Galbraith Rural Matters Summer 2018

Rural

ISSUE 5 SUMMER 2018

MATTERS

All change at the farm gate as Brexit looms l A new source of woodland revenue l A chance to engage in farm life

l Letting solutions for empty farm property

l Pheasant shoots: It’s all about attitude

WELCOME Welcome to the latest edition of Rural Matters.

We at Galbraith are pleased to share our insights and interest in rural business life today.

As farming and estate businesses are acutely aware, no amount of planning can sweep aside the impact of a heavy winter, however in this issue we explore the multiple ways in which rural businesses strive to develop.

This is certainly a time of challenge and opportunity, not least because of ever-changing regulation affecting the rural economy and against a backdrop of Brexit.

We are constantly surprised and heartened by the willingness of rural businesses to adapt and embrace new opportunities.

From setting up a farm shop to refurbishing and letting vacant properties, to trading woodland carbon units, there is an ever-expanding number of avenues which estate and farm businesses can explore to broaden their appeal.

We hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to celebrating your continued success.

Ian Hope Head of Rural

CONTENTS

4 Cover story: Farm strategies for coping with Brexit.

A day in the life of...

6 Anaerobic digestion opportunities.

Going the extra mile for charity.

8 An estate success story, with a little help from the AMC.

10 All the fun of Open Farm Sunday.

Graduate view.

12 Empty farm property: what are the options?

14 Estate buying: a job for the experts.

When developments time out.

16 Time for a career change?

Highland Factors’ lunch.

18 The Ossian way of luxury.

19 GALBRAITH is Scotland’s leading independent property consultancy. Drawing on a century of experience in land and property management, the firm is progressive and dynamic, employing more than 250 people in offices throughout Scotland.

The game bird season in review.

Cover picture courtesy of Balgove Larder.

We provide a full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential, rural and energy sectors.

Galbraith provides a personal service, listening to clients and delivering advice to suit their particular opportunities and circumstances.

Follow us on Twitter: @Galbraith_Group @Galbraith_Rural Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ GalbraithPropertyconsultancy See us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/GalbraithGroup Join us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/galbraith

Rural Matters is produced by Galbraith, London, and designed by George Gray Media & Design, St Andeux, France. © CKD Galbraith LLP.

Page 2 | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | galbraithgroup.com

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The primary market is in essence about generating a good reputation, both for the company purchasing the units and for the landowner.

The icing on the cake for woodland planting schemes Charlotte Maclean outlines the process of achieving tradeable woodland carbon units from woodland creation projects. caledonIan eStateS, north of Glasgow, planted around 100 acres of mixed broadleaf woodland in 2015 as landscape planting to enhance the amenity of the wider estate.

This was planted through the Rural Priorities grant scheme, which helps towards both the capital and ongoing maintenance costs for the scheme and was successfully managed by the forestry team at Galbraith.

The estate was keen to investigate whether their new woodland could be registered for carbon units through the Forestry Commission’s UK Woodland Carbon Code. This scheme allows landowners of newly planted forestry to offer the carbon units sequestered by their woodland for sale on the open market; thus offering an additional income stream to the landowner from the new woodland and also allowing them to more easily quantify the environmental benefits achieved by their planting initiative.

The process of achieving tradeable carbon units is relatively complex, but essentially boils down to three key stages: Registration – must be completed in the period from two years before to two years after planting.

Validation – this stage is slightly more involved and must be completed within three years of registration.

It includes external assessments of the scheme paperwork and occasionally surveys of the planting sites to confirm that they meet the required standards and that the estimations of carbon expected to be sequestered throughout the life of the trees are as accurate as is possible at this point.

At the end of this stage, the landowner is issued with Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) for the quantity of carbon their scheme is expected to take up. These PIUs can be traded on the open market for value, but cannot be used to offset carbon until they are converted to Woodland Carbon Units (WCUs).

Verification – PIUs are converted to WCUs at the third stage of the process. This step occurs five years after planting, and every ten years thereafter. During this step, the growing trees are surveyed to accurately calculate the quantity of carbon they have taken up by this stage of their growth. The quantity of units sequestered are then converted from PIUs to WCUs. It is also worth noting that we would expect, given the fairly conservative estimations used in calculating PIUs, the number of WCUs generated should be a little higher than the number of PIUs at each verification. At this point, not only can WCUs be

traded for value, but they can also be used to offset carbon emitted elsewhere.

Caledonian Estates have completed both the registration and validation stages of the process and are therefore in the position of holding tradable PIUs for their scheme. However, following advice from Galbraith and based on their own circumstances, they have taken the decision to refrain from trading until the verification stage is also complete and they have converted their units to full WCUs. There are various options available to landowners in terms of trading their carbon. Firstly, they can sell their PIUs up front for a capital lump sum.

Alternatively, as Caledonian Estates have chosen to do, they can wait until the PIUs are converted to WCUs and trade at this point.

So far, very few schemes have reached the stage of having their first WCUs confirmed due to the relative youth of the UK woodland carbon code and the minimum five year process to achieve this conversion. So the bulk of UK carbon trading to date has been done on the basis of PIUs, which are currently trading at about £5-10/unit depending on market demand, the nature and structure of the woodland and the potential links that can be made with buyers to ensure top value to both parties.

They are generally purchased by companies who will need to offset carbon in the future and wish to be “seen to be green” immediately. The primary market is therefore in essence about generating a good reputation, both for the company purchasing the units and for the landowner.

As an indication of their value, a 100 hectare mixed native woodland could be expected to take up around 30,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over a 95 year contract. This could yield between £152,000 and £304,000 in total from carbon revenue depending on the value of carbon units.

There are however various costs associated with the scheme, such as the registration, validation and verification processes, as well as ensuring the woodland continues to be appropriately managed throughout its life. It is therefore important to consider the objectives of the landowner, the long term use of the land, and also the aspirations of the landowner in terms of upfront capital or long term income stream before choosing how best to trade the carbon units obtained.

Further advice on this is available from our forestry teams in Perth and Inverness, who are experienced in managing each stage of the above process on behalf of landowners.

charlotte.maclean@galbraithgroup.com 01334 659 984

To discuss woodland carbon credits, contact Paul Schofield on paul.schofield@galbraithgroup.com 01738 456 064 or Louise Alexander on louise.alexander@galbraithgroup.com 01463 245 381

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 3

Brexit uncertainty: forging new business models at the farm gate Poppy Baggott finds out how innovative farm businesses are developing markets for agriculture and local producers as Brexit looms.

UnceRtaInty over trade deals post-Brexit is top of the agenda for those involved in agriculture in the UK, and the outcome of negotiations will seriously impact all concerned.

It is therefore no surprise that the UK’s farmers and food producers, who have proved themselves time and again to be leaders in innovation and diversification, are not sitting back waiting for the hit.

