People with style
FARMING WITH VISION In 2012, at the age of 25, Tom Turney established Tom’s Eco Lodge, kick-starting the transformation of his family’s dairy farm into one of the Island’s leading attractions
By Tracy Curtis Picture Gary Wal l is T
apnell Farm, together with neighbouring East Afton Farm, covers 800 acres, half of which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site now includes eight different options for accommodation, a café, bar, restaurant, shop, play park, animals, wedding venue, shooting range, adventure activities, renewable
energy, and working arable farm, all complementing the environment. Last year, Tapnell welcomed 100,000 visitors, and employs up to 70 people, so there’s certainly enough to keep Tom busy.
He says, “My experiences led me down a different path to traditional farming - the tourism side was far more suited to me. The Eco Lodge opened at the start of a trend, and we are lucky with the uniqueness of Tapnell as a location. The wider family questioned whether people would come and stay in a tent in the middle of nowhere and were surprised when it became so popular.”
Tom grew up enjoying outdoor life, playing on straw bales and helping on the farm. His family lived at East Afton, then moved to a dairy farm in Dorset when Tom was six. He studied Business and Management at University in Leeds before living in London for a time, which gave him the Eco Lodge idea. He says, “It was an opportunity to give everyone a snippet of life in the countryside - the freedom, space and lack of worry about anything. Guests can unplug and unwind. In my eyes, it’s important that kids and adults get outside to run around, interacting together in a more natural way.”
Tapnell’s growth has been organic, as Tom explains, “The play barn began with straw bales and inner tubes from tractor tyres. It was rustic, rural but popular. Our more exotic animals were rehomed from another attraction. At every stage we’ve put our toe in the water and tested the elements.”
As director, Tom’s priority is to make sure the whole business is running really well. “At the beginning I did everything, but we’ve gradually reached the wonderful position of having great managers in each area. Now, I have to make sure things are as healthy, if not better, than the day before. I can be doing anything from bashing in tent pegs, to design, to looking at new ventures.”
One of Tom’s main passions is renewable energy, and when he moved back to the Island he took on several energy projects. The farm is now run by solar power during the day, with any excess returned to the grid. He installed a Biomass boiler and invested in an anaerobic digester. This converts what the cows have eaten into gases, which are then sent to a fizzy drinks company or channelled into the grid.
With forward thinking and sustainable ideas, the Tapnell empire continues to grow. Tom says, “I understand how lucky we are, it’s important to stand back every now and then to appreciate what we’ve done. Our staff are our most valuable asset and going forward we’ll continue to keep a strong focus on the local environment, our community and how we do things. We’re not always right, but we have a positive mentality to make the farm better for everyone, and I think we’re doing that.”
September and October 2018 15
Style is…? I think style is your manner and persona at the end of the day. If you have the worst day in world and can still smile, that’s the ultimate style.
Money equals success? Success is a personal thing – what’s important is to work out what success or happiness is for you and strive for that. If it’s money then great, but the likelihood is that it’s something else.
What does Island living mean to you? The Island is my roots and my home. While I enjoy being away, I always love coming home.
Icons or Inspirations? Every challenge has a different inspiration or icon, but I normally look to family and friends.
Blunders and what you learned? We’ve had blunders, but it’s about understanding why they’re bad and learning from them.
Tops tips? Get outside.
Facing the future? We’re aiming to do more of the same really. It’s a fairly unprecedented time, and I think there will be lots of opportunity and also challenges over the next couple of years. Being flexible, as we have been so far, will be vitally important.
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