Property ‘National tragedy’ of county farm sell-off • County farms are in ‘terminal decline’ • Too much short-term thinking blamed • Innovative ideas can help farms thrive
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ouncil-owned county farms are in terminal decline, which means future generations 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 England has more than halved from 172,000ha acres to less than 85,000ha since the late 1970s, according 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 innovative farming methods and deliver environmentally sustainable agriculture, 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
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The sell-off of the county farms estate is a national tragedy
a sense that county farms are a thing of the past – and an unwillingness by some councils to develop new income streams or business models. Report co-author Kate Swade said: “The sell-off of the county farms estate is a national tragedy, squandering a public resource that is crucial to getting fresh blood into farming. Enough is enough: it’s time the new government halted the sale of county farms and invested in them properly.” But positive results have been achieved by innovative councils that have protected and even expand their county farm estates. They include Cambridgeshire County Council which has taken a proactive approach towards its county farms portfolio. Cambridgeshire is among seven out of nine councils which gave details of environmental and social benefits provided by their county farms – ranging from tree
planting, to local education initiatives, to supporting new farmers.
‘Wonderful assets’ Whitehall Farm is a 100ha farm owned by Cambridgeshire County Council and managed by Stephen Briggs on a 15-year tenancy, along with over 300ha of other land. He is using agroforestry to build the farm’s profitability, resilience and sustainability (see case study). Graeme Willis, of the CPRE, said: “Our research shows that the number of county farms in England alarmingly continues to plummet, at a time when these wonderful assets should be protected, and invested in, to ensure they’re available for future generations.” The CPRE wants legislation introduced to stop the sale of county farms and to give them a new purpose. 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 nationally for their potential to help mitigate climate change – and deliver wider public benefits which can meet the needs of local communities and the wider environment, said Mr Willis.
CASE STUDY
Council reaps benefits from farm tenancy
Stephen Briggs says agroforestry is helping his farm to thrive
66 ANGLIA FARMER • JANUARY 2020
Cambridgeshire County Council farm tenant Stephen Briggs has interplanted arable crops with 4,500 apple trees to bolster his income, while protecting the environment. Mr Briggs and his wife Lynn have also opened the Harvest Barn farm shop and café at Whitehall Farm, near Peterborough. It sells local and certified organic fresh fruit and vegetables from the farm – alongside local lamb, beef and pork, cakes and biscuits, jams and preserves. “Thanks to the county
farms system, I have been able to run my own farm and try an innovative and successful soils-based farming approach,” says Mr Briggs. “The support I have received from my local county council has been invaluable.” Mr Briggs says there are additional benefits for local authorities that encourage new entrants into agriculture. “The rent from our county farm and its innovative diversifications goes straight back to the county council, helping fund front line services.”
