Detailed Management Policy

To provide opportunities to suitably qualified persons to enter agriculture to commence farming on their own account.

• To retain an Estate of approximately 10,000 acres and provide a varied structure of farm types and sizes.
• To improve standards of Estate Management, maintenance, husbandry and stewardship of the land and endeavour to provide an example of how good estate management and best practice in farming are not mutually exclusive to:
• Good environmental practice, and
• The wider benefit of the general public.

To achieve this, the Council will:

1. Restructure the Estate over a defined period of years, leading to a reduction in the number of starter farms (40 - 60 acres), an increase in medium (60 - 95 acres) and promotion farms (95 - 200 acres), to improve the standard of opportunities offered and promote movement through and off the Estate which will be maintained at a similar size overall.
2. Reinvest a proportion of Capital Receipts achieved from the sale of properties identified as surplus to requirements in the restructuring process to facilitate amalgamations.
3. Continue to run the Estate on a commercial basis and produce an annual operational surplus.
4. Explore potential sources of external funding.
5. Provide whole farm environmental audits for all tenants to assist in the preparation of farm management plans.
6. In the re-letting process, consult with the Public Rights Of Way Service to explore the potential for improving and expanding public access across the estate.
7. Implement the Governments Asset Management Planning initiative.
8. Implement actions identified in the "Best Value Review" of the County Farms Service in 2002 / 03  to achieve continuous improvements to service delivery.