Contract farming agreements and joint venture partnerships are on the increase, and these are not just between farmer and landowner, but are also direct between farm gate and retailers.

Large farm shops and other food retailers have the clout and the incentive to make a point of selling food with known provenance, and there is both a premium to be charged and a satisfaction to be gained by all parties concerned, including the end consumer. Larger farm shops, including Balgove Larder in Fife (balgove.com), have been forging relationships with local farmers and food producers to stock their shelves, which, with the continued rise in the popularity of farm shops, opens up new opportunities for producers.

Galbraith, with considerable expertise in negotiating contract farming agreements and assisting in all aspects of rural management all over Scotland, is well placed to look out for opportunities and aid those who, with an eye to Brexit, are considering a change in how they trade from the farm gate.

Balgove Larder was founded in 2010 thanks to

grant funding from the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and has developed at an impressive rate, now employing more than 60 members of staff – a far cry from the original team of just seven.

The Larder is based in a converted farm steading at the centre of a large farming operation just outside St Andrews, and this proximity to the ‘grass roots’ of the farm business very much helped to form the vision of how the business would be established and grown. The farming business comprises four farms, Strathtyrum (where Balgove is located), Kippo, by Kingsbarns, Pusk by Leuchars and Middleton by Kinross. With a total of about 2,000 acres, these farms are run on an in-hand basis and work with Balgove Larder as closely as possible.

The farms are mixed with the arable comprising rape, wheat, beans and barley, and the livestock focusing on traditional breeds, such as Highland, Shorthorn, and Aberdeen Angus cattle; Tamworth and Oxford Sandy Black pigs and Blueface Leicester and Blackface cross sheep, the meat from which is sold through the Larder butchery.

There are also about 10 acres of market garden dedicated to growing vegetables and salad for the Larder. One of the real keys to the success of the operation has been the buy-in from the farm teams and the willingness to diversify away from just dealing with bulk buyers.

It took a lot of work to tie the farm and shop together with efficiencies found in some areas and higher costs in others.

Balgove Larder’s founder, Will Docker, said: “We set out to be a farm shop, rather than just a shop on a farm. The products on our shelves are based around what we produce on the farm with livestock coming to the on-site butchery and our market garden working hard to grow salads and vegetables for the shop.”

It’s the reassurance around this provenance that appeals to Will and to his customers.

Knowing the characters involved in producing the food is paramount.

Will continued: “The single link supply chain is the ultimate mark of provenance. We really know where everything comes from and we’re able to respond to customer demand in terms of what we produce. It’s extremely satisfying and it marks us out as a trustworthy food retailer and champion of local produce – something that consumers really value.”

Where the farm isn’t able to supply particular produce, Balgove Larder stocks a huge range of delicacies from artisan producers from Fife and beyond and has forged strong relationships with local vegetable growers, both large and small, berry growers, and free range egg producers.

While he’d long worked in the food industry, managing an Essex shellfish company, Will started Balgove Larder because he felt there was a market for a truly traceable food retail and service. He said: “Scottish food and drink is world famous, but in the past it’s often been the case that top quality produce was exported rather

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A DAy IN THE LIfE Of...

An RSABI case officer

By Pamela Samson My role as an rSABI case officer is to visit those who apply to us for help. I cover south-west Scotland, which can mean up to a two-hour drive in any direction from my home near Dumfries.

My day starts with checking my emails to see if anything urgent has come in through our helpline.

This particular morning, I am interrupted by a call from a beneficiary letting me know that they have been awarded Attendance Allowance. I had made a referral for them for this benefit as their health had been deteriorating and they were unable to manage as they had done before. They are very pleased as they are now more than £4,300 a year better off and this money will help them get the assistance they need.

Shortly afterwards I head off to my first appointment. During the hour-long journey the office leave a message with details of a farmer who is struggling to manage since being taken ill. He has been asked to call us by another agency. I stop the car to call the farmer and set up an appointment to go and see him tomorrow. He is glad to know that someone is going to help. I often have to reschedule appointments to ensure that I see those in the most difficult circumstances as soon as possible.

I continue to my my first appointment, a long-term annual beneficiary. She is upset as a family member had died recently. We talk about her loved one and the impact of her loss, and she is very appreciative to have had someone to talk to. I offer her a regular call from our helpline and she readily agrees. It is sad how lonely life can get and it’s good that rSABI can call to offer support and make sure people know someone is there for them.

than being enjoyed locally, and this is something I wanted to address. In St Andrews we have a supportive local customer base and also huge numbers of tourists that want to experience authentic food on holiday. We focus on keeping things really simple and traditional, which is proving a real hit.”

Tourists and the constantly changing population at St Andrews University have affected the way the business has grown too. An online shop was developed to allow Balgove Larder to supply produce to customers who no longer live locally but still crave their favourite farm shop treats.

The farm shop itself has expanded several times and there’s now a Home Store, Flower Shed and the popular Steak Barn, which offers a menu based around a wood-fired barbecue in an innovative repurposed shed made from old potato crates.

And the café at Balgove Larder has been going from strength to strength, doubling in size this spring in response to the growing queues.

Innovation is obviously something that Will embraces, with development continuing, from creating a range of ready meals and picnic hampers, to organising seasonal night markets with street food and live music.

“The team at Balgove Larder have worked incredibly hard to achieve this level of growth” said Will, “but this is coupled with the fact that we haven’t strayed from our traditional keep-it-simple and local approach.”

poppy.baggott@galbraithgroup.com 01556 505 005

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We set out to be a farm shop, rather than just a shop on a farm.

My next appointment is with a man who has been referred to us by Shelter as he has been allocated a council house but had no cooker. He has worked in agriculture for more than 20 years but is unable to work following an accident. Sadly this has resulted in depression, his finances deteriorating and him struggling to make ends meet. I complete an application form and financial statement and make a recommendation to the grant authorisation group that rSABI buy a cooker and carpets and consider helping with a monthly payment until he is well enough to return to work. He is overwhelmed by this support.

By the time I get home, I have emails from the office asking me to organise an appointment with someone who had called the helpline because they are struggling with heating costs and another referral from an agency asking if we can help a recently widowed lady whose husband had been a farm worker. She is worried about her housing situation as the house had been tied to her husband's job.

My job is challenging and demanding at times, but I feel very privileged to do what I do and I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Pamela Samson is a farmer's daughter and has always had a close connection with the agricultural community. She was taken on by RSABI in 2001 to carry out follow up work resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak, specifically in Dumfries and Galloway. Pamela lives near Dumfries with her husband, Jim, and two sons.

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 5

Anaerobic digestion: making the most of entrepreneurial opportunities for estates Charlotte Maclean highlights the benefits of a joint partnership when evaluating potential AD opportunities.

