F D Bird to invest thanks to refinancing

FAMILY-owned farming group F D Bird is set to expand its four divisions following a £6.45m refinancing agreement with Santander Corporate Banking.

The group is made up of the original farming partnership as well as storage business, F D Bird & Sons, the quarry and aggregates operation, Yarrows Aggregates, and Heron Lakes Luxury Lodge Park.

All four elements of the business are based in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

The new finance agreement will free up working capital for the entire group but, specifically will enable Yarrow Aggregates to invest in a new robotic palletiser and be used to invest in new lodges at Heron Lakes.

Yarrows Aggregates was established in 2000, originally operating as a mineral quarrying site with the main extraction being a range of gravels, sharp and soft sands. 

The company now supplies major retailers, including, MKM, Jewsons and Travis Perkins, as well as numerous local operators and traders.

Heron Lakes Luxury Lodge Park is made up of 50 lodges, set around four large lakes on the 74 acre site.

Heron Lakes, a further diversification of the F D Bird business, was established on the site of the original quarry after Tarmac completed extraction of the site. The park has three fishing lakes.

John Bird, managing director of F D Bird Group, said: “We’re pleased to be moving our banking relationship to Santander Corporate Banking. They have really taken the time to get to know us and understand the business and our plans for the future and I believe Santander can offer us a true relationship based banking partnership.”

Andy Bowden, relationship director for Santander Corporate Banking, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support F D Bird with their continued expansion plans.

“The Bird family have a vast wealth of experience and knowledge of the agricultural sector and have clearly developed the necessary skills in order to allow such a successful diversification so far.”