Hands & Land
Community land co-purchase for creatives and growers
What we're doing
A group of creatives, makers, and growers are pooling resources to co-purchase rural property in England (Herefordshire / nearby). We're focusing on English properties to access 0% interest Resonance Finance funding. We're looking for a site with:
- Multiple dwellings or cottages (split deed potential)
- Barn/workshop space for events, art, and making
- Growing land (2-5+ acres suitable for market garden)
- Woodland and water (stream, spring, or river)
- Within ~2 hours of Bristol
Structure: Community Benefit Society (CBS No. 9505). Finance lead: Resonance Finance (preferred 100% loan).
Members
Current status
Finance picture clarified: Kezia confirmed Resonance can offer 100% finance at 8% in Wales or 0% in England — sharpening interest in English sites without ruling out Welsh ones. Cilhowey Farm (Brecon) remains warmly held as a top pick from the 7 April viewings.
Current leading English candidate: Kentchurch barns, Hereford HR2 — Class Q consent barns (~4,455 sq ft), split-deed potential. Agent has confirmed house + barns can be sold together with additional land.
Also live: A landsale listing (Rosa's find, glamping/campsite potential) is pencilled in for a potential first-weekend-of-May viewing. Group is actively searching for barn clusters with land in the Herefordshire area.
Threads opened post-viewing: the group is working on a shared business-plan template, a framework for vision/finance alignment, and specific sq-ft needs per household. Kezia/Gaz estimate ~1,500 sq ft workshop needs (~£250k financing). Laura progressing Rimski & Handkerchief business plan.
Key dates
Upcoming
- Sun 19 Apr 2026, 3:30pm: Group Zoom — realignment, business-plan process, next viewings.
- First weekend May 2026: Potential viewing of a landsale listing (agent pencilled in; group decision expected at Sunday's Zoom).
- TBC: Kentchurch barns viewing (enquiry open; split-deed arrangement possible with adjacent house).
Past
- 17 Apr 2026: Mike confirmed he wants to stay in the group but needs practicalities in place and his own property sold before moving on a purchase.
- 14 Apr 2026: Longtown viewing offered (3pm) but declined — no woodland or river confirmed.
- 12 Apr 2026: Kirsten stepping back — family home now needed for her sons and their friend. Remains warmly connected.
- 9 Apr 2026: Laura & Oli shared a post-viewing reflection about space needs and creative vision. Group acknowledged the need for a shared framework covering vision, finance and practicalities.
- 8 Apr 2026: Little Malvern viewing cancelled (agreed to focus on viable options). Tom & Rosa in France.
- 7 Apr 2026: Viewing day — 4 properties visited: Ty Du Farm (10:30am), Steppes Farm (12:30pm, added day-of), Cilhowey Farm (3pm), Campsite nr Brecon (4:30pm). Attended by Tom, Rosa, Kezia, Gaz, Laura, Oli, Mike. Kirsten missed the group at Brecon.
- 6 Apr 2026: Social evening in Coleford. Laura & Oli performed at Carnival of Transport.