A director with extensive experience in managing in-hand and contract farming has been appointed to lead the farm operations on the Bradford Estates.

Duncan Fleming has joined the landed estates business, which has a principal asset of 12,000 acres on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, as Farm Director to manage Bradford Farming, its in-hand farming business which focuses on arable crops alongside land licenced out to a portfolio of fresh produce, root vegetable and horticultural growers.

He joins the business having previously been Managing Director at Westrope Farming, a large-scale farming and contract farming business based in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Previously, Duncan has been Estate Director on the Sotterley Estate and Farm Manager at the Elveden Estate, also both in Suffolk.

Working to its 100-year land management plan, Bradford Estates is focused on delivering to its vision of creating an agile and market leading agribusiness with a focus on sustainable farming systems.

With a long history dating from 1066 and led by family member Alexander Newport as Managing Director, the Bradford Estates in Shropshire and Staffordshire encompass regenerative farming, small to medium sized enterprise business space from converted ex-agricultural buildings, sustainable forestry, leisure activities and local housing offerings.

Duncan, who is relocating with his family to take up the role, said the new position had great appeal. He said: “I was very interested in the dynamic nature of Bradford Estates and the opportunity to combine my skill set with its experienced senior management team to add real value.

“Bradford Estates’ clear and ambitious 100-year plan resonated with me. They are looking to the future with investments at scale such as its large tree planting programme and industrial acquisition strategy, so it is an exciting time to join. I look forward to bringing my experience of working with large person teams and complex agreements with multiple stakeholders to bear.

“It will be a very varied role with around 5,000 acres being used for the in-hand farming business, providing cereal crops, environmental stewardship, sheep grazing and licenses to a growing number of vegetable, salad and plant growers.”

Among the businesses operating on the farm is renowned rose breeder David Austin Roses, winner of 29 gold medals at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, which licences irrigated land to grow award-winning flowers and leases agricultural buildings for its operations.

In 2024, Lancashire-based family business Huntapac, originally leased agricultural buildings at Woodside Farm, near Shifnal, for its regional base and then extended its relationship with Bradford Estates to licence irrigated farmland to grow parsnips as well as carrots.

Alexander Newport welcomed Duncan to Bradford Estates. He said: “We are pleased to add Duncan to our senior management team and draw upon his extensive farming experience to deliver our agricultural strategy.

“Duncan joins our business as Farm Director to oversee the growth of our in-hand farming operation and expand our universe of farm licensees, both of which are important parts of our long-term plans to realise our ambitions.”