Business


‘National tragedy’ of county farm sell-off


C


ouncil-owned county farms are in terminal decline, which means future gener- ations of young farmers will find it harder to get a foot on the farming ladder, says a report. Privatisation, austerity and short-term thinking means the area of county farms in Eng- land has more than halved from 172,000ha acres to less than 85,000ha since the late 1970s, ac- cording to the study commissioned by the Council to Protect Rural England. Some 7% of council-owned farmland has been lost in the past decade alone – with 60% of this land sold off in the past two years, it says. The report warns that the trend could continue without new legislation to protect county farms


for future generations.


County farms were set-up at the end of the 19th century to provide a way into farming for new entrants. They still have a huge potential to generate income, promote innova- tive farming methods and deliver environmentally sustainable ag- riculture, says the report.


‘National tragedy’ Written by the New Economics Foundation on behalf of the CPRE, the study says the decline is being driven by austerity, coupled with a sense that county farms are a thing of the past – and an unwillingness by some councils to develop new in- come streams or business models. Report co-author Kate Swade


said: “The sell-off of the county farms estate is a national trage-


dy, squandering a public resource that is crucial to getting fresh blood into farming. Enough is enough: it’s time the new government halt- ed the sale of county farms and in- vested in them properly.” But positive results have been


achieved by innovative councils that have protected and even ex- pand their county farm estates. They include Cambridgeshire County Council which has taken a proactive approach towards its county farms portfolio.


Cambridgeshire is among sev- en out of nine councils which gave details of environmental and social benefits provided by their county farms – ranging from tree plant- ing, to local education initiatives, to supporting new farmers. Whitehall Farm is a 100ha


farm owned by Cambridgeshire County Council and managed by Stephen Briggs on a 15-year ten- ancy, along with over 300ha of oth- er land. He is using agroforestry to build the farm’s profitability, resil- ience and sustainability (see case study).


Graeme Willis, of the CPRE,


said: “Our research shows that the number of county farms in Eng- land alarmingly continues to plum- met, at a time when these wonder- ful assets should be protected, and invested in, to ensure they’re avail- able for future generations.” The CPRE wants legislation in- troduced to stop the sale of county farms and to give them a new pur- pose. A package of measures and new funding is needed so councils can enhance, invest in their estates and better promote them, it argues. County farms should be recognised locally and national- ly for their potential to help miti- gate climate change – and deliv- er wider public benefits which can meet the needs of local communi- ties and the wider environment, said Mr Willis.


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SOUTH MIDLANDS David Ellis


T: 01954 267 418


David Ellis T: 01954 267 418 E: david.ellis@acorus.co.uk Brian Barrow T: 01284 753271 E: brian.barrow@acorus.co.uk Olivia Hazell T: 01902 625024 E: olivia.hazell@acorus.co.uk


NORTH MIDLANDS Anthony Atkinson T: 01902 625 024


NORTH & MIDS Anthony Atkinson T: 01902 625 024 E: anthony.atkinson@acorus.co.uk E: david.ellis@acorus.co.uk 46 MIDLAND FARMER • JANUARY 2020 E: anthony.atkinson@acorus.co.uk


SOUTH MIDLANDS David Ellis


T: 01954 267 418 E: david.ellis@acorus.co.uk


Battlegate Rd, Boxworth, Cambs CB23 4NN


NORTH MIDLAND Anthony Atkinson T: 01524 793 900 E: anthony.atkins


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