Farmer expands business and diversifies into fishery
When Brian Rutterford decided to expand his farm by buying a neighbouring property he wanted to diversify his business quickly to maximize the return on his investment. His plan was to develop an 8-acre lake on the property for irrigation purposes. This provided an opportunity to develop a fisheries business that would augment his farming income. However he needed to build attractive visitor facilities to be able to turn his investment into revenue. Rural Log Cabins were able to construct the two timber buildings he needed to provide a reception, shop and changing block and a second unit with accommodation and office space.
Brian Rutterford has worked hard to build and diversify his business, making the most of the additional land he had acquired near Hockwold-cum-Wilton in Norfolk by developing the lake and stocking it with rainbow trout and brown trout and converting two large existing barns into luxury accommodation.
In order to develop the Blackdyke Fishery business further, Brian then needed to build a shop and facilities such as public toilets and to establish living and office accommodation for a Fisheries Manager on the site. With planning permission likely to be difficult for permanent buildings in such a rural area, he soon discovered that the best solution to this part of the development proposal was to build transportable log cabins. These would be in keeping with the rural nature of his business, blend with the environment of the lake and would also be easier to get through the planning process, since they are classed as non-permanent structures.
The timber-built shop and office, designed and constructed by Rural Log Cabins Limited, were the ideal solution. Rural worked closely with Brian to design exactly the accommodation he needed for the site and they were able to pull out all the stops to build and install the two units for the summer season.
The new log cabins provide a two-bedroomed home for the Fisheries Manager and also an office so that he can be on site at all times. The timber is imported from sustainable forests in Northern Europe and prepared, cut and treated at Rural Log Cabins’ UK manufacturing site. This gives a level of quality control and of flexibility in design and build that is of the highest standards.
"The two log cabins have been a fantastic enhancement to the site," says Brian Rutterford. "It has been a major investment and I needed something that not only looked good, but would also pay its way within a reasonable time. The log cabins are a sound investment and are already proving their worth. The next stage will hopefully be to build a small holiday village on the site."
Situated just outside the village of Hockwold-cum-Wilton, in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, the Black Dyke Fisheries offers excellent opportunities for trout fishing and luxury accommodation in beautiful rural surroundings. The Blackdyke Fishing Shop stocks a wide range of fishing accessories.
