North Yorkshire Farmer tells others to see 'bigger picture' and diversify

Owner of Thrussendale Farm, Roddy Hamilton, in Acklam, is investing in a new glamping project which he has named ‘The Private Hill’.

The farmer is now keen to spread the word to others about what he is doing to secure the future of his farming business, which is mainly done through diversification.

Roddy is currently applying his knowledge about the corporate world and branding to ensure the future of the small farm sector, whilst also supporting the tourist industry in North Yorkshire.

Whilst doing this him and his wife Jane continue to look after a pedigree herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, producing well above average EBV bulls for the commercial beef and dairy sectors.

There is also a blooming community of sheep with newborn lambs, hens with chicks – suffice to say the farm is doing well.

The couple now want to invest in their new venture. Roddy’s reasons distanced further than pure profit ambition and come from his discovery and love of farming.

His intensions are to bring new dimensions to the North Yorkshire tourist and agricultural scene, ensuring that people have a way to understand the farming way of life, whilst still enjoying the luxuries many require a holiday.

His project will offer glamping in new innovative geodesic domes – it is the first of its kind in the north of England.

Roddy explains “The Private Hill pulls together agriculture, tourism, nature, ecology, luxury, the environment and will also encourage education for people visiting the area on farming, local fauna and flora; and village way of life amongst other things.”

Roddy stated that farmers need to think further than potential cash injection into their business. “We need to use diversification as an opportunity to educate the population of the UK, and those who visit our country, on what farmers do, why we do it and why it is important”.

Roddy said diversification can help the public support British farming in the long run whilst farmers create sustainable future.

“Farming is an age old vocation, and one that needs to thrive as changes happen on our political horizon. The Private Hill will of course supplement income once the investment is recouped, but the intention is that it will be much more than that.

“It's a commitment from us to ensure that small farms really can thrive into the future whilst delivering much of what the Agricultural Bill has asked us to do.”