Claudia Pearson, Graduate Rural Surveyor at Rostons, has been awarded the 2026 John Platt Travel Scholarship.
The scholarship, run in partnership by Reaseheath College and University Centre and the Cheshire Agricultural Society Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CASCIO), will support research across Europe exploring agritourism and farm diversification.
Claudia works across central and south Cheshire, advising on rural practice matters, planning, valuation, residential property and land sales. Having grown up on a mixed family farm and been involved in a family butchery business, she has a strong interest in the long-term resilience and profitability of agricultural businesses.
Her research will take her to France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, where she will examine successful examples of agritourism, direct-to-consumer sales and farm diversification. The project will explore how farm businesses are creating additional income streams, adding value to their products and reducing reliance on traditional supply chains.
A key focus will be understanding the opportunities and challenges associated with diversification, including planning considerations, business viability, investment requirements, marketing strategies, customer engagement and operational considerations. The research aims to identify practical ideas that could help support farm business resilience and encourage innovation within Cheshire agriculture.
Following the trip, Claudia will present her findings to the Cheshire agricultural community, sharing insights and practical recommendations from the businesses visited.
Should anyone have contacts within Europe involved in agritourism, direct-to-consumer agriculture or innovative farm diversification projects that may be of interest as part of this research, Claudia would be delighted to hear from them and welcomes any introductions.