Diversification overtakes agriculture

摘要

Ten years ago 70 per cent of the income generated on the Holkham estate at Wells-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast came from agriculture, the rest was from tourism. Now those figures have reversed, with tourism and other diversification projectsbeing the main earners/Despite being rooted in history, management of the 25,000-acre estate -headed by the Earl of Leicester - has moved with the times. Even at 25,000 acres - the biggest estate in Norfolk -Holkham has had to embrace diversification opportunities to retain its profits. So, besides its arable, beef and sheep enterprises, wild hird shoot and 25 tenant farmers, it now also has a successful game processing plant, ice-cream business and food hall as well as its own brand of beer; a site with 500 static caravans and hotel. The farm encompasses just about everything, says the Earl of Leicester.