'Strength isn’t always loud' – thoughts from leading women in the rural sector

Since its launch in 2020, the CLA Women’s Network has grown into a supportive community for women across farming, land management and rural business. At a time of economic and environmental change, it offers a place to exchange ideas, gain confidence and share experience.

Reflecting on the network’s impact so far, CLA Director General Bella Murfin says: “Our network aims to provide practical support, fresh ideas and build confidence to lead. We want it to be a space where members learn, share and lift each other up. With every connection made and every story shared, the women within it go from strength to strength.”

In this article, we’re celebrating a handful of CLA members who are shaping their rural businesses and communities by bringing ambition, perspective and resilience to the sector.

Dividing her time between the Knepp Estate in Sussex and the family-run Hampton Estate in Surrey, Molly Biddell plays a leading role in natural capital projects, nature restoration and community engagement.

Molly, who is embarking on a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, has big ambitions for the industry. “I’d love to see a rural sector that is thriving – restoring ecosystems, protecting species, growing nutritious food, supporting local food systems, employing young people without a farming background and creating opportunities,” she says. “I want to help make that vision reality, through the businesses and communities that I’m part of.”

“Through groups like the CLA Women’s Network I have met wonderful women and men, building brilliant communities, supporting each other to enhance our businesses, collaborate and represent all the awesome things our sector does and the potential it has.”

Molly believes that making farming and land management relevant and interesting to others is the sector’s greatest challenge.

As Estate Manager for 15,000 acres on Anglesey’s Bodorgan Estate, Francesca Pridding oversees a diverse operation that includes farming enterprises, ecoinitiatives, campsites, beach concessions, woodlands, quarries, a stately home and even a racing circuit.

With a background as a troubleshooting chief executive, she brings a fresh perspective to the role. “Pulling different strands together and seeing opportunities has always been at the heart of what I do,” she says. “I want to help change perceptions of rural estates and take everyone along with us.”

Francesca’s main aim is to build community value, and also emphasises collaboration: “Working with local government is vital if we’re going to strengthen our message and raise awareness of what estates can do.”

As a woman in a traditionally male environment, representation matters deeply. “Creating an environment where women can thrive matters to me,” she says. “I’ve been one of the only women in the room more times than I can count.”

While progress continues, there is still work to do in helping colleagues recognise the challenges that women may encounter and making sure everyone has the chance to succeed, Francesca adds.

As the Brand and Marketing Director of Burrough Court Estate and a third-generation member of the family to work the estate, Becky Wilson is rooted in the heritage and future direction of her family’s business.

Alongside her work on the estate, she leads Paws in the Park, a secure dog walking field that is popular among local dog owners. Her ambition is to develop it into a nationally recognised brand known for beautiful, safe outdoor spaces where dogs and their owners can enjoy nature together.

She is equally passionate about expanding Burrough Court’s wellbeing offering, building a legacy that can be passed on – and being part of a supportive network has played a role in her development.

“It’s reassuring to learn from others who understand the same challenges,” she says.

One of the biggest challenges Becky continues to navigate is building self-confidence when speaking up in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Yet with support and a clear vision for the future, she is shaping her own path, and inspiring others in the process.

After a demanding NHS career in hospitality and senior programme management, Celia Gaze experienced burnout and sought a new direction. She asked her partner if she could “do something” with his rundown farm and transformed it into The Wellbeing Farm, a thriving B Corp-certified rural wedding and events venue in Lancashire.

The journey wasn’t easy, and she highlights the uncertainty and financial pressure of running a rural venue.

A local farmer once advised her to “expect three things to go wrong every day”, a mindset that helped her to take setbacks less personally.

Celia is inspired by women who “lead with both heart and backbone” and by the resilience of women and girls she’s met through charity work in Kenya, reminding her that “strength isn’t always loud, it’s often quiet and consistent”.

Dartmoor hill farmer Ann Willcocks runs a herd of pedigree Belted Galloways and a flock of 500 ewes with her husband. Her message to women is simple: “You can do anything. Be brave and follow your dreams.”

Although she didn’t grow up in farming, Ann describes herself as “a real country girl”. A rural studies course at school and a week at Bicton College set her on the path to higher education and eventually running her own farm.

One of her biggest personal challenges is “walking into a room of strangers,” something she overcomes by speaking to someone – anyone. She acknowledges that being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated sector can still pose challenges, but insists that this occurs only if you let it. “You need to be bold,” she says.

Asked which inspirational women she’d invite to dinner, Ann chooses Baroness Minette Batters, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Cottam and the CLA’s former president Victoria Vyvyan – all women she admires for their strength, ideas and leadership.

Sisters Lucy Davenport and Emily Aitchison are the 13th generation of farmers in their family. Now based at the Kenton Hall Estate, agriculture has always been central to their lives, with both women forging distinct paths in the sector.

Lucy supported her father in the day-to-day running of the farm while completing her degree, describing him as “my greatest inspiration and a constant source of guidance”.

Proving herself in a male-dominated profession has been one of her biggest challenges, she says: “I overcame this by consistently demonstrating my skills, strong work ethic and long-term commitment to the farm.”

Emily, meanwhile, has carved out her own entrepreneurial route, launching three diversified businesses on the farm at 21. Over the years she has expanded into a fully circular bakery and credits the people around her for much of that journey: “Peer support has been invaluable. Sharing ideas, challenges and experiences has encouraged collaboration and opened new opportunities.”

Both women share a powerful message for those starting out: “Believe in your abilities, take opportunities as they arise and don’t be limited by others’ expectations.”

Click below to listen to our '15 minutes with...' podcast episode featuring Lucy and Emma:

Join the CLA Women’s Network for its drinks reception on Tuesday 12 May, taking place from 6pm to 8pm at 70 Mark Lane, London. Available to book below: