2010 FW Awards: Diversification Farmer of the Year finalist – David and Jayne Newman
As soon as you arrive at Stroud Hill Park you realise David and Jayne Newman have done something a little bit different.
A stunning oak-framed barn sits in landscaped grounds, surrounded by re-established native woodland, wild flower meadows and a glistening fishing lake carved into the hillside.
It’s only when you round the corner that you see the line of luxury caravans snaking up the hillside and the signs for Pidley Paintball that you realise the purpose of this venue.
This quality approach to caravan holidays is what makes the Newman’s business so unique, along with a dogged commitment to customer service and a genuine passion for locally-produced food.
Stroud Hill Park sits in Pidley village, 14km north east of Huntingdon and has an adult-only caravan park with 60 pitches, a restaurant serving beef, lamb and pork reared on the farm, a paintball site and fishing lake.
Paintballing was the first diversification venture when the Newman’s decided the 62ha arable enterprise on Grade 3 clay was not sustainable. “The farm never had a good income, so we had to do something,” says David.
After obtaining planning permission a piece of redundant woodland was leased out and quickly became the most profitable acreage on the farm. “We then took the paintball business in hand and developed the business further.”
The site is now one of just 50 accredited to the UK Paintball Sports Federation and is still one of the most profitable areas of the business.
This first dip into diversification gave the Newmans the stepping stone they needed to move onto bigger things.
“The idea for the caravan park came from a desire to have minimal impact on the environment and complement the neighbouring golf course,” says Jayne. “We had a holiday home in Norfolk and when visiting we realised the volume of people that owned caravans and how much the industry was worth.”
Embarking on some detailed market research, the couple realised there was a niche in the caravan park waiting to be filled. “The facilities at many caravan sites were poor and we realised people weren’t going because it was a cheap holiday.”
Selling investment properties and their Norfolk holiday home gave the Newmans the capital they needed to build a barn to house the caravan site facilities, a shop selling local and farm-produced goods, a bar and a restaurant.
The Barn restaurant serves the farm’s pork, lamb and pedigree Hereford beef and almost all produce is sourced within a 10km radius.
“Our stock goes to Wisbeach to be slaughtered and we buy direct from farmers – we also buy from local allotments. It ties the community together and has allowed us to build up a network of local suppliers,” says Jayne.
The idea to make the site adult-only was initially an accident, but proved to be one of the most important features. “When we went to our insurers they said we wouldn’t be able to allow children into the site unless we put security fencing around the fishing lake.”
The farm is in the Higher Level Scheme and the couple has established 5ha of native woodland, 1.5ha of wild bird cover, two lakes, eight ponds and wetland areas. The next development phase is a series of eco-lodges which will be built in woodland adjacent to the caravan park. “They will appeal to a different audience and will complement the existing business,” says David.
Stroud Hill Park won AA campsite of the year in 2008 and is a Caravan Club affiliated site.
FARM FACTS
• Owns and manages 62ha (155 acres) of woodland and grazing
• Pedigree Hereford sucker herd
• Pedigree Suffolk sheep
• 60 pitch caravan park
• Barn restaurant serving farm-reared beef, lamb and pork
• Paintball site
THE JUDGES LIKED
• Well-researched ideas executed to a high standard
• Continually developing enterprises and planning for the future
• Building a motivated team who understand their objectives
• Diversification is allowing the farm to survive and thrive
• Enhancing the landscape