Hampshire County Council takes on five new tenants

Five new farm businesses have taken on county farm tenancies in Hampshire during the past six months, bucking the wider national trend where council farms continue to be sold off at an alarming rate.

County farms are targeted at new entrants to farming and provide an opportunity for them to get onto the farming ladder.

New tenancies include an arable enterprise, two dairy farm businesses, a pig farm and a sheep enterprise.

See also: Peterborough council begins mass farm sell-off

The total county farm estate in Hampshire comprises more than 30 farms covering 1,860ha.

Hampshire County Council’s visions for the farm estate is to maintain the scale and quality of the land and assets available.

The council wants to continue providing opportunities for new entrants as well as the chance for existing tenants to progress to larger holdings.

Russell Oppenheimer, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for countryside and regulatory services, said the council was proud to offer an affordable start for those seeking to farm in their own right.

“In total, over the past 18 months we’ve been able to offer a record number of 10 farm tenancies to a talented crop of farmers,” said Mr Oppenheimer.

“It is fantastic to see that all our tenants are delivering impressive results through their enterprise and hard work, including great-quality produce, and positive environmental contributions such as improved soil health and thriving wildlife habitats.”

Pig farmer Flavian Obiero is one of the new council farm tenants and has taken on a farm business tenancy at Tynefield Farm, Titchfield.

Mr Obiero said: “My fiancé, Nikki, and I are going to be farming pigs, sheep and goats. We plan to supply our farm-produced meat, including charcuterie, to the local community via farmgate sales.

“We’re keen to work alongside nature, and will record on-farm biodiversity, including bird and insect populations, with a view to increasing prevalence through our land management practices.”