Update from Moelyci Environmental Centre, 22nd May 2018
What you have all been waiting for…
You’ve been amazingly patient and supportive in more ways than we could have imagined so it’s only fair we bring some more positive news to you.
Hot off the press news for everyone is that the sale of the farm is in the process of going through for all four lots as we speak. There are three preferred bidders who have made solid committed offers to buying the farm lots and we are delighted to tell you that this covers the whole farm.
It’s been a long journey…
Although the tender deadline was 17th November 2017, unfortunately that did not mean that the farm would then change and we could hand the keys over immediately. The board of Moelyci Environmental Centre (MEC) have stated that we have a duty not only to all of our historic creditors but also to our local community. We laid out criteria late last year which would help us choose between the various bids for the farm should we be in a position to exercise a choice.
Providence has been kind to us allowing for a future which looks to be able to ensure that activities, the open-nature of the farm, the ecology and everything else you and the community enjoy about the farm continues in a similar manner in the future. Throughout we have performed our fiduciary duty, as we have charitable objectives, a duty to protect any investment on the farm and our Societies principals along with all the legal duties we have. We have had to attend to these whilst accommodating the inevitable consequences of our financial reality and aim to achieve the best we can under such circumstances with few choices.
We would have liked to have reached where we are today months ago but the process of reaching this point has involved negotiation on many fronts, with increasing pressure from our creditors and having to take a serious amount of legal and financial advice. We can assure you that behind the scenes a huge amount of work has, and still is, taking place by your wholly voluntary board to be in a position to present this to you today.
From the outset and no matter how hard it seemed we have aimed for the activities on the farm to not only continue but to thrive if at all possible with little transition. This would allow you, or your community, to flourish here and continue everything you enjoy about Ffarm Moelyci. No tall order when you consider the historic debt of the farm.
The farm was divided into 4 lots to sell, on advice of our agents Jones Peckover.
Lot 1&2 – The Lower Farm and Ffridd
A consortium has been formed to purchase these lots of the farm where the ecology and biodiversity is at their greatest and where most of the activities take place. Assuming their purchase reaches completion, the consortium will undertake and promote activities on the farm in new and exciting ways and allow the farm to continue to be enjoyed by its community.
Directors of the consortium have informed us that parties have come together within the consortium to:
- Continue to maintain and support the local biodiversity and wildlife. To encourage the SSSI areas to flourish and continue to be a nationally significant site for grasslands and fungi.
- Support small local enterprises, maintaining both forestry and to protect land for walkers and visitor as well as to establish greater tourism activity on the farm.
- Develop new educational and training opportunities, start realistic solutions to grazing on SSSI land and allow the farm, it’s heritage and its’ potential to continue to be cherished.
- Allow the community to develop here; to grow their own food, find solace and therapy and continue to be an part of the farm.
- And of course, to continue and expand the role of Blas Lôn Las, our well loved Café and Shop, in championing local food.
Lot 3 – Y Parc
- It’s not often that land near to larger holdings come up for sale. In this case a local farmer has seized the opportunity and is planning to secure Y Parc for the future.
Lot 4 – Mynydd Moelyci
- The mountain has a rich heritage of SSSI, beautifully stunning heather blooms and a long history behind it. This has attracted a local farmer grazing sheep, to add a unique angle to their farm produce and the story they can tell. It doesn’t end there though, with an active farmer neighbour the attractive potential to graze the lower land has not gone unnoticed and you might see sheep, and the odd donkey, around the farm sooner than you think.
It’s all good news and although it has taken a long time, it’s going to be worth it. As you know we work very hard to continue Ffarm Moelyci into the future hopefully creating continuity that allows the community to continue to thrive and flourish. Cwm Harry still continue to work with us very closely to keep the farm active and open until the sale process is complete and without their active support keeping the farm open would not have been possible and much of what has subsequently taken place would therefore not have been possible either.
Thank you again for your confidence, support and patience. We can see why lack of information doesn’t help but we have not wanted to air the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes work that we diligently and restlessly perform. We can assure you however that we have not for one instant taken our foot off the pedal.
Pauline Egan, Derek Schofield and Anne Robins
Directors of Moelyci Environmental Centre