In an increasingly tough climate for land ownership in Scotland, with mounting legislation and political pressure on large-scale landowners, it is important that estates continue to look for new and ingenious ways to maximise their assets.

With this in mind, when approached by a developer interested in potential sites for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants, I was keen to come up with some options. The site criteria were clear: large farming estates which can grow suitable feedstocks, with a suitably secluded site for planning and a conveniently placed mains gas connection with available capacity.

One client immediately sprang to mind.

They had been investigating the opportunity to install their own AD plant, but concerns about the high investment costs and the intrinsic link to unpredictable farming outputs made them decide the multi-million pound investment was too high-risk and the project was shelved.

Having completed significant work on the feasibility before reaching this decision, and knowing that a medium pressure gas main ran immediately adjacent, I knew this site was likely to be a suitable candidate. The developers are looking to take a 25-year site lease for the plant and also a separate feedstock supply contract for the same duration.

These lengthy agreements provide the estate with long term security under the site lease and also provide much needed confidence in the farming enterprise, without the costs or risks involved in the estate undertaking the plant development themselves.

The developers were looking for two sites, and a second estate also presented itself as an ideal opportunity.

The forward-thinking farm manager on this estate is looking to “Brexit-proof” the estate’s substantial arable enterprise in anticipation of the potential need to farm post-subsidy.

As the AD plant is funded by the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive scheme (RHI) rather than agricultural subsidies, this goal is achieved. The RHI payments are fixed (RPI linked) for the 25-year lifespan of the plant, so crop production will be undertaken on a 25year contract at fixed (RPI linked) prices, rather than the present

arrangement where grain prices are based on volatile world markets and the future of subsidy is uncertain. This affords the farming enterprise the comfort needed to invest in machinery for feedstock production, knowing that they have the security of a long-term supply contract.

By operating the sites through an entrepreneurial developer, either under a lease or through a joint venture, rather than installing the plants themselves, both estates benefit from the expertise and drive of the developer and minimise their own risk and capital investment.

Equally, by working with large farming landowners, the developer benefits from having the site and feedstock provided by the same entity, which affords them the comfort that their investment is safe from being ‘ransomed’ by a feedstock producer jealous of the site rent, which is key to their successful business model.

The good relationships established between landowner and developer in progressing both the site construction and feedstock supply ensure the continued success of the projects for the mutual benefit of both parties.

Whilst both of these schemes are at a very early stage, having been very specific in the site selection criteria, the developer is optimistic about their success.

The benefit of AD over some other forms of renewable energy is that the development is inherently agricultural in terms of looks, smell, scale and operation. As such, it doesn’t tend to come up against the same hurdles in terms of planning and regulation as some of its other renewable energy counterparts.

While these two projects involve the development of AD plants, the takehome message can be more widely applied. Where entrepreneurial opportunities arise, they can be progressed under various business models to achieve the respective goals of both landowner and developer.

Likewise, through holding open discussion with the developer about the various enterprises on the wider estate, the benefits of the proposal can be felt not only by the landowner and developer, but also by other businesses in the vicinity.

charlotte.maclean@galbraithgroup.com 01334 659 984

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Going the Galbraith staff are no slouches when it comes to charity fundraising. Poppy Baggott and Alice Wilson report. tHeRe is undoubtedly a time in everyone’s life when they find themselves in a situation that is so ridiculous that for a split second they can visualise themselves from a bystander’s point of view.

For a large number of us this ‘out of body’ experience may have occurred as a result of a fundraising event. It was certainly the case for me on a September Sunday morning as I hopped out of my car into a howling gale and lashing rain to meet my two Galbraith teammates – Alice Wilson and Jack Marshal – at the start of the Crossmichael Triathlon.

The gauntlet had been thrown down by a team from Savills earlier in the year, and as the sun glittered on the loch and the south-west Scotland countryside glowed, I coerced my team mates into thinking what could be nicer than a swim in the loch, a pedal through the pastoral, and a jog through the hills.

It was a very different scene on the

HOW WE’RE BUILDING A BRIGHTER fUTURE Galbraith operates a corporate social responsibility programme called Building a Brighter Future. It was set up in March 2015 in response to and as an encouragement for the myriad small fundraisers which local offices either take part in or organise.

extra mile... or 20 day! Jack, who was on a graduate placement in the Castle Douglas office, battled through waves and murky water, Alice cycled off into fog so thick that we despaired of her return, and I ran up a seemingly endless hill wishing for windscreen wipers to clear the relentless rain and mist from my face.

The result of this effort was not only a feeling of immense satisfaction, but an increased sense of team spirit, an entirely new skill set for Jack, who discovered the joys of open water swimming, a feeling of belonging to the local area, and ultimately of having raised money for two incredibly important and worthwhile causes, Alzheimers UK and Marie Curie Nurses.

I don’t think it would be far-fetched to suggest that the British attitude to fund raising is fundamentally humorous, based on our national love of being at the centre of a joke. We Brits are very good at laughing at ourselves. The ‘naked calendar’ is testament to this, and the 2003 film Calendar Girls tapped into this peculiarly British method of fund-raising.

poppy.baggott@galbraithgroup.com 01556 505 005

not put off by her experience in the crossmichael triathlon, alice took on another charity challenge: Last August, a fine selected (and some would say well-trained) squad from Galbraith, including myself, took on the Great Glen Challenge competing against other rural firms in a battle of four disciplines.

It involved individuals from teams walking, cycling, kayaking and running from Fort Augustus to Fort William all in aid of RSABI, a unique Scottish charity which is close to the hearts of many of our clients.

Throughout the day, our teams battled with the changing weather conditions, moving those legs and pedalling and paddling with grit and determination.

Most importantly, an abundance of fun was had.

It was a challenge that epitomised team building and in spite of its competitive nature there was a real sense of community and unity as the common goal of fundraising for a great charity shone through.

alice.wilson@galbraithgroup.com 01292 292 533

Above left: Cold and wet but fulfilled, Poppy, Jack and Alice after completing the Crossmichael Triathlon.

Above right: Alice and her team finish the kayak section of the Great Glen Challenge.

The aim of the programme on one level is to encourage staff to engage with their local communities and charity projects, but on another level to ensure that our sense of responsibility goes further than just client pleasing, but rather seeks to deliver a more lasting legacy to the communities in which we live and work.

The result of operating the programme is that behind all the advice we give and in every decision we make there is a built-in consciousness of working in a way that is ethical, socially responsible and also aims to reduce negative environmental impacts.

In 2017, Galbraith raised a total of £12,092 for charity, taking part in larger events such as the Great Glen Challenge (for rSABI), the Cateran yomp (Soldiers Charity) and the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning (MacMillan Cancer Support) but also supporting Comic relief with various dress up or down days and bake-offs, as well as Christmas jumper days for Save the Children.

