Investment & Financial Model

See exactly what we need to raise, what it will cost, and how we'll become self-sustaining.

Total Investment Needed

£781,450
Total Investment Required (3 Years)
£375,000
Land Purchase (Critical First Step)
£102,000
Annual Sustainable Revenue (Year 3+)

Where The Money Goes

Below is a detailed breakdown of every major cost involved in establishing and running our accessible nature park over the first three years.

Year 1 — Acquire & Establish

Land purchase, planning, initial infrastructure, opening to public

Land and property purchase
£375,000
Legal and conveyancing costs
£8,000
Planning applications
£5,000
Accessible pathway installation
£25,000
Sensory petting barn setup
£8,000
Accessible picnic area
£10,000
Initial smallholding setup
£5,000
Park Manager salary (Simon Ward)
£25,000
Park staff salaries
£20,000
Insurance, utilities, admin
£8,000
Contingency (5%)
£24,450
Year 1 Total
£513,450

Year 2 — Develop & Grow

Advanced facilities, farm shop, glamping planning, growing visitor numbers

Accessible play area installation
£40,000
Woodland trail and interpretation plaques
£8,000
Farm shop setup
£5,000
Glamping pod design and planning
£5,000
Salaries (Manager + 2 staff)
£55,000
Running costs (utilities, insurance, admin)
£15,000
Year 2 Total
£128,000

Year 3 — Sustain & Expand

Glamping pods installed, full operational independence, planning second site

Glamping pod installation
£60,000
Salaries (self-funded from trading income)
£60,000
Running costs (self-funded from trading income)
£20,000
Year 3 Total
£140,000

How We Generate Sustainable Revenue

The park will never charge for entry — it remains completely free. Instead, we generate revenue through diversified income streams. This means the park is not dependent on any single source of funding and can remain self-sustaining indefinitely.

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Farm Shop

£20,000

Free-range eggs, honey, jam, seasonal fruit and vegetables grown on our working smallholding.

Year 3 Projection

Cream Teas & Café

£30,000

Traditional Cornish cream teas, coffees, scones and light refreshments for visitors throughout the day.

Year 3 Projection

Glamping Pods

£25,000

Six fully accessible glamping pods. £80 per weekend break × 52 weeks = sustainable family accommodation revenue.

Year 3 Projection

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Sponsored Events

£10,000

Seasonal celebrations, corporate team-building events, and community fundraising activities in our accessible outdoor spaces.

Year 3 Projection

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Live Nature Webcams

£12,000

24/7 streaming from bird nesting boxes and bird tables on our YouTube channel. Monetized through ad revenue, bringing nature into homes across the UK.

Year 3 Projection

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Fortnightly Market Stalls

£5,000

Rental space for local businesses and farms to sell their produce to park guests. Bi-weekly markets creating community connection and visitor footfall.

Year 3 Projection

Total Projected Annual Revenue (Year 3+): £102,000 — enough to cover all staff salaries and running costs, with surplus for facility improvements and supporting other accessible community projects, making the park fully self-sustaining without ongoing grant dependency.

From Purchase To Financial Independence

Year 1
Acquire & Establish

Investment: £513,450

Purchase land, complete planning, install pathways, open the park to visitors. Grant-funded.

Year 2
Develop & Grow

Investment: £128,000

Install play areas, farm shop, begin café services. Trading income growing. Primarily grant-funded.

Year 3
Sustain & Expand

Investment: £140,000

Install glamping pods. Trading income now covers all costs. Fully self-sustaining.

Year 3+
Reinvest & Expand

Fully Self-Funded

All profits reinvested into facility improvements or supporting other accessible projects across Cornwall.

Built For Permanence

This isn't a temporary project dependent on ongoing subsidies. We're building a self-sustaining community asset that will remain free and open forever.

