A farmer who says times are “tougher than ever” for her industry hopes to secure permission for a 45-pitch campsite and micropub.
The Gower family has owned Blandred Farm, in Acris near Folkestone, since 1970 and believe the move will sure up their business, amid the difficulties faced by those in agriculture.
In 2022, they opened a seasonal campsite at their other farm in Coxhill, Shepherdswell, and are now hoping to replicate its success at their Folkestone site.
Kim Gower has lived on Blandred Farm for the past 25 years and told KentOnline this is the “toughest period in farming” they have ever experienced.
“The price for crops at the moment, for wheat and oats and oilseed rape, which is the backbone of arable farming, are very low,” says the 56-year-old.
“The prices we’re looking at for this year’s harvest are rubbish. So, diversification is so important for farms.
“The camping is something that has worked really well and we think it’s a win-win situation because, without sounding too trite, we get a lot of happy campers.
“Our partners who run the campsite in Coxhill suggested about a year ago that it was going so well that we open a second one.”
If the proposals are approved by Folkestone & Hythe District Council, some three-and-a-half acres out of 1,000 will be used for the new campsite.
It would be open to the public from June until the end of September.
The proposed site has been used to make hay in recent years and is well-screened by mature hedges and trees.
Mrs Gower believes the state of farming at the moment means it is “incredibly difficult” for people to make a profit and says “diversification is key” to staying alive.
“The challenging weather, volatility in world markets and the bureaucracy are the three things that are causing farmers to struggle at the moment,” she explains.
“I wouldn’t say the campsite is vital for us to stay alive but when you look at all the challenges farmers are facing it is very hard to make a profit.
“We wouldn’t be able to cope without these types of diversification on our farm.”
If approved, the site will welcome tents, caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
Three temporary shower and toilet blocks will also be built, with customers being able to park next to their pitch.
The family have also submitted plans for a new micropub on the land which bosses hope will “support the campsite as well as the surrounding villages”.
Mrs Gower says campsites such as this can be “very harmonious” for farmers.
She adds: “Campers will leave in September and the field becomes a field again.
“Then perhaps we sheep graze it, or we mow it for hay the following June.
“This means this field will only be out of production for around 12 weeks of the year. It’s very harmonious for us as farmers.
“We are also very enthusiastic about hosting small live music events at the micropub, with the hope of hosting some local musicians.”
While land is owned by the Gowers, the Coxhill campsite is managed by Emily and Mark Leftley, who will also run the Blandred Farm plot, if approved.
Mrs Leftley, 34, says the proposed site will be run “exactly the same” and is confident it would be a success.
She adds: “We’re hoping that the Folkestone one will obviously interest lots of local families, but also people who can use the Eurotunnel as well.
“It is back to basic camping because it will just be a field with facilities, but we’ve been really pleasantly surprised that’s the type of camping that people like to do. Everyone says how it’s got such a relaxed and chilled atmosphere.”
The entrance to the campsite will be located half a kilometre from Reece Lane on Canterbury Road.