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 7

Wedding marquee brings estate a step closer to self-sufficiency Gilda Walsh finds out how the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation has helped to create the success story of Auchinleck Estate.

lIKe many young driven estate owners, Rory Boswell returned from university and realised a new direction was needed if auchinleck estate, ayrshire, was to remain a viable business.

He also realised the best way to achieve this was by using some of the estate’s existing assets to create a new source of income, thus helping to future-proof the estate business.

In 2008 the future of Auchinleck Estate, which has been in the Boswell family since 1504, was decided with the creation of an estate management plan that would see the old coach house restored and turned into a hub for the local community. With a vernacular building grant through the SRDP, roofing and structural repairs were carried out along with the addition of new doors and windows. The building was wind and water tight and structurally ready for use, but the elephant in the room was what to do with this amazing space.

Working through overdrafts and other lending streams, Rory had managed to fund the

Things have developed significantly since the coffee shop opened in spring 2014, adapting and expanding in response to growing customer needs. The kitchen has been upgraded to offer a wider daytime restaurant menu including special dishes such as pigeon or pheasant from the estate.

The estate now also hosts weddings, with bookings being taken as far ahead as 2020. The idea to accommodate weddings was cemented while Rory was digging up the ground at the old stables and he was approached by a customer admiring the location. He ended up explaining how he thought it would be a wonderful spot for a wedding marquee and she booked up two weeks later.

Having secured nine wedding bookings, Rory enlisted the services of Robert Taylor at Galbraith to help develop a viable wedding business proposal and to approach AMC to secure a second loan to further diversify the estate.

“We borrowed again, and AMC were fabulously easy about it all,” says Rory. “They really look at business plans and because AMC agents such as Robert have their own businesses and have worked in the industry, they understand estate business plans, and not only agriculturally.

They know diversification is a big part of a modern estate.”

The Auchinleck approach to weddings is very traditional, echoing old farm weddings where the family were heavily involved and would spend the week preparing for the event.

The estate only hosts one wedding a week and about 30 a year, allowing it to offer a personalised experience and make the venue available for the full week of the celebrations – a hidden gem in the Scottish wedding scene.

Rural businesses often find it hard to plan ahead financially – who knows what prime stock will be selling for in two years’ time? – so booking weddings two years in advance helps the estate to forecast future earnings.

rory Boswell and his mother, Ali Boswell, have now diversified into weddings, with a large marquee in the grounds of their ancestral home.

restoration project, but back then the banks were not in a position to help rural businesses. It had been difficult for Rory to get funding to start diversifying Auchinleck Estate – until he was made aware of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC).

Rory said: “I couldn’t believe how simple the process with AMC was and the relief it offered.

We were able to consolidate all our loans into one payment, simplifying things and saving us a lot of money.

“It was without doubt the cheapest way for us to borrow money and move this project forward, giving us some flexibility but importantly allowing us to develop our vision of setting up Boswell’s Coach House coffee and gift shop. This would allow us to open up part of the estate to the public, adding value and providing an income stream whilst at the same time making this a destination day out along with the likes of Dumfries House or Culzean Castle.”

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Rory is a man of vision and reckons he has about ten new ideas a day. Next on his list is ‘Boswell Beef’ and maybe even lamb as part of a plan to set up an estate farm shop with other produce such as milk, cheese, tablet and bread from local suppliers. He says: “We want to get the estate to the point of being an economic bubble, able to support itself. It is all thanks to AMC for getting us on the road to success. I am confident that the legacy of Auchinleck Estate will live on for generations to come.”

Galbraith has helped a number of rural businesses secure AMC loans to diversify, with clients using their estates’ varied assets such as rivers to create hydro schemes, develop new crops like tea, host music festivals and set up distilleries.

gilda.walsh@galbraithgroup.com 01292 292546

“

AMC WAS DELIGHTED TO CONTINUE TO SUppORT THE fAMILy IN THEIR NExT vENTURE

“

By robert Taylor AMC has provided the Boswell family with long-term support. This is one of its main unique selling points. Its ability to “lend and leave” meant that the family could get on with doing what they do best and were not beholden to annual reviews and the continuing scrutiny on which some commercial lenders insist.

As an AMC agent, I am able to arrange the loans and also provide the security valuations to AMC which means everything is done in house with no third party involvement, and this provides a significant degree of control over the whole process of providing funding.

Having returned to Auchinleck estate to provide the Boswell family with their second loan for the wedding venue, I was able to see the finished article at the Boswell Coach House coffee and gift shop and it was clear the careful investment the family had made was now bearing fruit.

Not only have they turned around redundant traditional estate buildings, they have increased the value of their estate and at the same time generated fresh income streams.

AMC was delighted to continue to support the family in their next venture of providing first-class facilities for weddings and will certainly be keen to provide further support if it’s called upon again in the future. robert Taylor is a partner at Galbraith in charge of rural valuations and AMC agency.

Contact him on robert.taylor@galbraithgroup. com or 0800 389 9448 to discuss any diversification ideas and find out how AMC could support your next business venture.

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 9

A chance to engage in farm life rachel Sutherland highlights the benefits of taking part in Open Farm Sunday.

eVeRy yeaR on the second Sunday of June, farms throughout the country open their doors to welcome visitors and let them experience farming life.

I know from my own experience, having hosted two open days on my family farm in Dumfriesshire, it is an extremely rewarding event to take part in as it is a small step in trying to resolve the disconnect between people, the countryside and where their fresh food comes from. It also acts as a great communication platform for the public to speak to farmers.

GRADUATE vIEW

‘Galbraith is the company I always wanted to work for’ STAyING in touch with her roots, Isla Shaw joined Galbraith as a rural surveyor.

Isla joined the Galbraith Stirling office in July as a graduate surveyor after completing her honours degree at the Scottish rural University College in edinburgh. She is working towards her APC qualifications and is gaining experience within the national farm sales team, assisting Duncan Barrie.

Having grown up on a beef and sheep farm in the west of Fife, Isla was keen to build her career in the farming sector. Her family’s farm is run by her dad, Willie Shaw, and two older brothers, Calum and Alister. They currently farm about 1,600 cross ewes and 800 pure blackface along with 200 Aberdeen-Angus cross cows where Aberdeen-Angus bulls are used.

Aside from the main farm enterprise Isla has her own pedigree AberdeenAngus herd which was started in 2015 with the purchase of Weeton lady Heather. The herd was expanded in 2016 with the purchase of eastfield Janice in February. Both have bred well so far and Isla hopes to keep

The event is managed by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) which has been organising Open Farm Sundays since 2006.

