Deepdale Farm has been farming for 4 generations, until now each generation has doubled the farm.  However as farming entered another period of turmoil, Jason took the decision not to increase the farm size, instead to invest in diversification projects and make use of the disused farm barns and paddocks creating a backpackers hostel and campsite.  To knit these facilities together Jason created a tourist information centre.The backpacker market wasn’t a market recognised in the East of England, however from Jason’s experience of the industry overseas and the many countries he’s visited with his backpack he knew Deepdale was a backpacker destination in the making.  The facilities now accommodate over 38,000 bed nights a year.  For this project, Jason made successful grant applications to the Rural Enterprise Scheme and to EEDA.

In 2007 planning permission was received to expand the size of the campsite all year round, allowing what were the overflow fields to be open all year like the rest of the campsite.  In 2008, the business was leased out to tenants, who now carry out the day to day running of the hostels, campsite, tipis and yurts.

The redevelopment of a run down petrol station in the heart of a north Norfolk coastal village.  Now a very busy retail site including a petrol station, supermarket, café, retail stores, rural workshops and flats.  Tenants include Fat Face Clothing and Costcutter.  There is now a waiting list for units.Jason was the key designer of the site, supplying architects with the vision to draw from, dealing with planners, day to day project changes and problem solving.  Jason also dealt with the negotiations with tenants and carrys out the marketing, which has including a wide range of press articles.

To put Deepdale on the map and fill out of season beds, Jason devised and ran the Deepdale Jazz Festival that became the Deepdale Food and Drink Festival.  Both events were designed to draw in a new type of customer and to fill the campsite and hostel at Deepdale Farm at a traditionally out of season time of year.  With the sale of the venue, these two festivals came to an end.Jason now organises the Deepdale Christmas Market, which takes place on the first weekend of December annually.  The event attracts thousands of visitors at a relatively quiet time of year and reminds people of the facilities available in Deepdale throughout the year.

Thousands of new customers are attracted to Deepdale because of the events, many returning at other times of the year.  The press interest for both events was excellent and draws people into the Deepdale website, which in turn promotes the other facilities of Deepdale.

Jason was able to use these skills to put together his wedding, where 200 guests enjoyed circus acts, dodgem rides and a ceilidh.

Like all farms, Deepdale has space.  Through the website and other marketing techniques, Jason encouraging the space to be used between crops.  Films like James Bond 007 ‘Die Another Day’ were filmed on the farm and events, including weddings, photo shoots and corporate events, were held around the farm.All these events promoted Deepdale further, giving extra press coverage and further enhancing the reputation of Deepdale Farm as a progressive, flexible business.