The Managing Director and owner of the company behind the Green Man Festival, Fiona Stewart, set out her vision for Gilestone Farm to a meeting of community representatives.
The vision aims to help boost the Mid-Wales rural economy providing jobs and opportunities for young people and support new and existing rural focussed businesses.
The emerging plans look to create a new sustainable rural enterprise that would generate £23m for the local economy, provide at least 38 new full-time jobs and support 300 local jobs through its supply chain.
The Gilestone Farm plan address five key issues for the local area:
- Sustainable Farming: Continuing with the farm’s existing agricultural activities and developing regenerative farming practises that will have a positive impact on the environment.
- Tourism: Boosting local tourism through enhancing the existing accommodation offer at Gilestone Farm by turning it into a green eco-retreat, with glamping and rented accommodation.
- Rural enterprise: Supporting existing businesses to grow and creating new enterprises such as a brewery, bakery and baking school. They will form part of ‘full plate’ farming operation, using grains grown on the farm to make the produce, which will be sold to markets, local stockists, and at all events on the farm and at Green Man.
- Young people: Providing apprentices and training opportunities for young people from across Powys. Creating a permanent home for Green Man Trust, the Festival’s charitable arm, to deliver positive change for young people in Powys.
- Creative Hub: Help grow the creative industries across Mid-Wales by establishing a creative hub which will act as an anchor institute for existing businesses and start-ups.
The farm would not be used for the Green Man Festival or any other similar scale event.
Fiona Stewart said:
“I am absolutely passionate about being able to use the success of the Green Man brand to help bring about greater economic growth in Powys and Mid Wales and provide new opportunities for young people in particular.
“Our vision is aligned with Powys Council, and the Welsh Government’s ambitions for bringing greater prosperity to rural Mid Wales and I very much hope we can work together along with the local communities to realise this opportunity.”
The meeting, held on 17 March, was called by the Welsh Government and was attended by officials and elected representatives from Powys Council, Talybont on Usk Community Council, and the Brecon Beacons National Parks Authority.