A new host last year was Caledonian Estates, a fairly unusual estate due to its urban-fringe location on the outskirts of Bishopbriggs, less than five miles from Glasgow. This can create additional challenges such as increased rural crime and fly tipping, but it also offers a wealth of opportunities for the estate, whose day-to-day management is done by Galbraith.

expanding her herd as well as showing throughout the summer.

Coming from a farming background, Isla’s plan was never to have a job where she was chained to a desk so rural surveying was a great fit. No day is the same for a rural surveyor, whether it be preparing deed plans, organising viewings or meeting potential clients.

The competition is high for graduate jobs, but Isla had the best possible start after successfully getting a place on the Galbraith summer work experience programme where she gained invaluable experience and exposure to the profession that helped her in completing her 4th year.

Isla said: “Galbraith is the company I always wanted to work for as I feel it has the perfect balance of professionalism along with approachability. If you think rural surveying could be the path for you I would highly recommend applying for the Galbraith summer work experience programme.”

For more information on the opportunities available for Graduates with Galbraith visit the recruitment section of our website.

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The estate has seized several commercial opportunities by engaging entrepreneurial individuals and organisations to use the estate’s assets and its location. These have included the lease of land for a waste recycling plant, a golf driving range and a commercial lease to a children’s care home charity to name but a few.

As Caledonian Estates is one of the major landowners in the East Dunbartonshire area, Galbraith help to maintain the estate’s positive relationship with the local authority through regular meetings to the benefit of both parties.

Caledonian Estates became the first farm in East Dunbartonshire to take part in Open Farm Sunday when, at Galbraith’s suggestion, they opened the gates of the estate’s home farm at Easter Cadder on the outskirts of Kirkintilloch.

Richard Oliver from Caledonian Estates, said: “It was the perfect chance for the estate’s tenants to show how they utilise the land to the benefit of both the local economy and the community and we hope that the event has encouraged more landowners to do the same.”

The event, organised jointly by Galbraith and surveyors CB Richard Ellis, gave visitors an insight into the world of farming and estate management through various activities and live demonstrations throughout the day.

Activities included machinery, livestock and arable cropping displays, meeting farmers, a fly casting demonstration and tuition, a dry stone walling display, hedge planting and a gundog display.

“

If nothing else it’s a great excuse to tidy up the farm.

The event, which welcomed more than 300 visitors through its gates, was the perfect platform to showcase the good relations and effective partnerships in place between landowners, tenants, contractors, employees and the wider public.

There are countless individuals, organisations and groups involved in the day to day running of the estate and this was very apparent to all the visitors at the event. Their hard work and commitment is the reason the land remains so productive and well utilised. The estate’s survival depends on them and this in turn has a positive effect on the local economy and community.

If I could offer any advice for those thinking about hosting their own event it would be plan well in advance and take plenty of advice from LEAF. The event does attract a lot of people, so you need plenty of volunteers to help out and traffic management is a must. There may be some red tape, but don’t let that put you off as there is help available to overcome it. It is worth checking well in advance with local councils if an entertainment licence is required as not all councils are the same. We also found the Royal Highland Education Trust to be a great help ensuring risk assessments were carried out correctly and all health and safety matters were taken into account on the day.

In all, it is well worth doing, and I would encourage more farms to get involved. If nothing else it’s a great excuse to tidy up the farm.

rachel.sutherland@galbraithgroup.com 01786 434607

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 11

Empty farm property: long-term let or holiday home?

Marion Currie explores the options and benefits in letting out rural farm and estate cottages.

aS feWeR and fewer farm and estate properties are needed for tied workers, many landowners find themselves with cottages and houses sitting unused and unloved.

They are also a financial drain, as the costs of maintaining an empty property with no return are prohibitive and pointless. So what are the options? Selling releases a capital sum which can be used to invest in other properties or agricultural needs, but it does mean losing control of the property which may not actually offer a practical solution depending on the location in relation to other estate properties or farm steadings.

However, a property must pay for itself and if possible make a positive contribution to overall income. Letting in some form is the obvious solution, providing income while keeping ownership within the estate or farm portfolio.

Residential letting takes two forms: long-term residential letting to one set of tenants, or holiday letting on a short break, weekly or fortnightly basis.

for Council Tax and utilities, there are some pitfalls to be aware of.

Long-term residential letting in Scotland changed on December 1, 2017 from the Short Assured Tenancy (SAT) to the Private Residential Tenancy (PRT). The grounds for possession by a landlord have been greatly reduced and in particular the ‘no fault’ ground has been removed making it much more difficult to remove a tenant if things aren’t going well. Additionally, the period of notice required to be given by a tenant has been shortened to just 28 days, so a landlord could in theory find themselves having to find tenants several times a year for the same property. This means careful selection and referencing of tenants is more vital than ever before, so using a good letting agent like Galbraith is essential.

Holiday letting could be the most flexible option especially with ‘staycations’ becoming increasingly popular. Cottages & Castles, one of Scotland’s leading holiday let companies, reported record-breaking bookings for 2017 with an increase of 19% compared with the previous year and an increase of 47% overall in the period 2015-17.

There is definitely a growing market for long-term lets. With that first step on the property owning ladder more difficult for younger buyers to make, long-term letting has become the best option for many. The Galbraith Castle Douglas office saw an increase of 33% in viewings from the first quarter of 2017 to the final quarter, and the number of registered lettings applicants more than double.

There is no shortage of tenants seeking good quality family homes and prepared to pay decent rents for them.

But where to start, and what is involved? When Robert and Melinda Kennedy married in 1999, they took over the holiday letting business started by Robert’s parents at Orroland Estate in Dumfries and Galloway in the mid-1980s. Two cottages had been occupied by full-time farm workers but as farming methods on the estate evolved, the employees were no longer required.

Back then the self-catering industry was very different and the cottages were pretty basic.

The steady income brought by a long term let is attractive with the average rent for a 2/3 bedroom cottage being around £475pcm and a small farmhouse being between £650-£700pcm in Dumfries and Galloway. However while there is also the bonus of the tenant taking responsibility

Since then, the family has purchased Orroland Lodge, which had been in the same occupation since the 1920s and was not fit for holiday letting, there being no water in one wing of the house.

The Kennedys embarked on an extensive programme of work on the property which had to

Page 12 | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | galbraithgroup.com

“

Guests’ expectations are higher than ever – nobody wants to go on holiday in a house that’s less convenient or well specified than their own.

be kept to a tight deadline and budget, as well as doing ongoing improvement and maintenance work on the two original cottages.

Now all three properties are marketed together as Orroland Holiday Cottages and are finished, equipped and maintained to very high standards.

range of marketing channels offers a great opportunity to people starting in self-catering.

“Much of the growth in self-catering has been centred around urban markets in the last few years, but the traditional rural market is still going strong and well worth considering.”

