Ian Ashbridge
Partner, Head of Agriculture & Environment
Ian combines fundamental technical farming knowledge with wider investment and real estate experience when advising his clients.
Ian combines fundamental technical farming knowledge with wider investment and real estate experience when advising his clients.
He understands how farming profitably and sustainably is central to feeding society, protecting the environment and helping to mitigate climate change. Ian’s background draws together direct operational management of arable and livestock systems, published research and study, and strategic consultancy for major clients.
A key element of Ian’s work is helping farm owners and managers achieve sustainability goals, embracing Integrated Farm Management and Regenerative Agriculture techniques as well as Stewardship schemes and preparing for Environmental Land Management delivery. He also advises farming businesses on restructuring to adapt to changing agricultural policy.
Ian has published peer-reviewed papers in the Journal of Farm Management and the International Journal of Agricultural Management.
He chaired the 2014 National Farm Management Conference and previously sat on the Council of the Institute of Agricultural Management. He is a Trustee of a major farming charity and a non-exec director of a farm assurance company.
Farmers Weekly article:
Contract farming agreements – what to consider
Review of The Sustainable Farming Incentive
Announcements on the next set of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Actions are long overdue, with some future Actions yet to be confirmed. However, the recent release of the 2023 SFI Handbook is very welcome as it offers land managers a more flexible and simplified opportunity to receive payments.
Assessing your land: Is it Suitable for Development?
Looking out at your plot of land, it may seem like a pristine site ready for new homes, businesses, and a thriving community. But it's not just the open space that matters. There are several crucial factors to consider before making any substantial decisions about development. Three Bidwells Partners explain where to begin.
Detail on environmental land management scheme (ELMS) revealed at last
It turns out that announcements on farm and environmental policy are like London buses - you wait for ages and then three come along at once. Bidwells’ Ian Ashbridge welcomes revelations on DEFRA’s Environmental Land Management scheme.
Our view on regenerative agriculture
A new movement is gaining pace in farming. It’s even found its way into farm policy. Yet it remains opaque, nebulous and slightly hard to define. In this paper we look at Regenerative Agriculture, and where it might cross over with other schools of farming thought.
Feed the soil, not the plants
Regenerative Agriculture is capturing headlines and attracting attention – but few agree on exactly what is involved. In a paper published by Bidwells earlier this year, we attempt to define the concept – and find a lot of good old-fashioned husbandry at its heart.
Sustainable Farming Incentive and what it means for farmers and landowners
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is the first of three components of Environmental Land Management to be released and is now open for applications. The Agriculture Act 2020 and subsequent transition plan detailed the phased end of direct payments. However, for most farmers and landowners the SFI will be their first interaction with the government’s new theme of ‘public money for public goods’.
Bidwells Strengthens Its Agriculture & Environment Team With Two Key Appointments
The Agriculture & Environment team at leading property consultancy Bidwells has welcomed Michael Muncey as a Consultant and Matthew Page as a Graduate Consultant.
We're in an agricultural transition period - what does that mean for UK farmers?
As the reports show, we are now in an agricultural transition period. Changes for farmers will be phased in over seven years. Over this time the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will be gradually reduced in a tiered system.
What impact does the Brexit trade agreement have on agriculture?
As the 12-month transition period for Brexit passed on 31 December, and the UK managed to avoid a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario, what does a new trade agreement look like for the farming business? Ian Ashbridge, Partner in Agriculture and Environment explains what impact the new deal has on the agriculture industry.
A path to sustainable farming? The Agricultural Transition Plan 2021-24
The biggest surprises in the Government’s Path to Sustainable Farming were the scale and speed of cuts to the Basic Payment Scheme, or Direct Payments as they are commonly referred to in the Agricultural Transition Plan (ATP). Ian Ashbridge, Agriculture and Environment Partner at Bidwells, shares his insight on what these cuts mean for farming businesses and sustainability.
Bidwells Briefing: The Path to Sustainable Farming
Following on from last month's Bidwells Briefing paper on the newly released Agriculture Act, the Government has released further detail on the Agricultural Transition Plan 2021-2024.
The Agriculture Act 2020
Nearly two and a half years since its introduction, the Agriculture Bill has now passed into law on 11 November 2020. Agribusiness Partner, Ian Ashbridge, looks at what the act means now, and in the future, for British farmers and contractors.
Bidwells briefing The Agriculture Bill
The new Agriculture Bill was published by the Government on the 16th January 2020.
Rural spectator: Farmers Weekly EU Referendum Poll
A recent poll undertaken by Farmers Weekly asked 577 farmers how they were going to vote on Brexit. Read our detailed analysis of the results here, and how this affects land prices, farm workers and more.