheries, dairies, canteens, cafes, restaurants, and more....

The sites will also provide informal and formal settings for individual and organisational learning activities, from learning to grow food, to cooking, with the environment; to schools visits, social inclusion visits, food training & qualifications, food industry conferences, and research links with higher education.

For You

The business and the projects will operate as a Social Enterprise, and become a resource for local farmers, local food businesses, and the local community to collaborate across the food cycle.  Food processing facilities will support local producers to get their products to local markets, and where practical these facilities will be open to visitors too.

The whole enterprise will be profit-making, with a Broad Ownership Base drawn from a wide range of stakeholders including farmers, other food suppliers, the local community, customers, charities, voluntary organisations, social investors, local and central government, and most importantly individuals.  Profits will be invested responsibly ....

.... to deliver lasting food change for us all