Of course, it may suit some holiday let businesses to use an agency for marketing and booking instead of doing it all themselves. Cottages & Castles can offer more than 30 years of experience to clients, with 41,000 visitors to the website every month, and a monthly social media reach of 250,000 people. An agency will charge commission on bookings, but from an owner’s point of view they save on the cost and work of running their own website.

Overall, Robert and Melinda feel self-catering is a profitable business despite the expenses being much higher than with long-term letting.

For new entrants to the sector their advice is to be prepared to continually invest to maintain the high standards expected by today’s guests and also to invest in professional photography of the interiors and environs. Careful marketing pays dividends and the Kennedys try to highlight the unique aspects of their properties such as the spectacular coastal location, privacy and freedom Orroland provides.

It is also important to be flexible about the length of stay available to guests. According to SuperControl’s 2017 statistics, 134,984 bookings

Robert explained: “Guests’ expectations are higher than ever – after all nobody really wants to go on holiday in a house that’s less convenient or well specified than their own. We allocate 25-30% of turnover each year towards maintenance and improvements.”

Other costs to consider are the cleaning and changeover procedures. Originally the family did all the work themselves, but as their other business began to grow they have had to employ people on both a full-time live-in and part-time basis to manage cleaning, suppliers, property and grounds maintenance. However, Robert’s parents, William and Alice, remain very active in managing the environs and Orroland Lodge.

All the investment paid off for the Kennedy’s with the three-bedroom cottages renting from £620 to £1,050 per week and the seven-bedroom Orroland Lodge from £1,980 to £3,800 per week, depending on the season. School holidays tend to be the peak time for occupancy. In 2017 25% of bookings were repeat business.

Nonetheless, Robert and Melinda prefer to aim for healthy profit over high occupancy rates. “Our highest ever occupancy was 94%. That year we learned a lot about pricing and what happens when you can’t get in to a property to maintain it.

Time up ladders is crucial.”

Through running the holiday lets at Orroland, Robert and Melinda recognised a need for a dedicated online booking system for the selfcatering sector and ten years ago they started SuperControl. Today 1,700 holiday rental owners and agencies trust SuperControl’s booking and management software to run 29,000 selfcatering properties around the world.

“Our job at SuperControl is to keep pace with the needs of our clients,” said Melinda. “Over the past five years we have invested in building better links with the main booking websites. It is clear to us that the multinational giants like booking.com, Expedia, HomeAway and TripAdvisor will continue to be a driving force in our sector. This

robert and Melinda Kennedy have turned orroland holiday cottages into a thriving business, including orroland lodge (top left) which sleeps up to 14.

were handled in Scotland through their system.

Of those bookings, 74% were for short breaks of one to six nights, with only half starting on a Friday or Saturday.

All the Kennedy family’s hard work since Robert’s parents began holiday lets back in the 1980s has paid dividends, and not just financially: “One family who came during those first couple of years is still holidaying at Orroland nearly 40 years later!”

For advice on all aspects of letting your properties contact your local Galbraith office where our teams of professionals have a wide range of knowledge and expertise. marion.currie@galbraithgroup.com 01556 505346

orroland.com supercontrol.co.uk cottages-and-castles.co.uk

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 13

Time to turn to the experts Anna Henderson of the Premium Property Buying Department at Galbraith looks at the changing shape of the estate market.

In a maRKet of reducing supply, with only 16 estates totalling some 70,000 acres and selling for a combined £68 million in 2017, compared to 23 totalling 100,000 acres selling for over £80 million in 2016, the number of private deals increased by 8%.

This reflects the changing shape and mood of both the market and sellers, with many estates never gracing the pages of Country Life, The Field or indeed even the internet.

Those who tire of constantly hearing about other people buying beautiful estates they’ve never even been able to see are increasingly turning to Galbraith for help. As specialist buying agents we know what might be available privately, what could possibly be bought off market, who the potential competition might be, and what level of bid might be required to ensure success.

As well as having the contacts, we know the history of nearly all the Scottish estates, what they have sold for in the past, and where they sit in the market today. We can also value for bank security, so we have all the valuation evidence at our finger tips.

Local knowledge, trade contacts, client networks and dinner party conversations are all sources of invaluable intelligence. With 11 offices across Scotland and nearly 250 staff, Galbraith has the best network of all the buying agents for gathering such information. It is not surprising therefore that Galbraith Premium Property have dominated the estate buying market.

Since its inception in 2016 we have provided advice to more than 50% of the buyers who sought the services of a property agent – the next nearest competitor had only a 20% market share.

Page 14 | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | galbraithgroup.com

Finding a farm or an estate that suits you can take months or even years, and can be a daunting and challenging prospect even for the most experienced business man or woman, which is why buyers regularly turn to us for help.

As a client for whom we recently completed a successful acquisition pointed out, buying such a property is one of the most significant and expensive purchases one will ever make, yet the majority, while taking legal advice, fail to take independent property or strategic advice. They tend to rely on the selling agent, who is acting for and of course being paid by the seller.

With reference to another recent deal which involved the purchase of two neighbouring properties and six months of negotiation, our clients observed that they would not have had the resolve to continue without our help and advice each step of the way. Now in residence and delighted with their purchase, they said: “We contacted Galbraith having seen something we wanted to assemble. We were unsure how to acquire both properties simultaneously, or what we would have to pay to achieve that. We expected that price would be just one of many issues we would have to address, and we know rural property well, but we did not anticipate the many complexities that ultimately had to be overcome.

“With sport, forestry, building and farming elements all to get to grips with, Galbraith were able to advise us on all aspects of the purchase, leaving no stone unturned. Their thorough investigations and market intelligence meant we

“

Finding a farm or an estate that suits you can take months or even years and can be a daunting as well as challenging prospect.

absolutely knew what we were buying, and provided reassurance that the price paid was reasonable. We enjoyed a really attentive and interested service, we had support and advice whenever we needed it, and we highly recommend their buying team.”

Our buying agents deliver real value in a transaction by ensuring clients do not buy something unsuitable or overpay, while providing the support and comfort to get the deal done.

They make sure that the terms of an offer are right and that new owners will not be disadvantaged in the future by perhaps accepting all the seller’s demands in a bid to complete quickly.

By way of example, Galbraith recently acted for overseas clients who sought our help moments before they had agreed a deal to buy an estate.

The purchase was later completed at a figure £1.5 million less than they had ‘on the table’ at the point they sought our help. We also ‘ironed out’ a number of issues that might very well have caused problems for them in the future.

It really is extraordinary that a house buyer will always receive or instruct a homebuyer’s report for the simple acquisition of a house, whereas an estate or farm purchaser’s first port of call is often a lawyer with an instruction to effectively bid ‘blind’.

