Ragmans Lane Farm

Our Story

Ragmans Lane Farm is a 60-acre organic farm at Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9PA, in the Forest of Dean above the Wye. Matt Dunwell ran it as a permaculture teaching farm from 1990. In 2024 he gifted it to the Ecological Land Trust / Cooperative. Existing steward businesses were welcomed into the co-op: Willow Bank (living willow), Ragmans Lane Market Garden (organic fruit, veg, flowers), and orchard / juice / cider-vinegar work. The farm has hosted permaculture courses for decades and has a yurt in the orchard used for short stays while the business plan shifts toward land-based training and new-entrant access. ELC has said it is not taking new steward applications here yet — community engagement first. Historic site phone 01594 860244; current applications still go to info@ecologicalland.coop.

Community Life

🍽️Shared MealsNot specified

🌱Food ProductionMixed organic farm

🧘SpiritualityNo specific practices

Location Typerural

SustainabilityLong-running organic / permaculture design, orchards, regenerative management. Now locked into community ownership.

Common Facilities

Lifestyle Notes

Teaching farm and working units in the Wye / Forest of Dean. Quieter than a hostel; busier than a three-plot starter site.

Membership & Governance

Open to new members

Visitor ProcessCourses, volunteering and the orchard yurt have been bookable historically via ragmans.co.uk. Farm visits by arrangement. New steward applications are paused until ELC finishes its engagement process.

Decision Making

Ecological Land Trust / ELC. Sitting stewards became steward members. Next chapter is being designed with the local community.

Membership Process

Watch https://ecologicalland.coop/sites/ragmans-lane-farm/. Do not apply as if this were a vacant Greenham-style plot.