Diversified Kent estate owner becomes Vice President of the CLA

The new Kent-based Vice President of the CLA has set out her vision to champion the key role landowners play in feeding the nation, looking after the environment and supporting tourism.

Eliza Ecclestone has been elected onto the officer team of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), a membership organisation that represents 26,000 farmers, landowners and rural businesses.

Eliza took over as Managing Trustee of her family business in 2010, St Clere Estate in Sevenoaks, Kent.

St Clere is a 3,000-acre diversified estate with contract farming, in-house forestry, events, festivals and filming, with residential and commercial property. She is also chair of the board of trustees at Chevening House and Estate, known as the grace and favour house of the Foreign Secretary.

Eliza hopes her focus as Vice President will be working with new CLA President Gavin Lane and Deputy President Joe Evans to champion the vital contribution farmers and landowners make to both the rural economy and the country as a whole.

Eliza said: “Most people would agree that British food is among the best in the world, the British countryside is among the most beautiful and well cared for in the world and the warm rural tourism offer is as vibrant as anywhere in the world.

“But this doesn’t just happen without effort. Farmers and landowners are helping to deliver all of this, and with the right government support the full potential of the countryside could be unleashed.

“CLA members are prepared to give 100% time and effort, often for less than 1% return on capital, and I look forward to working with anyone inside and outside government to champion their role and help unlock growth.”

One of the constraints on business that needs addressing is the archaic planning system, Eliza believes. She added: “Running a business is like riding a rollercoaster.

“Every diversification here has been a wild launch into an entirely new enterprise from a standing start, while trying to keep the existing business steady. Some diversifications have failed spectacularly, some have fizzled and enough have succeeded.

“Successes really come down to a passionate, committed, flexible team. Failures often come down to the awful, broken planning system, and tackling this will continue to be a focus of CLA work.”