By Year 3

£102,000+ Annual Operating Revenue
3-5 Permanent Local Jobs
100% Debt-Free & Independent

Why This Model Works

Many community projects fail because they become dependent on ongoing grant funding. When grants end, the project ends.

We're different. By building multiple revenue streams from day one, we create genuine financial independence:

  • Diversified income: We don't rely on any single revenue source. Even if one underperforms, others compensate.
  • Asset-backed: The land itself is locked in the CIC and cannot be sold off or distributed. It's permanently protected for community use.
  • Community-owned: All profits beyond operational costs are reinvested in the community — either into our own facilities or supporting other accessible projects across Cornwall.
  • Proven model: Accessible glamping, farm shops and farm cafes are established business models across the UK generating strong revenue.
  • Growing demand: Accessible outdoor experiences are increasingly sought after by families, schools, care homes and therapeutic services.

Investment Opportunities

We welcome support from individual donors, community foundations, corporate partners and major grant-making bodies. Every level of investment is valued and makes a measurable difference.

Community Supporter
£50 — £500
  • Named acknowledgment on our website
  • Progress updates via email
Donate
Family Patron
£500 — £5,000
  • Named patron acknowledgment in park
  • VIP family opening day invitation
Donate
Legacy Partner
£5,000+
  • Significant named dedication in park
  • Bespoke partnership opportunities
  • Prominent recognition materials
  • Custom partnership benefits
Get in Touch

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the land cost £375,000?

The site is a 5.5-acre property in North Cornwall with established woodland, open grassland and an existing residential bungalow. Land prices in rural Cornwall reflect the size and quality of the property. This is a one-time capital investment that creates a permanent community asset.

Why is Year 1 so expensive?

Year 1 includes the land purchase (£375,000) plus all initial infrastructure: accessible pathways, petting barn, picnic area, and staff recruitment. Once the land is bought and facilities are installed, ongoing annual costs are significantly lower — Year 2 is £128,000 and Year 3 is £140,000 with much of that self-funded through trading income.

How confident are you in the revenue projections?

Our projections are conservative. We've based them on comparable rural glamping businesses, farm shops and community cafés operating in Cornwall and the South West. These figures represent what we believe we can reliably achieve. Many comparable businesses generate significantly higher revenue, meaning our projections have built-in safety margins.

What if revenue doesn't meet projections?

We've structured the model with multiple income streams so no single source is critical. If glamping underperforms, farm shop income may exceed projections — or vice versa. Our £102,000 annual target covers essential operating costs and provides surplus for reinvestment. We also have the option to adjust staffing levels or seek additional small grants if needed. However, our conservative projections suggest strong likelihood of meeting targets.

What happens to profits?

We're a non-profit community interest company. After covering all operating costs and staff salaries, any remaining profit is reinvested — either into improving and expanding our own facilities, or into supporting other accessible community projects across Cornwall. No profit is ever distributed to shareholders or private individuals.

How is the land protected?

The land is owned by the CIC — a community interest company. Our constitution includes an "asset lock" which means the land can never be sold off or distributed. It is permanently locked in as a community asset. Even if the organisation were to dissolve in the future, the land would go to another charity or community organisation, never to private interests.

Who are you approaching for funding?

We are actively pursuing the National Lottery Community Fund as our primary target — this application is part of that process. We are also exploring other grant bodies including heritage trusts, disability charities, environmental foundations and corporate partners. Individual donations via GoFundMe support our early costs and help demonstrate community support to larger funders.

When will the park open?

Subject to securing grant funding and completing the land purchase, we aim to open to the public within Year 1 — likely late 2026 or early 2027. The park will open with basic facilities (pathways, petting barn, picnic area) and expand from there. We're moving quickly but not rushing — we'll open safely and accessibly.

Help Us Make This Real

Every donation — whatever the size — directly supports our mission to create rural Cornwall's most accessible nature park. We need major grant funding, but we also need to show funders that the community believes in this project.

💚 Donate on GoFundMe