BUDDING young farmers are being offered the chance to bid for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter the industry – thanks to a Teesdale landowner.
The Next Generation Farmer Scheme (NGFS) has been launched by the Lartington Estate and aims to give a new entrant into the industry their big break.
The chosen farmer will work Home Farm, next to Lartington Hall.
Estate owner John Mayhew said: “I want to give young farmers a chance to get onto the farming ladder by offering a five-year tenancy at Home Farm.
“It will include a new purpose built general livestock building and a newly built two-bedroom stone cottage where the farming couple would live during the tenancy.”
During the tenancy, the successful applicant will beable to call on Agriculture Scotland chairwoman Heather Wildman as mentor.
Ms Wildman is a Nuffield Farming scholar and was nominated Woman of the Year 2017 for services to agriculture.
As part of her brief Ms Wildman will help the aspiring farmer prepare an exit strategy so they can move their business on when the five-year tenancy concludes.
Mr Mayhew said: “Her role is to liaise with all parties ensuring that the new tenants feel supported, know what is expected of them and are aware of the full range of opportunities that this partnership has to offer.”
The two-bedroom cottage has been converted from a former joinery and blacksmith’s building.
Estate manager Paul Woods, who completed the conversion said: “As a builder I am very proud of how it has turned out. I think anyone who comes down and sees what they are getting, they won’t believe the chance they have.”
He added that the future tenant would have access to 70 acres of parkland as well as about 170 acres of paddocks and meadow pastures.
Mr Woods said: “I am looking forward to working with whoever takes it on because it will be exciting for everyone, especially John.”
Mr Mayhew added: “If we can make this project work for young farmers, Lartington Estates Ltd would then hand the project over to The Lartington Foundation, a charity whose purpose would be to continue the project for decades to come.”
There will be two open viewing days for prospective tenants on January 8 and January 16.
Eligibility criteria and tender forms can be found on the website georgef white.co.uk.
