How a Shropshire couple built a farming future from scratch

A Whitchurch couple have explained how they built a Shropshire farm from scratch.

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Sam Bourne, a contractor, and Tash Koop, part of the team at Massey Feeds, are only a few months into life on their first farm near Whitchurch, with clear plans for the future.

Both originate from Cheshire and come from farming backgrounds but when Sam’s family farm had to be sold unexpectedly, their plans had to change.

“Sam and I never considered not farming; we’re outdoorsy people and it’s how we grew up,” says Tash

“We just had to find another way in.”

It was in 2024 when Ruscoe Farm was brought to their attention.

Sam says: “Dad and I know Barbers Rural through Market Drayton market; we’d looked at other properties through them, so they called when this one came up.”

The location, a former dairy that had not been stocked for 20 years, has good access to local livestock markets, offering more for their budget than they would have secured closer to Cheshire.

“Ruscoe felt right. It had the buildings, the land and the location. With Shrewsbury and Market Drayton close by, the practicalities stacked up,” says Tash.

“We had to build a three-year business plan to test the figures before we approached lenders.”

The process highlighted the importance of showing realistic projections.

“Predictions showed we were going to make a loss in year one, but we worked hard to demonstrate how that would improve.”

Tash adds: “We looked at how to create additional income through diversification, which showed the banks we were thinking strategically.”

Once the business case was in place, the next challenge was securing finance.

Sam explains: “We approached various lenders - Lloyds were the most willing to work with us on what we were trying to achieve.”

As first-time buyers, Tash says they did not fully know what to expect and the couple quickly acknowledged the value of having experienced advisers around them.

“It was a lot of back and forth, but having our Lloyds relationship manager, Danial Helsby, on the end of the phone was so valuable,” she says.

Danial says supporting first time farm buyers like Sam and Tash is important.

“They represent the next generation of farmers,” he says.

“Helping them take their first steps into farm ownership is about investing in the future of British farming and ensuring the sustainability of our food system for years to come.”

Sam says there is still plenty to do. They currently have around 30 cattle, including Hereford and Aberdeen Angus crosses and British Blue calves. The aim is to run the Herefords and Angus’ on a low-input grazing system across their 80-acres of pasture, with the Blues being housed on a more intensive finishing system.

Sam’s ambition is to expand the herd to around 200.

“Eventually I want to take our calves through to finishing as that’ll be more profitable, but that’s a few years down the line.”

For other young farmers hoping to buy a farm, the couple say realism is essential.

“There’s a lot beyond your control,” says Tash. “But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – you just have to be disciplined, save carefully and use your contacts.”