Agricultural foundation celebrates 100 years with £1million office investment

The Morley Agricultural Foundation – a Norfolk based charitable organisation – has just opened a new business centre at a cost of £1 million.

More than 60 guests celebrated the charity’s centenary at the building’s official opening ceremony which was performed by Richard Jewson, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk on Thursday, 22 January 2009.

The Foundation started as the Norfolk Agricultural Station in 1908 with a trial site at Jex Farm, Little Snoring, Norfolk. It subsequently moved to Sprowston in 1921 and then moved to Morley St Botolph, near Wymondham in 1964.

Its original purpose was to give independent trials advice to farmers. It soon became a regional organisation, recognised nationally for its work. Today, it is no longer involved in direct research work but it does fund work by others such as educational work and PhD studentships and the Morley trials site near Wymondham, Norfolk is run exclusively by The Arable Group.

Chairman of the foundation, Nick Steed said:

"The Morley Agricultural Foundation is renowned for its work and for its links with science and innovation. We are all very proud to celebrate its 100th birthday with this considerable new 425 square metre building.

"Where possible we have incorporated ’green’ technology, such as an in-ground heat exchange system to provide heating and hot water.

"The Morley Business Centre now houses 19 people from the Foundation and The Arable Group and we very much hope that it will become a valuable asset for the farming community and other rural businesses. Our meeting room, which is available to hire, is for use by up to 50 people."