Proposed Festival of Farming and Food.           
Hyde Park – 26th to 29th September 2013
 
How you can help.
 
The organisers of this Festival, see below, are currently preparing a Prospectus for the event and setting up a website that will promote and show case the event. They estimate that the cost of these activities will be about £3,000.  They are seeking financial support for this and would be pleased to hear from any organisation that would like to make a contribution to cover the costs of this important part of the planning for this Festival.
Further details about the Festival are presented below together with contact details of the  two organisers who would welcome any enquiries or offers of support.
 
The proposal.
 
A four day festival celebrating the best of British Farming, Food and Countryside held in a hundred acres of Hyde park between Thursday 26th September and Sunday 29th 2013. Free entry, schools by invitation on the first two days. Open air multi-cultural harvest thanksgiving on the Sunday morning. The central concept is to create a ‘mini-Britain’ in Hyde Park by challenging every county or region to exhibit the best of farming, food and countryside from their patch. The event is, in part, inspired by similar initiatives held in Hyde Park in 1989 and 1992 which attracted a million visitors each time.
 
Objectives.
 
To educate and inform the non-farming public about the richness and importance of British agriculture. To promote British food and agri-tourism through Regional/County displays of the best of British agriculture and the farmed countryside.
 
Organisation, support and funding.
 
A limited Company will be set up to oversee the event which will not seek to make profits, however in the event of profits being made from the venture, the Company will be covenanted to pass such profits to FACE - the Farming and Countryside Education charity. The proposal has the official backing of national organisations such as the NFU, FACE, CLA, RASE, the Farmers Club, the Worshipful Company of Farmers as well as a plethora of County Agricultural Societies and Associations. Individual and corporate sponsorship will be sought to stage the event. Start up funds are now being sought from various sources. In the earliest stages any initial costs and liabilities are being underwritten by Smith Farms (Clacton) Ltd, a limited company with land, farming, leisure, retail interests valued at in excess of ten million pounds.  
 
Progress to date.
 
Mantaplan, who were the main organisers in the events in 1989 and 1992, have been commissioned to write a business plan/feasibility study. This report will be ready in July. The NFU and the Singer Foundation have provided £10,000 to facilitate this. The Royal Parks Authority have been approached and are agreeable in principle to the proposal and have reserved the above mentioned dates. 
 
Next steps.
 
Seeking approval from Westminster Council - late May 2011; discussion with key County and regional societies and groups - early autumn 2011; seeking corporate sponsorship for the event - autumn 2011; formation of organising committee- autumn 2011; prestigious launch event - late autumn 2011
 
Further enquiries can be made to Dr. Guy Smith, The Pump House, Wigborough Wick, St.Osyth. Essex. CO16 8ER. Tel – 01255 820564 & 07740048995 gsmith2692@aol.com –
or to Andrew Brown, Fairchilds Lodge, Lyddington Road , Caldecott, Market Harborough LE16 8TE, Tel - 01536770936, 07801057417, twbfarms@aol.com
Dr. Smith is Managing Director and Company Secretary of Smith Farms(Clacton) Ltd and Andrew Brown is senior partner at T W Brown and Son who are jointly underwriting any initial costs and liabilities.