The future of a pioneering farm near Cardigan has been secured, as enough money has been raised for a significant part of it to be bought by a community benefit society.
Clynfyw Farm in Abercych has been farmed by the Lewis-Bowen family since the 1750s.
The farm is currently home to people living in supported accommodation, and functions as a care farm open to everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalised.
It also works to a the wider remit of supporting community regeneration, with a focus on resilience in the face of the climate catastrophe.
Questions over the future of the farm led to a huge fundraising effort in order to secure its future.
Back in 2021, a small group came together to see if a co-operative could be formed to buy the Farm and outbuildings and run it as a community venture.
The society announced this month that it has raised enough money to purchase Clynfyw Farm buildings, including four cottages and 13 acres of land from the Lewis-Bowen family.
More than 160 local people (and those with local connections) invested in the future of the farm and funding was also secured from both the UK and Welsh governments.
The money raised and the subsequent purchase has safeguarded the future of the Care Farm which supports vulnerable adults, both as residents and day participants, and the tenants of the cottages.
The CBS has vowed to keep Clynfyw Farm at the heart of the community and protect and support the goals of Clynfyw CIC care farm by providing safe and accessible accommodation for vulnerable adults.
It will also provide a place for people in the community of all ages to socialise and learn and offer a comfortable and welcoming space for use by local organisations, groups and individuals.
“We will promote and facilitate a range of activities which encourage participation including constant outreach, so we offer what our community wants and needs and create opportunities to support wider mental health and wellbeing of our community,” said CBS operations manager Lizzie James.
She added that the farm would use local produce, support local businesses and form partnerships, focussing on collaboration whenever possible as well as advance and support sustainable land use and food production with community involvement.
“We would like to thank everybody who supported us and helped in making this extraordinary achievement possible,” said Lizzie. “But most of all we would like to thank the Lewis-Bowen family, without whom none of this would be possible.”
To find out more about Clynfyw Community Benefit Society, visit its Facebook page facebook.com/clynfywcbs, linked above.
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