Midlands Farmer Diversifies into Selling British Crafts
October 4 2006
A Midlands farmer, who has won awards for his Highland cattle, has diversified into creating a setting within the farm´s 400 acres for the production and sale of traditional pottery and crafts.
With the help of a grant from Advantage West Midlands Rural Enterprise Scheme previously managed by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the landlord, Bournville Village Trust, a former redundant farm building at Chadwich Manor Farm in Bromsgrove has been converted into a pottery studio and art gallery.
Liz Monk, who has spent the last ten years training with some of the leading names in pottery today will produce high quality pottery and provide teaching workshops for up to five adults at any one time. The entire pottery production process will be carried out on the farm, from making the clay body to firing the finished pieces in the large gas kiln. As well as creating a full-time job for Liz, the project will also sustain three other jobs at the farm which borders Waseley Hills County Park and the Lickey Hills.
In 2002 Liz was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to further her skills and knowledge in this traditional craft by working with a range of international potters using different processes and techniques. Visitors to the Pottery Studio will be able to watch Liz work and browse around the gallery at the finished pieces. The Gallery also includes a wide range of hand made items produced by other British designer crafts people. These include textiles, jewellery, glassware, handmade greeting cards, prints and woodwork.
Liz said: "My family has lived on the farm for the last thirty five years. During this time we have watched farming progressively getting more difficult. I have now achieved the skills and knowledge necessary to run my own pottery studio. Working with my father to diversify into selling hand made traditional crafts is the natural progression to putting a derelict building into good use and offering a unique service to the community. The farm has sold Christmas trees and wreaths for the last twenty years. We are now complementing this by selling hand-made Christmas gifts and helping to promote the work of other local crafts people."
Alan Shrimpton, a Director of Bournville Village Trust said: "We have a tradition of working closely with our farmers to help them respond to the increasingly competitive challenges facing UK agriculture in the 21st century. We are confident that the new pottery studio and gallery will achieve long-term benefits at Chadwich Manor Farm."
Jamie Inglis, the Rural Development Programme for England Policy Manager at Advantage West Midlands said: "The challenges faced by the Monk family are ones faced by rural communities all over the West Midlands and I am delighted that with this grant they are able to start a new chapter for their business."
Pottery and Gallery Opening times:
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