A farm, estate or substantial property can be a complicated asset that usually comes with all sorts of rights and obligations. In our view, these are always best understood before committing to price and an expensive adventure. A growing number of clients appear to agree. anna.henderson@galbraithgroup.com 0131 240 6988

What happens when developments time out Nicola Charleston explores the dangers of letting a planning application lapse in a world of increasing planning gain requirements.

By laW, any planning permission granted expires after a certain period. Generally you have three years from the date it's granted to begin the development, otherwise the permission will lapse.

If the applicant allows this to happen, regulations enable the local planning authority to request updated supporting information to be provided. These powers might also be used to ask for additional information not requested during the first application, due to changing policies and third party bodies becoming more heavily involved. This overall process can become costly and time consuming for the applicant.

The weight to be given to an existing permission that has lapsed is a matter of judgement for the local planning authority. In exercising their discretion, the authority will take into

“

One particular application we dealt with this year has just seen a 143% increase in developer contributions.

consideration existing plans and policies and emerging local development plans, the likelihood of the existing permission being implemented and material changes in circumstances.

As a result of these considerations, they are also free to disagree with a previous decision.

In recent cases, Galbraith has been instructed to renew lapsed consents with no material changes to the proposed development. As a result of the lapse, these renewals have had further conditions imposed, such as larger developer contributions and stricter ecological and environmental requirements to be fulfilled. One particular application we dealt with this year has just seen a 143% increase in developer contributions since the last consent was granted in 2012.

It is important to protect the timings and validity of a planning consent by making a material start on the development, if possible.

Most permissions will contain a number of conditions with which the applicant must comply before works start, and it is essential for an applicant to assess the requirements of such conditions at an early stage.

Development is taken to have started at the earliest date on which a material operation is carried out.

A material operation is defined as : • any work of construction in the course of the erection of a building.

• any work of demolition of a building.

• the digging of a trench, which is to contain the foundations or part of the foundations of a building.

• the laying of any underground main or pipe to the foundations or part of the foundation of a building or, any such trench.

• any operation in the course of laying out or constructing a road.

• any change in the use of any land which constitutes material development.

An effective commencement of development will be enough to lift the time limit for all of the development, even if commencement is only made in respect of a small part. If development occurred in year three of the life of a planning consent, it is possible to begin the next stage of the development several years later, because the initial commencement will have protected the consent.

It is imperative, that with the cost and effort put into a planning application, the applicant seriously considers the timings of their development and makes provision to ensure the lifetime and viability of the planning consent.

Galbraith has extensive experience of submitting planning consent applications on behalf of our clients.

nicola.charleston@galbraithgroup.com 0131 240 6960

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 15

Seeds of change IncReaSInGly, the direction and span of a working life is changing.

2017 as a trainee land agent. She explains what inspired her change of career.

Where people used to take an apprenticeship and enter a career that would see them from teenage years through to retirement, it is now more normal for people to change career direction a number of times over the course of their working life.

“I had a wonderful job researching ingredients and working with growers and suppliers to source them ethically and had just established a supply chain of shea butter from Uganda when I made the difficult decision to leave my job to raise my young family.

A career in land agency is multifaceted enough to attract people from a wide spectrum of other jobs and Galbraith, with its wide range of rural management clients across Scotland, is an obvious choice for those looking for a career change.

“I knew that I particularly enjoyed working with farmers and growers to source ingredients, so estate management seemed like a career that would enable me to continue down this route.

“In 2015 I began working at Elderslie Estates in Renfrewshire and my interest in understanding how the estate functioned led to completing a RICS accredited masters degree in Land Economy at Aberdeen University while working at the estate.

“I am now working towards my Assessment of Professional Competencies with a view to becoming a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Anna Newman, above, travelled the world as a botanical research manager for the Liz Earle Cosmetics skincare range before joining Galbraith in

“It has been a challenging few years but fascinating to learn the theory behind the running of an estate and having the opportunity to put it into practice.

Page 16 | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | galbraithgroup.com

Anna Newman sourcing neroli in Morocco in her pre-Galbraith days.

A lesson in diversity SITUATeD in an area celebrated for distilling, Ballindalloch estate Distillery on Speyside represents a significant investment in a diversification project recognising the history of the estate as well as proving complementary to the existing farming operation, which is world-renowned for its Aberdeen Angus herd. our Inverness and elgin offices were delighted to host a Highland Factors’ lunch at the distillery.

Following an introduction to the estate from Guy Macpherson-Grant, the estate owner and visionary behind the new distillery (which produced its first cask of whisky in 2014), our guests, who are responsible for the management of some of the best known Highland and Morayshire estates, had a tour of the distillery and learnt about the ‘single

estate ethos’ which drives the production process at Ballindalloch.

Sarah Hazzard, who manages lettings for Inverness-shire and elgin provided an update on Private residential Tenancies, which have had a significant impact on tenancy agreements in Scotland.

This was followed by a talk by Philippa Cliff, who discussed forestry and carbon capture opportunities for landowners and lastly Calum Innes updated the assembled team on sporting rates, the reintroduced tax which has been the subject of much consternation.

During a lively question and answer session, it became clear that while many estates are in the vanguard of diversification, they face an ever-increasing number of challenges presented by new regulation and legislation.

sector, so Willy enrolled on a post-graduate distance learning course in surveying at Reading University.

Six years later he had finished his postgraduate degree and qualified as a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

After eight and a half years running Islay Estates, Willy currently manages Strathmore Estates at Glamis.

“There are so many aspects to managing an estate that means no two days are ever the same.

My advice to others would be to always follow a career path that you are interested in.”

Since joining Galbraith, Anna has met many colleagues with interesting backgrounds but notably two have struck a chord, possibly because they have both achieved what she is striving for: changing careers in their middle years while raising a family.

After 16 years in the Scots Guards, Willy Inglis, above, chose to apply the management training and administrative experience he gained in the Army to land management.

It very quickly became apparent that a professional qualification was essential to be able to operate in this

Christian Wroe, below, retrained at Harper Adams University following his previous career managing a polo facility in Abu Dhabi for the ruling Al Nahyan family and training racehorses in Dubai.

A young family and the desire to raise them in a rural community brought them to Scotland.

He followed the Rural Estate and Land Management postgraduate diploma course at Harper Adams and is now a rural surveyor working for Galbraith.

EDINBURGH RUGBy TACkLES CAREER CHANGE CHALLENGE edinburgh rugby and the Scottish rugby Union have just launched their ‘rugby for life’ programme which is primarily focused on supporting players in their inevitable transition out of rugby.

It’s not just for retiring players, it’s also for those who have come up through an academy and may have discovered at the age of 20 they will not after all have the career they dreamed of. This “rugby for life” programme is being rolled out nationally.

