Showcasing our role in supporting sustainable farming initiatives

How helping to establish a new community benefit society has led to creating a place to practice and encourage sustainable agriculture practices.

At Wrigleys, we take pride in our commitment to providing exceptional legal services to our clients. One of our recent projects involved working with the Great Cansiron Holistic Trust, a charitable Community Benefit Society (CBS) dedicated to sustainable farming and education.

Our legal services

Our team, led by Laura Moss and Laurel Sleet, was tasked with establishing the CBS for the Great Cansiron Holistic Trust. The primary objective was to set up a new charitable CBS to acquire land to enable the operation of a farm and regenerative nature project. This involved ensuring that the CBS was registered by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and that its charitable status was approved by HMRC. We are pleased to report that our efforts were successful, and the CBS is now fully operational.

Partner, Laura Moss commented that; “We were delighted to support Roger in setting up the Great Cansiron Trust.  We’re seeing a growing interest in community-led approaches to nature recovery, and our experience with charitable mutual organisations meant we were well placed to help him”.

The project

The Great Cansiron Holistic Trust acquired farmland at Great Cansiron Farm in Holtye, East Sussex, in September 2024. Roger Ross, the Chair of Trustees, made a private loan to the Trust, enabling the purchase of the land. The Trust's mission is to promote sustainable development, regeneration, and education through innovative farming practices.

Approximately 60% of the land is leased to Tablehurst, an established biodynamic farm known for its low-impact, organic farming techniques. Tablehurst has been a pioneer in sustainable agriculture for over 30 years and was awarded the Farm of the Year in 2022. At Great Cansiron, Tablehurst is transforming the land using methods such as planting herbal leys, grazing cattle to regenerate the soil, and employing "mob grazing" techniques. These practices mimic the behaviour of wild herds and contribute to soil health and biodiversity.

The remaining 40% of the land is designated as a starter farm for individuals interested in learning organic and biodynamic farming. The Trust provides education and training in agro-forestry, market gardening, and organic growing. The goal is to equip new farmers with the skills needed to practice sustainable agriculture.

Biodynamic farming

Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach to agriculture that combines organic methods with metaphysical and spiritual principles. This practice emphasises the interconnectedness of all living organisms and the environment. Biodynamic farmers adhere to rigorous certification standards, which include a thorough assessment of supply chains. It takes three years to achieve organic certification and an additional year to be certified as a biodynamic farm.

Celebrating success

A year after acquiring the land, the Trust celebrated its first anniversary with a community party, bringing together 75 neighbours and supporters. This milestone marks the beginning of a promising journey towards sustainable farming and community development.

At Wrigleys, we are proud to have played a role in supporting the Great Cansiron Holistic Trust's mission to create a focal point for sustainable agriculture and education.

For further information, please email greatcansironht@gmail.com , follow Great Cansiron Holistic Trust on Linkedin or Facebook, or visit About Us | Tablehurst Farm

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further, please contact Laura Moss or a member of the charities and social economy team on 0113 244 6100.

You can also keep up to date by following Wrigleys Solicitors on LinkedIn.

The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. The law stated is correct at the date (stated above) this article was first posted to our website. 

Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors.