Fentenfenna Farm CIC

ABOUT US

We are Luke and Amelia Berkeley, founders of Fentenfenna Farm CIC and the new custodians of Wasted Apple.

Fentenfenna Farm, a council farm, came up for tender in July 2020. We’d never heard of Council Farms before, it was an exciting opportunity, and we decided to go for it in the middle of the pandemic and lockdown.

We applied with a business plan completely outside of the box for the usual council farm remit and were over the moon to hear that they were willing to take a chance on us, and we haven’t looked back since, but have certainly got a lot greyer!

We entered into this off the back of founding Newquay Orchard in 2014. This incredible community project has helped so many people over the years. We are so proud of what has been achieved there, and all the wonderful people we’ve met and worked with along the way.

We took the decision in January 2024 to step back and hand our baby over to a wonderful team to focus fulltime on the farm, and as difficult and emotional a decision that was, the farm has gone from strength to strength because of it.

We didn’t really have any farming experience, and it’s been a really steep learning curve for us in many ways. The farm was in a state of disrepair when we took it on, so we setup the CIC, secured funding and investment, rolled up our sleeves and got to work transforming the 13 acre holding into what it is today. We now have 16 businesses operating across the farm, alongside multiple social pathways that support people in our community.

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We want to set the standard for incubator farms in Cornwall and deliver systemic change to farming practices across the uk

Vision

We want farms to be put back in the centre of communities, and for everyone to have access to an incubator farm that provides access to land, skills and food, while providing mental, physical and financial wellbeing to those that need it.

MISSION

We will act as a facilitator between the local authority, established farm enterprises, startups, our community and those suffering high levels of deprivation locally, so that people, businesses and biodiversity can thrive together at the farm.

We will demonstrate a replicable model for small scale agricultural enterprise hubs, through the curation of varied tenancies and activities that stimulate collaboration and partnership working, to create better sustainable and profitable practices.

Meet the Team

Luke Berkeley

MANAGING DIRECTOR
Luke is the Managing Director and a founding Director of Fentenfenna Farm CIC. He also founded Newquay Orchard and Urban Biodiversity CIC, and was the CEO from creation in 2014 until January 2024. Luke holds first class degrees in Ecology, Environmental Resource Management and Multimedia Design, with over 15 years business management, project management and landscape management experience. He has sat on numerous boards, and is passionate about Cornwall’s food system.
Amelia Berkeley

DIRECTOR & BRAND
Amelia is the Creative Director and a founding Director of Fentenfenna Farm CIC, and the co-founder of and previous Brand Manager at Newquay Orchard and Urban Biodiversity CIC. A graphic designer, web designer, digital marketer and brand specialist with 20 years industry experience. She holds a permaculture design qualification, as well as being an artist, where she uses her passion for the environment in her work.
Hetty Ninnis

NON EXEC DIRECTOR
Hetty is a founding Director of Fentenfenna Farm CIC. She sits on the board of Sustainable Food Cornwall, as well as being a Voluntary Coordinator for the Land Workers Alliance South West region. Hetty has over 20 years experience in horticulture, having overseen the development and management of the world famous rainforest biome at the Eden Project. Hetty is the Sustainable Landscapes Manager at Newquay Orchard, as well as overseeing Grown, a 4 acre CSA market garden at Fentenfenna Farm. Hetty is passionate about growing food, and food justice.
Mark Rudge

NON EXEC DIRECTOR
Mark is the founder of Wasted Apple Co. one of the founding tenants of Fentenfenna Farm, and now the trading brand under the umbrella of Fentenfenna Farm CIC. He has worked in the public sector for over 25 years in roles across HM Revenue and Customs, and now Cornwall Council as a senior leader in Transformation, Strategy and IT. Mark is a forward-thinking leader whose diverse expertise and passion for driving progress through sustainable practices, collaboration, and education have made a significant impact on the organisations he works for and the community. Mark holds a Masters in Business Administration.
Tania Clark

OPERATIONS CO-ORDINATOR
Tania has over 30 years experience of professional organising and administration in various industries including travel, hospitality, marketing and community projects. Her passion for sustainability was ignited when working at Bedruthan and Scarlet hotels, which became a compelling motivation to protect the planet. After working for a local marketing agency, Tania was keen to re-ignite her inner eco warrior and grabbed an opportunity to work at Newquay Orchard and with the stars aligned, Tania landed here at the Farm.

Funders

Lottery Community Fund

We have been lucky to be supported by the Lottery through the early development of the farm, and in 2023 have received a larger 5 year grant to build a partnership with Newquay Orchard to establish pathways into the sector.
Esmee Fairbairn

The foundation has provided core funding to develop the multiple occupancy model, develop systems for replication, and aid the social pathway development across the farm.
Resonance

Provided early stage investment, which has aided the early development of the farm, alongside cost of living funding to help develop the food hub model.
Cornwall Community Foundation

The Foundation has provided funding to support hot food deliveries to people in temporary accommodation across mid-Cornwall.
Postcode Innovation Trust

The fund has provided long term investment into the farms core operation and supporting us to re-launch Wasted Apple.
Community Levelling Up Fund

The fund provided capital funding to equip the food hub with electrics, plumbing, storage and processing equipment.