Dan Bowden is a Partner and Chartered Surveyor at with Barbers Rural, who operate throughout Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire. Having grown up on a dairy farm on the Shropshire/Cheshire border, Dan has always had a strong connection to the countryside — something that continues to shape both his work and personal life. He specialises in a wide variety of agricultural valuations, expert witness work, planning advice, and helping clients access agricultural grants and schemes. With a practical background and a straightforward approach, Dan works closely with farmers, landowners and rural businesses to provide clear, honest advice. His moto is ‘committed to promoting rural prosperity’. Outside of work, Dan is married with two young children and enjoys spending time outdoors — whether it’s on the farm, in the field, or just getting stuck into anything rural.
Roy has worked with our Farming and Landowning Rural clients for over 25 years and is committed to developing our team to enhance both client service and experience. Roy’s background and knowledge in the rural sector has been built over many years’ experience working with rural families across all sectors of Agriculture. His drive for understanding how families and businesses wish to move forward and finding solutions to help them, dovetailed with his tax expertise and farming knowledge fit with Roy’s role as a Client Partner in our Rural Services Team. Roy has a determination to see clients achieve their objectives and offers strategic advice on succession planning, relating to their businesses, properties, non-business assets and family trusts. Roy’s specialisms also include advising on Diversification, Renewables, Partnership and Company business planning, Development land, Contract and Share Farming Agreements. He also has a particular interest in estate and capital taxes: including Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax. Roy advises clients across Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Wales.
Married for 62 years, with 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 2 granddaughters. Born in Lincolnshire, from farming stock, Retired livestock farmer, beef and sheep in Devon Aberdeenshire and Shropshire. Contributor to Shropshire Star farming pages for 20 years. Past member of Scottish Young Farmers, Member of several WIs for 50+ years, including as President and Secretary. Part of a software based dairy consultancy business - TotalDietManagement with my late husband, interacting with farmers to help them improve cow health and efficiency. Husband was also animal husbandry lecturer at Craibstone College (part of Aberdeen University Agric School) and Head of Dept at Harper Adams in the 70s and 80s, we had many happy years interacting with and supporting students. Committee member of local Horticultural Society.
Richard farms in partnership with his wife Sally, owning 400 acres at Middleton Scriven and renting a further 450 acres on the Apley Estate. His farming enterprise comprises 80 suckler cows and a flock of 600 ewes on the livestock side, finishing all progeny. Arable operations include 400 acres of cereals, beans, maize and fodder beet. The farms have been in environmental schemes for over 25 years and Richard has a farm shoot.
Richard is a graduate of Aberystwyth University, holding a BSc (Honours) in Agriculture. A former Chair of Burwarton Show and Shropshire NFU, Richard has for the last 4 years represented Shropshire on the national NFU Council. He is the current President of the Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture and contributes a weekly column in the Bridgnorth Journal.
Charlotte Shepherd is an Equity Partner at Berrys, specialising in strategic land, rural property and development. She advises landowners, farmers and rural businesses on a wide range of property matters, helping clients maximise the long-term value of their assets through practical, commercially focused advice.
Over the past decade Charlotte has specialised in strategic land promotion, advising on the acquisition and disposal of development land, option and promotion agreements, and development land valuations. Alongside this, she continues to work closely with farming businesses on agricultural tenancies, contract and share farming agreements, grant schemes and wider rural property matters.
Outside work, Charlotte and her husband run their own flock of sheep, giving her a genuine understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing today's farming businesses.
Charlotte Nutting is a Partner and Head of Agricultural at HCR Law’s Shrewsbury office which opened its doors in January 2026. With extensive experience in agricultural and rural property, she advises farmers, landowners, lenders and rural businesses on a wide range of complex and high-value transactions. Known for her exceptional client care, Charlotte has built an outstanding reputation for combining technical expertise with a personal, responsive and commercially focused approach. She understands that for many clients, rural property is not simply an asset but a family home, business and legacy. Taking the time to understand each client’s individual circumstances and objectives, Charlotte is committed to providing clear, practical and pragmatic advice, whilst ensuring clients feel supported throughout what can often be complex and challenging transactions. Charlotte’s reputation as a leading solicitor in the sector has been built over many years of advising clients across, Shropshire, the West Midlands and beyond, her specialist knowledge, local connections and commitment to going above and beyond for her clients have made her a trusted advisor to those working across the rural community. She also brings a strong understanding of the agricultural sector and its unique challenges, allowing her to deliver advice that is both technically robust and commercially grounded. Passionate about the future of the rural sector and the vital role it plays in the Shropshire economy and communities, Charlotte is delighted to be a judge for the Shropshire Rural Awards and to help celebrate the outstanding people, businesses and innovation within the county’s agricultural community.
