Council sells off tenant farm for tree planting

Farmers have vented their frustration after a council sold a 40ha tenant farm to Forestry England to grow trees.

A farmer had rented Hondslough Farm, on the northern edge of Delamere Forest south of Runcorn, from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaCC) to grow hay/haylage, and only two seasons ago it yielded a bumper crop of potatoes.

Delamere Forest covers 753ha and has about 750,000 visitors each year. Forestry England says the additional woodland will “provide more space for people to enjoy, improved habitat for wildlife and a sustainable supply of home-grown timber”.

See also: Powys council plans £5m secret sale of dairy farm

Work will start immediately, with the majority of trees planted by the winter.

Over the years, the land had been used for various farming enterprises, including arable, beef and dairy. The farmer, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a fabulous area of land; lovely, level loamy soil. I think to take it out of agricultural production is very unfortunate.

“We have only had the land for two seasons on a short lease, as the former tenant died. We grazed it the first year and we were allowed to plough it and put potatoes in, and hoped to bring in a rotation of crops, potatoes and grass.

“But the council thinks it’s better to use the land to grow trees, rather than produce food. Agriculture is being put on the back burner, which seems to happen an awful lot these days.”

Local beef and arable farmer David Riley received a letter from Forestry England informing him that it was buying the land close to his property for woodland creation.

The letter states that the new Coronation Wood will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. The extension to the Cheshire forest will be “one of many new woodlands Forestry England is planting which support government targets to increase tree planting across the UK”.

Budget deficit

Like the tenant farmer, Mr Riley expressed frustration that the land would no longer be farmed and would be given over to trees.

“The council kept denying the rumours, even at one point saying they were going to sell/let to one of the big estates in Cheshire – Cholmondeley Estate or Westminster Estate,” he added.

“The fact that Forestry England obtained this land for £9,000/acre is again an injustice, not only for people wishing to purchase it, but also for council taxpayers.

“Chester West and Chester Council have stated they need to reduce a £9m deficit in the next two years.”

Council leader Louise Gittins said CWaCC was committed to tackling climate change, including the creation of more woodland across the borough.

She added: “Hondslough Farm will be in excellent hands with Forestry England and this land will provide additional areas to explore and enjoyment for the thousands of visitors to Delamere Forest.”