As a sponsor of the team, Galbraith sees this is as a great opportunity to support and assist those players who are looking for a career change and may wish to join the firm, not just the rural team. Galbraith aims to work with edinburgh rugby to introduce the players to the large spectrum of roles that are available in a company like ours from marketing or accounting to commercial management and estate sales.

Alasdair Dickinson and Tom Galbraith recently joined Anneka Fraser and Gareth Taylor in our edinburgh office for work experience in our energy division.

They spent a day learning about the role of a surveyor in land referencing, negotiating access agreements, site acquisitions, planning applications, compensation claims, valuations... the list goes on. And by the end of the day they were still smiling!

Many skills are easily transferable such as problem solving, strategic thinking, written and oral communication, people management and negotiation.

When changing careers into a new field such as land agency it is important to familiarise yourself with your chosen career and immerse yourself in it.

A good starting place for a carer as a land agent is the rICS website and industry specific publications and events to gain an insight into the business.

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 17

Taking care of every last detail on an exclusive Scottish experience Specialist travel company Ossian uses imagination and flair to create luxury, bespoke adventures, says Becky Thomson.

It all starts with a conversation. on the telephone, on the golf course or while enjoying a nip of the finest Scotch, these conversations span the globe and mark the beginning of the ossian journey.

They are a chance for Ted and Alex, who head up Ossian, to promote our beautiful country and all it has to offer, but most importantly an opportunity to learn about the vision clients have for their next adventure and to form a relationship as more than just ‘travel designers’, but rather ‘well-travelled friends’, enthusiastic and passionate about what they do.

Ted and Alex meet busy professionals who don’t perhaps have the time to organise high-end trips, so they do it for them, making sure every last detail is taken care of.

Back in the office it’s all hands on deck.

Armed with information and exciting ideas, the Ossian team work out which locations, activities and experiences we think would best suit our client. Leaving no stone unturned, we consider everything from the time of year, to the accommodation preference and the mode of transport. We use our wealth of

experience and inside knowledge to craft a personalised, one-of-a-kind travel experience offering the ultimate in luxury travel.

starred chefs preparing the lobster caught earlier in the day, our dedicated team are always on hand to oversee all aspects of the trip.

Casting the net out to the Scottish estates we work closely with, many on a private and highly exclusive basis perfect for clients who put privacy high on the list of desires, we seek out the ideal setting for each unique Scottish adventure.

Remote adventure doesn’t mean clients have to compromise on comfort or service. After all, one of the best ways to explore the west coast is on horseback, with an expert guide to discover hidden coves, gallop along the beach, swim in the sea, indulge in fine Scottish seafood and rest up in a new location every night with your bags waiting for you.

Sometimes the more remote, rugged and traditional the better. Clients looking for an opportunity to escape the humdrum of daily life as well as enjoying a much needed digital detox may request a stay in chic safari-style tents overlooking the Isle of Skye and lunar-like stargazing pods on a private island beach. Others look for something more accessible, seeking the same level of luxury and service provided by a five-star hotel, and have a real interest in sampling the finest gastronomic experiences.

With Ted and Alex’s little black book of contacts and our links with Galbraith we have an unrivaled network throughout Scotland to help secure access to some truly unique properties and sporting activities that are simply not available through other agents.

When it comes to a client’s itinerary, the only limiting factor is their imagination.

We work hard not just to inspire but to achieve the extraordinary. From helicopter transfers to remote golf courses on the west coast, to Michelin-

“

Remote adventure doesn’t mean clients have to compromise on comfort or service.

Page 18 | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | galbraithgroup.com

For the more traditional sporting experience we can organise driven grouse days on some of the most private and productive moors in the country, arrange rods on world-renowned Scottish beats or set up wonderful stalking days as well as offering clients the chance to participate in the ultimate sporting challenge in Scotland – the Macnab – bagging a stag, salmon and brace of grouse all in one day.

What we at Ossian believe really sets us apart from our competitors is that our boots are firmly planted on the ground throughout all client trips. We can be as involved or as inconspicuous as our clients wish, but we will be there every step of the way ensuring we deliver a truly unforgettable trip that exceeds expectations.

Becky Thomson is part of the Ossian team.

0131 240 6978 http://ossian.co/

A question of attitude It’s not what you shoot, it’s the way that you shoot it, says Mungo Ingleby. tHe feathered game season that ended on february 1 was one of my all-time favourites for rather different reasons than might be expected.

Rather than the sport itself, which was wonderful, it was the way in which the Scottish shooting industry responded to adversity that was most heartening. The well-publicised pinch in demand for shot game caused a long overdue (for some) reconnection between estates, guns, pickeruppers and the quarry they pursue.

For far too long many estates have guarded shot game as though it was the shoot’s crown jewels.

Guns have been allowed to take only a brace of birds and beaters often none at all, with additional birds coming for a price, then the job was done when the game dealer’s van departed the scene.

I am aware that this is a gross generalisation and that for some time campaigns have been run and a huge amount of good work logged in promoting game for the table, but this year particularly saw all shoots realise that it was incumbent on them, the producers, to build both demand and a market for shot game.

It was heartening to see beaters taking armfuls of shot birds, not once, but after each and every shoot. Guns were, in general, taking many more birds and shoots were engaging with local butchers, processing their own birds, making pies, sausages and currys all of which were greeted with great enthusiasm. The days of the dry roast pheasant are over.

I firmly believe that the lack of outlets for shot game were rooted in supply chain issues and a historic failure of all concerned to promote game

and create a market rather than problems with game itself. There really is no comparison between pheasant or partridge and a factory reared chicken that will have been lucky to see the sun during its short life. Demand is building and work by organisations to promote game is ongoing, so we are seeing the market for game grow along with potential outlets.

Equally importantly was the greater connection between shot game and teams of guns, and it was being treated with the respect that it is due.

This point is critical. There has been talk of bag limits and what may or may not be appropriate in driven shooting. To my mind it is wrong to talk of bag limits and what is an appropriate day’s bag and what is not. It is not about numbers, it is instead about the attitude of each and every person involved in any shoot day.

If the attitudes are wrong, if there is an element of live clay pigeon shooting or a complete disconnect between guns and picker-uppers and the quarry then any day, whether 50 or 500, is completely unacceptable. Equally one person’s 200 is another’s five and another’s 500 and another’s zero. Larger bags clearly mean larger numbers of birds and it is a given that shoots must have a market or outlet for this produce before the season starts.

“

It was heartening to see beaters taking armfuls of shot birds, not once, but after each and every shoot

It is important for each and every sporting enthusiast to ensure that they adhere to the very highest standards in promoting both our sport and the game that we eat. With a renewed focus, the future is looking very promising for the game meat industry.

mungo.ingleby@galbraithgroup.com 01738 456079

galbraithgroup.com | Rural matters | Summer 2018 | Page 19

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