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2006 BALE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The Manor House Estate, a holiday second home development on the east Suffolk peninsula
is the winner of the 2006 Best Alternative Land Enterprise (BALE) Award
 Competition. The annual BALE
Award is organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association in partnership with sponsors
Ashton Graham Solicitors and aims to find the best farm diversification business
in the region.
This year’s judges were John Kerr, SAA President and renowned local businessman
and farmer, Jonathan Long, Agricultural Partner at Ashton Graham Solicitors, and
Sarah Ling the 2005 BALE Award winner. The competition was judged on 5
and 6 October and in making their decisions the judges considered the history of the business
and its relationship with the farming business; how the business contributed to
the local economy; the skills used in setting up the business, and how the income
and profitability of the business has grown since its inception.
The Manor House Estate was created by the Simper family. Four generations of the
family are currently living on the farm, which has for many years been a partnership
between Robert and his son Jonathan. The enterprise, established in 2004, is a holiday
second home development, consisting of 9 converted farm buildings and 12 new builds.
The development has been extremely successful with 20 of the 21 units sold. This
innovative project was the first of its kind in east Suffolk, and the family have
extended the business by setting up a management company that provides a property
lettings service including cleaning, gardening and household maintenance, to the
development’s residents. The business has created seven full time jobs and several
part time positions. Jonathan and Clare Simper have been involved in every stage
of the development from the initial planning process and architectural designs,
through to project managing the construction work and assisting with the interior
design of each of the buildings. The creation of the management company has ensured
the continued economic benefit to the community, particularly with the long term
employment opportunities it has offered.
Second place was awarded to Jason and Katharine Salisbury for their business, Suffolk
Farmhouse Cheeses. This business was created when, following the dispersal of the
Shrubland Hall estates cows, the Salisbury’s realised they had the opportunity to
fulfil their dream of owning their own herd of pedigree Guernseys. This has allowed
them to produce fine handmade specialist cheeses using traditional methods. The
cheeses are available at various local and regional outlets including Farmers Markets,
Farm shops, specialist delicatessens and restaurants.
The Best Newcomer Award was awarded to Jeremy Squirrell, for the Wattisham Hall
Holiday Cottages enterprise. Jeremy has converted a number of Grade II listed barns
on the farm into ETC 4 star self catering holiday accommodation. The barns have
been converted to the highest standards but keeping the traditional structures and
ambience. The business was started in 2005 and the barns have been very successful
with over 50% occupancy in the last year.
Certificates of Merit were also awarded to Sam and Clare Fairs for Hill Farm Oils,
Louise Abbott for Beacon Rally Karts Ltd and Traver Scarff & Son for their business
units enterprise
The judges had a difficult time in choosing their winners this year because of the
diversity of the business entered and the success all the businesses had achieved.
Jonathan Long, judge and representative of Ashton Graham Solicitors, the competitions
long term sponsors commented, “'Yet again the judges were given a tough task by
entrepreneurial farmers in the region, with long discussions on the relative merits
of very different businesses. In spite of those differences there were themes common
to all of them: they made very good use of land
or buildings that would have had
few if any profitable alternative uses, they made a major contribution to the local economy, they had great potential for growth and in their different ways were inspirational
to other farmers. Although farming fortunes are hopefully set to improve the competition
has demonstrated the benefits of not having all your eggs in one basket and diversifying
where that is possible. It is unfortunately unarguable that in some years even farmers
with substantial holdings can show very poor returns when the profit from non-farming
activities is taken out. The competition also demonstrates that the publicity it
generates is helpful for entrants whether they win or not. We look forward to judging the next year's competition with interest, so start planning now.....!
A special presentation Ceremony will be held later in the year for all competitors
of the 2006 Competition.
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