Two unique tenancies – save a dairy farm or be a TV star

Two unique tenancy opportunities are up for grabs to farmers.

One in Northumberland, which involves taking part in a TV show hosted by presenter Matt Baker, and one is on the only dairy farm left on the small island of Alderney in the Channel Islands.

See also: How to become a farm tenant

10-year tenancy, Wallington Estate, Northumberland

The National Trust is inviting farmers to apply for a farm business tenancy on a 137ha grassland farm at the Wallington Estate, Northumberland.

The charity says it is seeking a tenant “who can put nature at the heart of their business, improving soils and water, capturing carbon, creating more space for wildlife, and providing access for and engagement with the public.”

It is a tenancy application with a twist, however, as the seven farmers shortlisted as potential tenants will be filmed for an eight-part TV show presented by Matt Baker.

Viewers will follow the farmers as they demonstrate their approaches to agriculture, learn new skills and show viewers the realities of the work they do to produce food and care for the environment.

At the end of the process, one person or partnership will be chosen to move into the Grade II listed farmhouse at Gallows Hill Farm on a 10-year tenancy.

Giles Hunt, land and estates director at the National Trust, said: “This is a unique proposition. For prospective farm tenants, it’s an opportunity to try new things, and road-test different approaches to agriculture, while sharing the joys and challenges of farming with the nation.

“For the public, it’s a chance to view up close the letting of a farm on a historic estate in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.”

The seven final applicants will be assessed on their business plans and how well they complete a series of agricultural and environmental tasks.

The farmers will live and work in the Wallington community for three weeks in spring 2023, during which time filming will take place.

The show, produced by regional production company Big Circus Media, will air on More4.

Mr Baker said: “For a long time, I’ve wanted to make a television show that follows the process of acquiring a farm tenancy, highlighting how tenant farming fits into our food production and land management.”

But news of the programme has sparked something of a backlash from farmers on social media, who have questioned the ethics of making TV entertainment out of a process that can be emotionally draining for those families that are rejected along the way.

Not sure how I feel about turning what is already an emotionally intensive process for a family into a TV spectacle & dragging it out for 3 weeks. Aren’t you going to end up with two families absolutely devastated at the end of the process? @nationaltrust @FWphilclarke @FGAbiKay pic.twitter.com/2aOlyjTclX

— James Wright (@JPBWFarm) October 13, 2022

Some feared it might trivialise tenant farmers, while others worried local people who had been waiting for a new tenancy to come up would be excluded if they did not want to be featured on television. 

Find out more about the tenancy and apply online.

Kiln Farm, Channel Islands

The island of Alderney is set to lose its only dairy farm unless new tenants can be found urgently.

Residents have described Kiln Farm, run by the Cox family for the past 20 years, as a lifeline for the island of about 2,000 inhabitants.

Islanders have enjoyed fresh produce from the farm shop – including milk, eggs, cheese, yoghurts, meat and butter made from the Cox’s herd of Channel Island Guernsey cows.

But now farmer Michael Cox has decided to retire and give up the lease. Unless a tenant comes forward before the end of 2022, Alderney will lose the farm.

Rising to a population of about 5,000 people when visitors arrive in the summer months, the tenancy on the island has been described as a “rare and exciting opportunity”.

For full details, email mikeclarecox@suremail.gg.